EATONVILLE — Longtime Mayor Anthony Grant, hoping to win another term, is basting in controversy.
The issue: turkeys.
For at least six years — often using town money — Grant has given the frozen birds to senior citizens in Eatonville for Thanksgiving, saying he was doing a good deed.
But some seniors said they haven’t received a free turkey because they don’t support the mayor. At least two council members agreed that the mayor rewards his supporters with the birds. Council member Evelyn Nash said Grant gives away the turkeys to court the vote of the seniors.
Grant denies he does it to sway voters.
Vice Mayor Bruce Mount, a candidate for mayor in the March 1 election, opposes Grant’s turkey giveaway because not all seniors are invited to pick up a turkey on “Senior Day” the week of Thanksgiving.
“Some seniors say, ‘Why didn’t I get a turkey?’ It’s definitely selective,” Mount said. “That’s what he’s been running his campaigns on — turkeys.”
But turkey giveaways could be history. This week Grant’s name was removed from the ballot. He is seeking re-election for another two-year term, but election officials said he didn’t follow qualifying rules. A judge today could decide whether Grant can be put back on the ballot.
Mount said that if elected, he will put an end to the giveaway. The other mayoral candidate, Louise Johnson-Wright, could not be reached for comment.
Town officials said Grant started buying the turkeys in 1994, when he first was elected mayor. They said he has bought the birds with taxpayer money every year but last year, when the council voted not to spend the money.
Grant said he has been giving away turkeys for only about seven years. He said he’s not sure how often town dollars were used but, “We probably have one or two years.”
Grant started the giveaway using a list of residents over age 65 who had participated in a town senior program, he said.
The list, Grant said, has been updated annually to include additional residents. But some on the list are younger than 65, and other elderly residents are not on the list at all. The town list obtained by the Orlando Sentinel has 111 names, but according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 200 Eatonville residents over age 65.
Grant said everyone on the list was invited to pick up a turkey last Thanksgiving.
But at least six seniors on the list are deceased, including former Mayor Nathaniel Vereen Sr., who died in 1989.
Evelyn Calhoun, 86, is on the list and welcomes her turkey.
“It’s about time they give something to the residents,” said Calhoun, who supports the mayor.
Frances Jerry, 74, received a turkey just once — the first year of the giveaway.
She is not on the current list, and she said she has not received the invitation to pick up a turkey since the first time.
“I sure don’t support him,” she said of Grant. “I don’t have anything to do with him.”
Martha Burgmon, a Grant supporter who led a recall committee last year against one of his political opponents, is on the list. Burgmon is 62.
Grant said a turkey for another resident who is 55 and on the list actually was for the woman’s father.
Grant said the age cutoff is sometimes lowered when more turkeys can be purchased. But the list does not include ages. He said he “just knows” the ages of residents before offering them a turkey.
Grant, whose parents, Annie and Frank Grant, 70 and 75, are on the list, said he does not use turkeys to sway voters. Those on the list who say they don’t get a turkey offer are lying, he said.
“Everyone who you are talking about is my political enemy,” he said. “If we missed anyone it was not intentional.”
Past councils — those that have supported Grant — have approved using town money to buy turkeys. But Grant and the current council have been at odds for months. In June, they stripped him of some of his administrative powers.
In November council members denied Grant’s request for turkey money, so he paid $856.45 himself to buy 125 turkeys. The council four times has denied his requests to be reimbursed from the town budget.
“I’ve heard of people doing this with their personal money, but I haven’t heard of people doing it with public money,” said Jon Mills, director of the Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University of Florida.
Meanwhile, state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando last month called for an audit of the town’s financial books, which could happen later this year.
Nash, 57, received a turkey offer every year except last year.
The Town Council in early November appointed Nash to fill a vacated seat on the council. Grant sued her, saying the appointment wasn’t proper because the council member she replaced helped approve it. A judge ruled Nash could stay put, but she didn’t get a turkey.
“There are only a certain few [who get a turkey], and they are his supporters,” she said.
Ella Dinkins, 84, is on the list but says she has never received the turkey offer.
“[Grant’s] supporters get a turkey,” she said.
Grant insisted that Dinkins has been offered turkeys.
Vera King, 65, gets a letter every year but never picks up her free bird.
“I keep telling them I don’t want a turkey, I just want service,” she said.
