Editorial Board Opinion – There are three seats open for the Sebastian City Council 2023 election. This year’s candidates are Damien H. Gilliams, 62; Damien L. “Junior” Gilliams, 31; Fred Jones, 60; Sherrie Matthews, 61; Bob McPartlan, 57; and Christopher Robert Nunn, 53.
Sebastian Daily has been the only news agency consistently present at all City Council meetings and workshops for over four years, missing only two. Thus, we put forth these recommendations.
We believe the current three incumbents, Fred Jones, Christopher Nunn, and Bob McPartlan, should remain in office. The City has made significant progress since the infamous recall in 2020, and we believe that experience is crucial for its continued success.
All three incumbents are military veterans and the only veterans in this election. They have a proven track record of effectively managing city affairs, and their ability to engage in constructive disagreements is a testament to their effectiveness.
During every election cycle, we see a lot of misleading tactics on social media to discredit candidates. Don’t believe everything you read on social media platforms. For this reason, we’ve provided each viable candidate’s email and phone number in this article. We encourage you to obtain the facts straight from the candidates, not social media.
IMPORTANT: You cannot vote at City Hall in this year’s election. To find your precinct, click here for the locator.
Fred Jones – RECOMMENDED ✅
- Email Fred Jones – Phone: (772) 473-3998
Fred Jones is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who retired after more than 30 years of service with the Florida Highway Patrol. Jones previously served on the Charter Review Committee for Sebastian in 2015.
Jones lives by the motto “Leading By Example,” and we have witnessed him actively embody this philosophy. He has been deeply involved with the City and the community, regularly participating in trash pickups, charity events, youth fundraisers, and community holiday celebrations. Jones also volunteers for various nonprofits, mentoring local youth in Sebastian. He has also served as the former president of the Exchange Club, showcasing his dedication to the community through active participation in events such as the Junior Blue Water Open, a fishing day organized for the youth in Sebastian, with all proceeds going to local charitable organizations, including those focused on the prevention of child abuse as well as scholarships for area youth.
Having been a resident of Sebastian for over 30 years, Jones and his wife Carrie have raised their two children here. Jones has served as the Mayor over the past year and has represented Sebastian with pride and dedication.
We believe Jones does “Lead by Example” and recommend that he stay on the Sebastian City Council.
Bob McPartlan – RECOMMENDED ✅
- Email Bob McPartlan – Phone: (772) 321-5894
Bob McPartlan, a U.S. Army veteran, has been a dedicated member of the City Council for nearly 12 years and has previously served as Mayor. With over 20 years of experience as the Community Development Administrator for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), McPartlan serves on many boards throughout the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee.
McPartlan has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fiscal responsibility. He also served on the Charter Review Committee in 2010. While serving on the Council, Bob has advocated for child abuse and domestic violence awareness, promoting foster care, adoption, and the Guardian Ad Litem program.
Residents commend McPartlan for his prompt responsiveness when they contact him with concerns. His extensive experience equips him to handle various issues, and he is known for taking calls late into the night to assist residents in resolving their problems.
Given the importance of experience in this election, we recommend Bob McPartlan.
Christopher Nunn – RECOMMENDED ✅
Christopher Nunn, a U.S. Navy veteran, has been a member of the City Council for the last three years and has played a vital role in bringing stability back to Sebastian following the 2020 recall. He served as Vice Mayor for the last year and recently earned the Gold Excellence award from the Florida League of Cities.
Nunn first gained attention during the early stages of the recall movement, where we witnessed him as a prominent speaker who played a vital role in advancing the recall effort.
However, while the recall group focused on removing elected officials, Nunn also voiced concerns about the potential replacements. As a result, he resigned as one of 4 leaders from the early recall movement, entered the City Council race, and secured a victory with the most votes during the election on September 15, 2020. In 2021, he came very close to repeating this feat, narrowly missing out on receiving the highest number of votes in Sebastian.
Nunn has lived in the area for approximately 47 years, raising his children with wife Amber. Nunn has mentored local youth, has been actively involved with the Boy Scouts for about 15 years, and has contributed to other youth organizations.
Given the City’s progress and the need for stability, we believe Nunn’s continued service on the City Council is essential. For these reasons, and due to the significance of experience, we recommend Christopher Nunn.
Sherrie Matthews
- Email Sherrie Matthews – Phone: (772) 473-6757
Sherrie Matthews is running for City Council for the fourth consecutive time, losing three previous elections. She has recently joined the City’s Planning & Zoning Committee as a permanent board member, served on the Charter Review Committee, and attends most City Council meetings.
Matthews has been a resident of Indian River County for approximately 47 years, where she raised her children, and moved to Sebastian after she retired. She dedicated 35 years of service to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, holding the position of Accreditation Manager at their Print Shop within the jail.
Throughout her time at the IRCSO, Matthews consistently received outstanding evaluations. She also reported to the individual responsible for managing the agency’s budget.
