Statement from the Estero Island Taxpayers Association (EITA)

October 26, 2018

Fort Myers Beach, Fla. – Beverley Milligan, president of the Estero Island Taxpayers Association
released the following statement today:

“The Estero Island Taxpayers Association (EITA) respects the State Attorney’s decision not to
press criminal charges against Fort Myers Beach Town Council Mayor Tracey Gore and
councilman Dennis Boback based on our respect for the Sunshine Law.

EITA has consulted with our attorneys and the EITA Board. We are prepared to file an ethics
complaint based on the deeply concerning conversation of our high-ranking representatives
secretly committing to strategize with a plaintiff of two lawsuits that were filed against their
Town to halt a significant resort construction project. The same one the two unanimously
approved 5-0 months before.

If betraying the trust of the community isn’t disgraceful and shameful enough, the tapes also
include:
• The plaintiff’s husband alluding the fact that the owner of a major area hotel is funding
the plaintiff’s lawsuit as a cover-up for fear of undermining his reputation and not
wanting hotel competition.
• The Mayor proclaiming dislike toward specific council members, community members
and the town attorneys.
• The Mayor declaring, she may “quit” and join the lawsuit and acknowledging that by
what she is doing may land her in jail.
• The Mayor promising to vote for or against initiatives she wants, rather than those
supported by the community.
• The Mayor proudly and purposefully undermining nearby Sanibel Island.
• Councilman speaking about council business publicly, placing the town in grave danger.

Mayor Gore and Councilman Boback, two of the town’s most powerful city officials, can spin
the conversation any way they want but the tapes speak for themselves, and so does their clear
disregard for process, decency and standards. When it comes to Fort Myers Beach, EITA will do
whatever is necessary to protect our community from corruption. It is what the people of Fort
Myers Beach richly deserve. We step up every day and it’s time for Mayor Gore and Councilman
Boback to step down for better representation of our community, to restore our democracy
and to improve our economic stability.”

About the Estero Island Taxpayers Association (EITA):

Estero Island Taxpayers Association (EITA) is a group in Fort Myers Beach dedicated to
representing the rights of all Estero Island Taxpayers and their role in local economic and
political decision making. To learn more, visit: https://www.esteroislandta.org or Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/EsteroIslandTA.

For more information:

Lauren Russ
Connect Communications on behalf of EITA
lauren@connectcomsinc.com
773/972-7060