There are two seats open for the Sebastian City Council 2023 election. This year’s candidates are Kelly Dixon, Ed Dodd, and Damien H. Gilliams.
Most Sebastian citizens praise the incumbents, Dixon and Dodd, for their effective leadership and proven track record. Their ability to work together constructively demonstrates their commitment to the City’s well-being.
Kelly Dixon
Kelly Dixon, elected to the Sebastian City Council in 2022, is currently serving as Vice Mayor. She succeeded former Mayor and Councilman Jim Hill, who retired after a distinguished two-decade career in public service.
“We have made many positive administrative changes in the City, and I am pleased with the progress we have made. I set out with the goal to bring more focus on our youth and young families, work to maintain Sebastian’s charm as we grow, as well as enhance communication from the City to our citizens, and we have done that,” Dixon told Sebastian Daily.
Pointing to unfinished business, Dixon announced her official re-election campaign. “I would be honored to continue to serve on Council as we soar into Sebastian’s next 100 years,” she stated.
A Sebastian resident since 1997, Kelly Dixon currently teaches TV Production, Film & Photography at Indian River Charter High School. She is a proud graduate of Sebastian River High School.
Dixon is married with two children and has volunteered extensively in the community, including serving on the Treasure Coast Elementary PTA board.
Ed Dodd
Ed Dodd was re-elected to the City Council in 2022 and is currently serving as the city’s Mayor. He’s been a City of Sebastian resident for 24 years.
He has served on the Code Enforcement Board for two years, the Planning & Zoning Board for six years, the Charter Review Committee, and the City Council for eight years.
Dodd also served as chair of the Code Enforcement Board for two years, Planning & Zoning for two years, and has been the Mayor of Sebastian three times.
Dodd spearheaded the Sustainable Sebastian initiative and believes in helping the environment and protecting the Lagoon.
Damien H. Gilliams
Damien Gilliams, a former councilman who served time in jail for Sunshine Law violations, has re-entered the race. In 2020, during the Sebastian recall, citizens removed Gilliams from the Sebastian City Council.
It is essential to note that Damien H. Gilliams was found guilty by a jury for crimes committed during his 10-month tenure on the Sebastian City Council in 2020.
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.
Conclusion
The City of Sebastian has made significant strides under the leadership of the current City Council, including incumbents Kelly Dixon and Ed Dodd. In contrast, Gilliams has a criminal record, including jail time for a position he is now seeking again.
