Starting at 8 a.m. Monday, a group of volunteers headed by civic activist Linda Hillman will begin gathering signatures for two recall petitions in front of the Main Post Office on 13th Avenue, one against Vero Beach Mayor Craig Fletcher and a second against Vice Mayor Tracy Carroll.
Hillman said statements made by Carroll and Fletcher in the June 4 City Council meeting revealed a “shocking level of bigotry and religious intolerance,” which has motivated her group to launch the recall petitions.
In the televised June 4 City Council meeting, the video of which went viral on the Internet, Fletcher said he would not support groups that “do not believe in Jesus Christ as their savior.”
For her part, Carroll joined Fletcher in refusing to support a proclamation for Humanist Recognition Week on the basis of Internet research she had done which led her to conclude all Humanists are “atheists.”
Hillman said she further lost confidence in Carroll and Fletcher when the two Council members refused to publically apologize for their statements during a Council meeting. But Fletcher and Carroll let their communication with Press Journal editorial page editor Larry Reisman and columnist Russ Lemmon serve as their apology.
The group has created a Facebook page, “Vero Beach Recall,” which will, as of Monday, include copies of the recall petitions. They will also be gathering signatures outside the post office, the public library and other public places.
If supports of the recall effort are successful in gathering 1049 signatures of registered voters in Vero Beach, Carroll and Fletcher must either resign, or launch their own petitions, known in state law as a “Recall Petition and Defense.”
If the Mayor and Vice Mayor want to avoid a recall vote, they will have 60 days to garner the signatures of 1,573 registered voters in Vero Beach.
Should Carroll and Fletcher fail to each submit their own Recall Petition and Defense with the required number of signatures, the chief judge of the local circuitcourt will be required by state law to schedule a recall election.
Indian River Guardian 
I strongly believe in the separation of Church and State, however the reality or at least the perception among many, is that the majority of Vero Beach residents and those who live in nearby vicinities are considered to be staunchly conservative and support the mayors statement and also support other local politicians who support those beliefs as well. It’s also (perceived) that many who have influence over the important decisions made here in this town are wealthy residents that live here less than 6 months out of the year.
Maybe the recall will show that those perceptions are wrong, that people here will stand up for what is right over and above their own personal beliefs.
Once again Mark…thanks.
I will be letting people know where there will be signature takers as we progress in the week. Also, I will be going door to door during the weeks ahead. The facebook page is “Vero Beach Recall” ..I will be adding comments regularly and letting people know how the signatures are going. Please add any comments you would like and pass the facebook page onto friends and people who would like to know about the recall. I will still welcome more volunteers…the more the merrier.
Also Mr. Joseph is correct in his (perceived) political influence in this town, however, most wealthy residents are in the county and can not vote locally. I believe the people in this city have had enough of the NASTY mentality that sits on our council, the “do as I say” type of conduct. People in this city are starting to believe, especially when it comes to Fletcher and Carroll…enough is enough. Besides…if I am correct, neither one of them were voted into office with the 1,573 votes that it would take to keep them on council if the recall is put into play.