Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins has made a habit of using what he calls his “official personal” Facebook page to attack individuals, officials or entire groups, undermine local policy and make claims based on little or no evidence, all without disclaimers distinguishing his rants from his role as a county commissioner. That was the case Saturday when he called himself “Very disappointed in some of the city of Flagler Beach officials” and made an inflammatory claim about them: that they were hurting business and tourism in the city with their “stay on your side of the bridge mentality.”
He did not say who he was referring to, where or when any official would have told anyone to stay on the other side of the bridge (though in emergencies it’s not unusual in certain circumstances). But this time, two Flagler Beach city commissioners and the city’s mayor called him out, and the chairman of the county commission, who’s distanced himself from Mullins’s more egregious behavior on several occasions, said Mullins’s statement had nothing to do with the county’s position or its relations with Flagler Beach. “What we’re trying to do is work together,” Commission Chairman Dave Sullivan said of colleagues in the various governments.
The push-back against Mullins is a reflection of local public officials, who have long criticized Mullins privately, becoming more willing to do so publicly or on the record, embracing bluntness over diplomacy.
“Joe, do we as individual Flagler Beach City Commissioners ridicule the Flagler County Commission as a whole because all of the County amenities aren’t open?” Flagler Beach City Commissioner Rick Belhumeur responded to Mullins’s Facebook post. “So you feel comfortable attacking both Commissions as a group?, because that’s what you’re doing. Both Commissions, when we declared our emergencies, passed the baton to our staff, emergency management and health department. Start attacking them because at this point they’re making the calls.”
Mullins was again criticizing Flagler Beach government’s decision, though it was reached in conjunction with county and health officials. Those officials discuss these issues daily and cooperatively–without Mullins–and did so weeks ago to keep the city’s boardwalk and pier closed, along with the parking in front of both.
Mullins never explains why the two areas are closed, and appears not to know, though that’s the case with numerous issues he discusses with more ideological fervor and attention-grabbing bombast than reflection. The pier and the boardwalk were closed to foot traffic and parking several weeks ago after Flagler Health Department Chief Bob Snyder and Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney concluded that both served as magnets for larger groups. Keeping the areas off limits would help with social distancing. That may soon change as the same officials are exploring ways to reopen the pier on a limited basis, along with the boardwalk. City Manager Larry Newsom discussed the approach last week, stressing that the reopening would take place with social distancing guidance in place.
“We need officials that understand they (REPRESENT) us not control,” Mullins had written over a picture of the yellow cones blocking off the parking zone in his Saturday Facebook post. He did not explain what he meant by “control.” “Taxes are so high due to poor tourism income and this is their welcome,” he went on. “We all pay lots of taxes that go into this area. Come visit just don’t park. These businesses need people right now a lot more then parking stripes.”
Mullins then attacked Belhumeur for “running off other income sources” after raising taxes. “You worry about your responsibilities and I’ll worry about mine,” Belhumeur responded. “Just stop with the petty name calling and belittlement of those you ought to be strategizing with.”
Mullins did not respond to an email asking him to whom he was attributing the “mentality” statement and where it had been made.
Provencher a few weeks ago was–like most city officials–bothered by a fringe group’s decision to “demonstrate” for opening Flagler Beach, and doing so along State Road A1A downtown, while the governor’s stay-home order was still in full force. Provencher in an interview today recalled making an off-the-cuff remark that “anybody that would come to a protest during a time of crisis and make my first responders work harder, yes, that is an idiot, or something to that effect.” Provencher added: “I’ve never told people not to come here. The only thing Ive said is please pick up after yourself. God knows I do a beach cleanup every month, so people know I’m passionate about the beach.”
The mayor’s disappointment with protesters, it appears to Commissioner Eric Cooley, is what got turned into Mullins’s “mentality” statement. “His misstatements and the propaganda that he’s pushing out,” Cooley said in an interview, “first of all is categorically untrue, and second of all is extremely disparaging to this town, and he’s saying this about Linda. He’s pushing a message that’s simply untrue.”
Cooley said there are issues with the city’s “operational” approaches to parking and messaging, but not with policy. He has no disagreements with keeping the boardwalk and pier closed (he was the most vocal of his fellow commissioners for closure of the beach in late March). But he said the city’s confused and obscure messaging about parking needs improvement. But that’s a different matter from Mullins’s claims, he said, criticizing the county commissioner for undermining city policy and Mullins’s own county policies by attacking current safety measures and going against the governor’s orders. “The governor has put out this order that businesses can’t open past 25 percent,” Cooley said. “In a time of emergency, we really need to all be on the same page. He’s undermining his own govern ment and our government in our efforts trying to keep people safe.”
