Davenport leaders ask governor to suspend mayor

DAVENPORT, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - With a unanimous vote in a special meeting Thursday afternoon, Davenport city commissioners decided to ask Governor Rick Scott to step in and suspend Mayor Darlene Bradley.  

This comes after Polk County sheriff's deputies arrested Bradley Tuesday night, after they say they caught her in the act using a dead person's disabled parking placard and pulling into a designated disabled parking space right in front of city hall.

All seats were filled as commissioners discussed their disappointment and shock over Mayor Bradley's arrest.  The city attorney explained the city charter does not give commissioners the power to fire the mayor over an arrest -- that can only happen after a felony conviction.  

The commissioners discussed how asking the governor to step in would give the mayor time to resign if she wanted to, and a suspension would also give the mayor the right to resume her position if she's not convicted.

Commissioner Bob Lynch says they needed to be fair to the outcry from the community and take action.  

"Its not a good thing to have this come upon your community.  I think it does give the commission a black eye. It gives the city a black eye and its really against all handicapped people when you think about it. You're actually doing something you shouldn't be doing that other people are entitled to," said Commissioner Lynch. 

Mayor Bradley did not to speak at the meeting. Instead, her attorney released a statement on her behalf, saying that Mayor Bradley thought the disabled placard she'd been using was her husband's and that she liked to park close to the commission building at night.  

The attorney says the mayor is still scared after being carjacked and kidnapped at gunpoint back 2012 in front of her Winter Park office.