Aides to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have rallied some Tallahassee neighbors with a street campaign against the Fourth Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment that would override the state’s current six-week abortion ban. It’s upsetting.
Anastasios Kamousas, DeSantis’ deputy chief of staff, lives in the Killearn Estates neighborhood, which is known for homeowner associations that strictly enforce codes and restrictions, especially bans on political signage. .
This week, Mr. DeSantis stepped up his campaign against the Fourth Amendment, holding a campaign-style meeting with doctors opposed to the bill in Miami-Dade County, and calling the archbishop and lieutenant governor of Miami like atheists. It ended with a prayer asking people not to vote.
Around the same time, six “No No. 4” signs appeared on the sidewalk in front of Kamtzas’ home, neighbors said.
The number of signs tripled from the one that prompted a violation notice from the Killearn Estates Homeowners Association in August. On Wednesday, they were seen by motorists, joggers and pedestrians passing Mr Kamtzas’ residence.
According to available organizational charts from the governor’s office, Mr. Kamsas is an experienced government attorney whose background includes law enforcement, corrections and gaming enforcement. He found a way to take advantage of neighborhood homeowner rules, neighbors told USA TODAY Network (Florida).
Here’s how: Florida law prohibits homeowner associations from imposing sanctions if the homeowner corrects the violation before the meeting at which the sanction is imposed.
According to email exchanges shared with reporters, the Killearn Homes Association was preparing to impose hundreds of dollars in fines in September for violating regulations on political signage, but Mr. Kamtzas took advantage of a loophole. avoided a fine.
He removed the sign before KHA’s September meeting and avoided a fine. Neighbors said the signs appeared again the next day. These are new violations and require the board to impose fines and other sanctions.
Killearn Estates resident Stephen Creeder said four more signs were added this week, with less than two weeks until the election.
“It just stinks,” said one resident during a lively discussion on Facebook about the Kamtsas operation. “He thinks he’s above the rules,” another commented. Kamsas was not home when reporters visited the house on Wednesday. A request for comment has been sent to the governor’s office and is pending.
“It’s terrible that one person is willing to break the rules while others don’t push the envelope and actually take things like fines and restrictions more seriously.” said Stephen Creeder, one of the neighbors. Reporter.
Creeder said he’s “not an HOA type of person” and supports the First Amendment, but he also likes living in unmarked neighborhoods.
“I think it’s really refreshing not to have to see (signs) in your own neighborhood. I don’t think it stifles people’s free speech at all,” Kreeder said.
The homeowners association’s next meeting is Nov. 5 (also election day), when it could decide whether to address Kamtsas’ recent symptoms.
James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and at: @Tallahassee.