Sullivan was critical of Mullins for having used his Facebook page to announce policy shifts before either Flagler Beach or county government were ready to issue their statements and releases. Mullins would do so to portray himself as the decision-maker and draw attention to himself. “The normal thing is for the press release to go out about the same time the whole thing is publicized,” Sullivan said, or to “try to get it out before Joe puts it out on Facebook, which is really hard.”
Cooley said calling out Mullins isn’t new for him: if his own reputation or the city’s are involved, he says he speaks out. “My public correction to him have been going on for a while. What I’m starting to see now is some other folks getting fed up and starting to speak up about his finger-pointing and charade and general misinformation to the public,” Cooley said. “He’s making statements to make himself look good and others look bad. It ends up in his own little world, it becomes true, if nobody corrects you. He has his own radio show which is an echo chamber, he has his Facebook page, which is an echo chamber. But when it comes to public meetings, he doesn’t do that, because he knows he’ll get corrected.”
Captain says
That’s why I didn’t VOTE for that unprofessional P.O.S
jake says
One thing Mullins is right about, the high taxes do not reflect the services provided.
Mike Cocchiola says
Joe Mullins is a failure as a commissioner. He has embarrassed Flagler County numerous times. He is disruptive, disingenuous divisive. He has to go!
DP says
Well that doesn’t surprise me. He’s a loose cannon. He dosen’t believe in one unified voice. He was filling our Z section neighborhood group full of his propaganda, I called it out and was kicked out of my own neighborhood group from administration. It will be interesting this coming hurricane season if they don’t get a control of the problem.
Joe Mullins needs to go!!!!
erobot says
Unless I’m mistaken, Z Section is not part of Flagler Beach.
It’s come to it that only 47% of FB property owners live here and see our little piece of paradise as a money tree.
If the county and Palm Coast want a beach side version of Coney Island here, let them provide it. Our taxes and water bills have gone out of sight providing the “business community” opportunities to make a buck on the backs of FB tax payers and developers to tap into our water and utilities to further erode our way of life.
I don’t know anything about Mullins background, but if he wants to roll back the assault on the place I’ve called home for the past 31 years, I support him.
Jimbo99 says
I tend to side with Mullins on this one. Last week or two, the beach & parks was reopened, yet parking was still coned & taped as unavailable. The beach reopening was handled in a 2 phase approach, phase 1 as limited AM & PM hours for exercise only. Since, phase 2 seems to be that the hours have been expanded, no parking. Mullins pretty much called it like I saw it and have even posted on before. Without parking those that don’t live within walking distance really can’t go to the Flagler Beach area for exercise. That no parking and the only way across the bridge might as well be foot, bicycle or skating travel. No parking is exclusionary. The reopening was worded to appear to be inclusive for headlines, yet effectively with lack of parking anywhere, pointless for anyone to attempt a visit if they didn’t rent or own in Flagler Beach on the Peninsula. Would one receive a citation or be towed for parking illegally in a roadside parking space ? The wording of the reopening really was deceptive in that regard. Exercise Only for pedestrian traffic for the beach should have been the clarity. In typical fashion the wording and write up was cleverly disguised to appear to be serving, when it was, in effect, nothing more than declaring to allow locals to the beachside.
And in typical fashion, politicians find an individual to deflect. Mullins in this case merely pointed out facts, called it out accurately. The other side of the aisle, might perceive it as opportunistic ? But the reality is other beaches in FL have opened more aggressively with higher population densities. Flagler Beach can become relatively crowded, but is it really social distancing violation level ? I’d like to see video evidence for extended time elapse to see actually how many are not social distancing under the new reopen. That’s fair, because I do realize there are groups that will do that, the 10 plus that are sitting around on towels in the soft sand. Those are rarer exceptions of social distancing violations Otherwise would you have maybe 5 in a family sitting next to each other ? And with those 5, what is the difference between sitting on the beach or in their own home ? Same 5 isolated among themselves. Anyone seeing that many, stay 6-13 feet away from them and is lack of social distancing an issue even ?
Kim Lane says
Well said. Keep up the fight to open the Pier, parking, and bathrooms, Joe Mullens! It’s ridiculous!
Anonymous says
Well said and great questions!
Christopher Lemke says
Love Joe Mullins. Truly idiotic to close the parking and boardwalk. I was approached by a very nice deputy who asked me to leave because one of the commissioners owned a shop across the street and that he probably see me. The deputy was rightly and truly embarrassed. Seems like a power play to me. We need more people like Joe.
Koreanvet says
Troublemaker Mullins … we were warned by Georgia newspaper articles that he is a problem .