We did not recommend Sherrie Matthews for this election because we believe City Council experience and expertise will be crucial for future City business.
Damien L. “Junior” Gilliams (son) and Damien H. Gilliams (father)
During the Sebastian Daily & Taxpayer’s Association of Indian River County forum, both Damien L. “Junior” Gilliams and Damien H. Gilliams indicated they did not expect to be elected.
The son claimed to be the most qualified candidate due to his local upbringing and experiences, including jumping off a pier once to retrieve a video gaming device and having his first kiss near Barber Street. But unlike in 2021, he wasn’t pounding alcoholic beverages this time while speaking during the one-hour forum.
Both candidates acknowledged their primary goal was to be heard rather than win this election.
The fact of the matter is that both the son and the father have contributed nothing positive to the community. Their involvement in volunteer work or community events is nonexistent unless it benefits them personally or their bar next to Riverview Park. Moreover, they like to promote false information to create doubt, and are consistently untruthful in their allegations against council members. Their annual campaign seems primarily to muddy up the election process.
It is essential to note that the father, Damien H. Gilliams, was found guilty by a jury for crimes committed during his 10-month tenure on the Sebastian City Council in 2020. He is now in jail, serving out his sentence.
Here’s a quick timeline:
- October 3, 2019 – The initial red flag concerning Gilliams arose when he created fake endorsements to secure a City Council seat. Property Appraiser Wesley Davis even had to enlist legal assistance to have his endorsement removed from Gilliams’ political website. When Ed Dodd requested removal, Gilliams and his son responded by superimposing a red line through the image with a “no thanks” message. However, he did win the election. Most residents believe it was due to low voter turnout.
- April 24, 2020 – Gilliams and two fellow City Council members faced allegations of participating in an illegal meeting. A City Council session, originally planned as a regular meeting, was postponed due to COVID-19 worries following numerous requests from hundreds of residents. Some citizens asserted that Gilliams and two others had orchestrated an illicit takeover with intentions to terminate city staff and appoint Gilliams to his wishful position of Mayor. A friend of Gilliams recorded the meeting, capturing him saying, “The police are coming,” just as officers from the Sebastian Police Department arrived.
- May 18, 2020 – Gilliams disrupts a public gathering of citizens involved in a recall effort by loudly shouting through a bullhorn.
- May 20, 2020 – Gilliams disrupts a recall signing event, asking to see city permits authorizing the gathering at Riverview Park. The police were alerted, and he departed.
- June 16, 2020 – Gilliams was charged with perjury and breaking the Sunshine Law.
- June 17, 2020 – Gilliams was arrested on the charges while serving as a City Councilman.
- July 27, 2020 – The City Council voted unanimously to file a complaint against Gilliams with the State of Florida, accusing Gilliams of violating at least three Florida Ethics laws.
- September 4, 2020 – Gilliams attempted to stop the recall by filing a lawsuit against the recall group, city officials, and the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections. A judge dismissed the case.
- September 15, 2020 – More than 90 percent of Sebastian citizens who voted recalled Gilliams and two other City Council members. The recall removed them from public office.
- October 1, 2020 – Gilliams returned $5,000 in grant funds to the City after it was discovered he falsely claimed losses on the application from an Airbnb business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, he was one of the City Council members who voted for the grant program. He was also the first to apply for the funds the morning following the vote.
- May 27, 2021 – A jury delivered a guilty verdict against Gilliams on charges of perjury and violating the Sunshine Law.
- June 24, 2021 – After filing an appeal to overthrow the Sebastian recall, the District Court of Appeal unanimously denied Gilliams’ motion.
- June 28, 2021 – Gilliams attempted to disqualify the judge in his criminal case, but the District Court of Appeals denied his motion.
- September 14, 2021 – Gilliams was sentenced to serve 6 months in jail, plus fines of $2,500 and restitution of $26,000 for his crimes as a Sebastian City Councilman.
- September 6, 2022 – Gilliams ran for City Council again, even though he was still out on bond. He asked the judge to remove a no-contact order that kept him away from other city officials. The judge denied Gilliams’ motion.
- November 8, 2022 – Gilliams lost the City Council election, all while he was still out on bond fighting his appeals.
- June 2023 – Gilliams filed to run for City Council again.
- October 11, 2023 – The Florida Supreme Court denied Gilliams’ case, exhausting all possible appeals, sending him to jail and having to pay restitution for the criminal offenses he committed against the citizens of Sebastian.
As a result, we do not consider Damien Gilliams or his son viable candidates for the Sebastian City Council.
Conclusion
Under the guidance of the current City Council, the City is making notable progress. In our view, experience holds vital importance in this election.
With the three incumbents, we believe the City Council has a solid foundation with remarkable experience and dependable leadership.
Fred Jones, Christopher Nunn, and Bob McPartlan have consistently demonstrated their ability to manage city matters and accomplish tasks efficiently. While they may not always see eye to eye, we consider this diversity of viewpoints a strength.
