Bradenton councilman accused of ‘unstable behavior’

By Mark Young

Emails obtained by the Manatee Herald outline an explosive culmination of alleged disturbing behavior from an elected official toward staff at Bradenton City Hall.

So much so, that at least one person has resigned and litigation is being threatened.

Ward 4 Councilman Bill Sanders sent numerous accusatory emails to both city and legal staff regarding concerns about a series of records requests he made.

One notable request for the city hall lobby video surveillance recordings to determine who dropped off 132 Bradenton Marauder tickets to him after city officials discovered he was in possession of those tickets.

Sanders was informed that video surveillance on government property requires a court order under Florida law to protect citizen privacy, but Sanders’ emails only escalated from there and continued to accuse the city of violating Florida’s public request laws.

In several other requests, primarily related to the potential sale of city hall, Sanders, on April 21, sent an email saying, “I have been ignored and what I consider harassed/insubordination from those that should be aware of Sunshine and public records request … (I) have been humiliated, as if, this is a protected process. It is not.”

Sanders goes on to threaten the city with litigation, saying, “I believe I am now prepared to address this with Florida Ethics or file a case in our courts.”

Several return emails were sent to Sanders from City Administrator Rob Perry and the city’s legal department explaining that Sanders’ requests were either met, explained why they were exempt or noted that his email complaints were including new requests not yet received.

In an April 21 email, Perry explains all of the information regarding some city and legal expenditures Sanders had requested were presented at the prior city council workshop, which Sanders attended.

“Frankly, I cannot understand what it is you think was not provided during today’s presentation and material. I will read your request again and try to make more sense of it,” Perry said in a response to a Sanders email.

Perry sent out another email later that day informing the city council and others that Becky Vose had resigned her position with the city as a fill-in attorney on cases where City Attorney Scott Rudacille may have a conflict of interest.

Perry indicates in his email that Sanders had contact with Vose before she resigned. Perry goes on to say that Sanders’ claims of the city not following the law when it comes to public records requests are, “unmeritorious allegations, concerns and accusations as well as potential nuisance litigation against the city.”

Perry goes on to say Sanders’ actions, along with many complaints filed by other staff members since Sanders took office four years ago, requires a full disclosure to the public.

“I have a file of various correspondence, documentation from employees, and other evidence regarding (Sanders’) actions in the matters he complains about and otherwise,” Perry wrote.

Perry goes on to write that he has never before inserted himself into matters of elected officials, however, “I’ve reached the inescapable conclusion that (Sanders’) conduct must be examined by his peers and the public.

“I believe this evidence will indicate a pattern of unstable, undermining, self-serving, and unprofessional conduct,” Perry writes in his email.

The following day, Sanders sends out an email calling Perry the “unstable” one, and accuses Perry of cursing him out on multiple occasions. Sanders, in the emails, also accuses Perry of threatening him.

Sanders only provided one example of what he considers a “threat” in his email when he said he approached Perry about where city employees were parking and Perry said, “I’m the city administrator, and that’s the way it is.”

In the same email, Sanders backtracks on his potential litigation threat, noting that he was, “simply offering an amicable discussion,” and that the reference to Florida Ethics or filing a court case were merely, “options,” he felt the need to mention.

Sanders also attached a small version of an old news story where an employee of Perry in a previous state accused the administration of making him deny, hide or destroy public records.

What Sanders doesn’t mention is that the case was investigated and determined to be a disgruntled employee. The old news story was also vetted by local media who questioned city officials during the hiring process about the story and was also told that they had vetted Perry regarding the incident.

Sanders goes on to say, “I am a person who believes in honest transparent government. That’s my goal and I will defend that as far as it takes. Let’s have a good open government. I am always available without threats or false accusations.”

Sanders has an ongoing lawsuit against him for defaming and making false accusations against former Ward 4 City Councilman Bemis Smith.

That defamation suit continues to work its way through the system, according to court records. During the 2016 election campaign, Sanders called Smith’s campaign a “criminal empire,” and went as far as to accuse Smith or his followers of cutting the brake lines on his RV.

A BPD investigation revealed the lines had ruptured due to rust.

Sanders admitted after his election victory to the media that he was told in order to win, he had to do whatever it took, so he did.

Sanders hasn’t exactly been transparent to voters regarding a violent past. According to Iowa court records, he has had at least two protection orders filed against him, and one in Manatee County.

In 2019, Sanders was captured on video at the Hernando DeSoto Society’s Seafood Festival, roughing up a DeSoto member. DeSoto members told police that Sanders was letting everyone who asked into the paid VIP section of the festival’s concert.

The festival and the VIP section is used to raise money for the charitable work the organization does within Manatee County.

The member approached Sanders to tell him to stop, and Sanders is seen grabbing the member with both hands and getting in his face.

Witnesses at the scene said Sanders had been drinking, but he left before police arrived. The DeSoto member declined to press charges.

The following year, Sanders attempted to cancel one of the DeSoto parades after he learned that the Society had banned him from being in any of their parades or attending their festivals as an invited city official following his behavior at the Seafood Festival.

Sanders even made a motion at a city council meeting, but the motion died for a lack of a second.

Perry has asked Mayor Gene Brown to include Sanders’ actions and behaviors toward staff on a city workshop agenda.

With Sanders making a threat of litigation, officials are not prepared to comment at this time.