Me says
When is the Flagler County Commissioners going to get Joe Mullin out of there, he needs to have duct tape put on his mouth, he is a little man trying to act big and has no business being in any form of government. Joe go back to Georgia Flagler County has had enough of your mouth
Name (required) says
Grown ass men shouldn’t even have a penchant to use Facebook for anything other than keeping up with Family and friends. Joe Mullins is the reason most level headed individuals don’t even bother with that social platform. It’s a ton of muck, and nothing more than a place for sanctimonious zealots to bullhorn their bullshit ideals. Barf. Lolol. What a time to be alive to witness the absolutely Asinine self- centric habits of the human race! And to think, in a showing of journalistic integrity, you actually defended this mouthy eccentric Asshat last week. Can’t fix this type of knuckle dragging Dolt… Too thick.
Mia says
Don’t worry about Mullins. Everyone knows he’s “off” and nobody will vote him back except a few like ppl.
Concerned Citizen says
All of this bickering and fighting at taxpayers expense.
Regardless of who started what remember who was involved when it comes time to vote. I’m tired of this 3rd grade sand box pissing match contest. It’s gone on far to long. These people work for US!! But they’ve long since forgotten that. And only care about themselves and special interests.
I have said it before and will say it again. Flagler County and surrounding entities need drastic change. It starts with us. And it starts at the polls. Vote these long time empire building folks out. And get fresh faces in there. That will be accountable to their constituents. Not folks who got bought a long time ago. And are just banking profit and pension.
I plan on doing my part. Are you up for doing yours?
P.S
I saw Amazon had pacifiers pretty cheap. I should get a head count of all BOCC folks and send them one. Along with blankies.
Rusty Rollings says
I corrected him on his definition of residency as did another person and he called us clowns on his Facebook post about Flagler Beach. Who calls constituents and taxpayers that pay his salary clowns? Especially when he thought I was a guy! If anything he needs to be removed from being a commissioner. He’s a disgrace to this county! Yes I have the screenshots to prove it too.
CB from PC says
The problem with government officials is that once elected many lose sight of the fact that they are in office because of “We the people”.
I am no fan of career bureaucrats, most of whom would not survive in the private sector, but given the severity of the pandemic, better to err on side of caution. All it will take for a spate of new cases is for.people to forget about social distancing, wearing masks, etc. In fact, just the type of crap I witnessed over the weekend when shopping for food, etc.
We have a lot of ignorant louts around here, and they come in all sorts of flavors besides Mullinsade.
Steve says
First off dont fall into the Mullins look at me and all I do trap out of the POTUS playbook. Hes a minnie me piss ant muck raker who needs to keep himself in tbe spotlight to feed the neverending ego that most Napolean Syndrome sufferers are maligned with.Vote him out he does nothing.
Brian says
Whatever. Everybody just chill and get some sun. Thanks to 7-eleven for staying open thru this goofiness. I sat on my porch at the beach and saw 2 people riding around alone in their car with masks on. These people need to go home and stay there even when this stuff is over.
Whathehck? says
And you knew for sure that one of these two people is not positive or symptomatic. Protecting others should never been made fun of.
Roy Longo says
For 30 years I worked for Flagler County. First the Ambulance Service, then Flagler County Fire Rescue. All those years, my Brothers and Sisters and I worked hard for the County, we sweated for the County, bled for the County and at times we cried for the County. Now we have this asshole County Commissioner making a mockery of our County and all the employees work hard day in and day out which in turn, makes him and all the commissioners look good. Come election time, I will work to keep him from ever getting re-elected.
Whathehck? says
Thank you so much for keeping us safe for 30 years.
Unfortunately you can’t fix stupid. He has to go.
flaglerflyer says
Mullins is right, Flagler Beach and their police department are a joke. They deserve to be mocked! While other municipalities are opening up their beaches and businesses, the Flagler Beach police department is scurrying around chasing people off the boardwalk.
Here’s a thought, why not spend time focusing how to maintain public parking and restrooms in a reasonably safe manner! Show the people that government can rise to meet the challenge vs chasing people away. Try and help struggling businesses open up and provide employees the means to pay their mortgages and other bills.
If you are not able to figure out a way to serve your community effectively and your best solution is for people to stay in their homes, maybe you should consider letting other more capable people lead the way!
Kim Lane says
Well said. Keep up the fight to open the Pier, parking, and bathrooms, Joe Mullins! It’s ridiculous!
