Letters to the Editor for Monday, June 7, 2020.
Dear Judge Linn,
Please consider my thoughts when sentencing former Sebastian City Council members Damien Gilliams and Pamela Parris.
I have been an active and involved resident of Indian River County with my husband for the last 8 years. Before that I lived in Broward County for 60 years. I’ve served on city appointed boards for many of those years.
1st — please do not let Parris’ story of her cancer treatments earn her any consideration. My husband was diagnosed with the same type of very curable cancer in late January and died in his sleep 8 weeks ago. He would never use his illness as an excuse for dereliction of duty.
We both volunteered with Gilliams for the Sebastian Property Owners’ Association at one point, and my husband felt the same disgust for these two that I feel. Be assured that what the investigators found as far as violation of Sunshine is just the tip of this duo’s iceberg.
Their crimes – Sunshine Law violations and perjury — were not against one person. They were against the rule of law and against the entire City of Sebastian and its thousands of residents.
On September 15, 2020, 94% of the registered voters – almost 6000 dissatisfied residents – voted to remove Gilliams and Parris (and Charles Mauti) from office. They went from triumphant candidates to recalled, disgraced law breakers in less than ten months. They can blame no one but themselves, yet they still refuse to acknowledge their mistakes or apologize.
Many, many people witnessed their bad behavior and want them to face the consequences of their actions. Gilliams threatened, bullied and defamed numerous good people of this city.
Please serve the citizens of Sebastian well with sentences that truly fit their many crimes.
Thank you,
Cindy & Adam Geesey
Sebastian
