VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — It was a long meeting for the Deltona City Commission on Monday night, as commissioners held a quasi-judicial public hearing regarding Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. and whether he violated city policies by attending the inauguration of President Donald Trump on the city’s dime.

The commission needed a super-majority of five votes to prove that Avila knowingly violated policy, but it failed at 4-3.

What You Need To Know

  • A quasi-judicial public hearing was held at the Deltona City Commission meeting to discuss whether or not Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. knowingly violated the city's travel policy

  • The commission needed a super-majority of five votes to prove that Avila knowingly violated policy, but it failed at 4-3
  • All commissioners agreed to move forward as they plan to review and revise multiple policies including the city's travel policy

The discussion was first brought up during the city commission’s Feb. 3 meeting when commissioner Dori Howington first voiced concerns about the mayor’s trip, stating that it cost the city thousands of dollars for expenses like hotel accommodations and gas for a city vehicle.

Avila admits to driving a city vehicle to Washington D.C. with his wife but has continued to deny claims that he knowingly violated city policy.

He insisted that he was in D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors between Jan. 17 and 19.

There was a lot of back and forth during Monday night’s quasi-judicial public hearing.

Each commissioner provided evidence and facts on the subject, which was followed by public statements and the vote.

Commissioners Stephen Colwell, Maritza Avila-Vazquez, Dori Howington, and Nick Lulli all shared evidence like news clips and clips from past meetings to prove that the mayor either knew the policy or should have known the policy.

“I am very disappointed because they’re right, I think it was political and I think those that didn’t vote (in favor) already had their minds made up when they walked through the door without even seeing the evidence presented,” Howington said.

The mayor continually acknowledged that he did not know the policy prior to his trip and his lawyer stated that he believes that none of the evidence shown could prove that he was aware of the policy.

“There was not conclusive evidence. I know while some of the commissioners, one specifically, wanted to kind of say they were in my head and, ‘Hey this is the way you think or didn’t think,’ but I didn’t know,” said Avila. “I think I’ve owned up to that several times.”

Even after the initial vote, Howington asked for a motion of no confidence in the mayor, but that vote also failed.

However, the commissioners and the mayor agreed to move forward as they plan to review and revise multiple policies, including the city’s travel policy.

The city commission’s next meeting is on Monday, March 3.