Heezeasleeze says
Mullins should be put out of office pending the outcome of the prostitution investigation. He is a big mouth and a blow hard. Mullins never has much to say other than how great he is and how terrible everything and everyone else is. The man needs mental help!! I think the Governor should immediately step in as Mullins is doing harm to the city of Flagler Beach and he is acting like is the county board of couny commissioners and he gets everything done when we all know he has very little power as an individual. Even though he posts on what he calls her personal facebook page, it is public record when he writes about the county in anyway. Send this fool back to GA!!
CB from PC says
Do you also believe Joe Biden should have his presumably Democrat nominee status suspended pending outcome of the Tara Reade sexual assault investigation? Thought not.
JC says
Just like Trump with his 25 accusers!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh that’s right they don’t count because Trump doe’s no wrong.
Maria Darcy says
Is it possible that Joe is simply communicating the will of the people? Is it possible that Linda,, calling “fringe protesters” idiots ,could be offensive? Closing parking, pier, boardwalk, takes away what belongs to the people, what they came here for, what they are willing to pay taxes for. The explanation that it was to discourage large crowds, social distancing, is lame at this point. The crowds still come, but they park on side streets, along A1A and have to run across the street with all their gear, children, making it unsafe for them and the motorists. Memorial Day will be here soon, will the unsightly barricades, cones, tape, and police units, still be there for residents and visitors to be left wondering why our leadership feels that as adults we are not capable of policing ourselves? Will we be forced to travel out of Flagler County to enjoy our most valuable resource? How sad that this issue seems to have no resolution that favors the will of the people. What will it take to set our egos aside and get this resolved. Joe may feel frustrated and pressured by the people that have called upon him to do more to resolve this issue.
Eva Mowry says
Excuse me, do you live in FB? Does not sound like it. Go and enjoy county beaches and PC beaches why don’t you. WE in FB support the decision of our leaders to avoid areas of known congregation. Don’t like it? Boo hoo. Move along.
Discomfort Kiddo says
This is the truest thing that I’ve seen in awhile. It’s not just other officials he goes after. He regularly personally goes after citizens who speak up against him. I’m going to leave this note on an alias because I’ve seen him do it to friends and genuinely don’t want him to come after me as well. But watch his attacks; it gets personal too. You can’t question him about anything. I’m afraid to even send questions in to the virtual town hall because of it.
Rob says
The only reason this clown was ever elected was because he had the most campaign signs plastered all over town. He’s a petty stupid little man.
Jay Rhame says
This isn’t a criticism and I do not support or condone what Commissioner Mullins does or says but I’ve been wondering when they are going to open the parking by the boardwalk since they opened the beach. It seems that the same number of people are coming to the beach but are more concentrated in the areas that have parking. With the parking at the boardwalk closed about 10 blocks of beach have been make unavailable. Could that area be reopened with limited parking by keeping some of the parking spaces barricaded and leaving the walkovers open but closing off the boardwalk?
Greg says
I somewhat agree with Mullins. Why is the parking blocked off? Makes no sense. I think Flagler Beach is hurting the locals. It’s easier to drive past the no parking and go a bit south to a large parking lots adjoined to restaurants
Mr. Deeds says
Mullins is just another example of a self absorbed blowhard.
Mona says
Just wander, why in the crisis like this one people can’t leave without the beach?
Phillip says
Folks,
Let this one sink in and I hope Mullins puts his eyes on this post.
Yes Mullins you are a blowhard RINO. (Republican in Name Only) you do not represent the Republican Party all you do is divide!
People wake up and let Tallahassee know what he is doing.
~Joe Go back To GA! Your way over your head.
Sherry says
Look. . . even “IF” Mullins ever has a reasonable point. . . it is his incredibly “unprofessional” way of communicating his (often asinine) perspective that is at issue here. Like his bullying idol, he seems to have no concept of how to work diplomatically as part of a professional organization and how to strategize as a compromising team member.
It seems that “Social Media” platforms like Twitter, and now Facebook, somehow provide a venue for the very worst in people to be unleashed. While it may be enlightening to see the true despicable thinking of some in public office, this kind of perverted “public” discourse is incredibly detrimental to our community and must be stopped! Time for the BOCC to demand Mullins resign immediately!
Concerned says
This is the same dude that showed up at a food pantry, handed out his campaign signs and shirts and shot videos there during campaign season.
NEVER LIFTED A FINGER TO HELP…
In it for himself.
Flagler Beach Resident says
Mr. Mullins need not worry about how WE run OUR OWN City, and neither does anyone else who does not live here. We can’t help it that Palm Coast is a snooze, and PC’ers have to migrate to have a decent time.
Christopher T Lemke says
“running off other income sources after raising taxes” That has a familiar ring to it. The Democrats are masters of this and this way of governing has found its way to Flagler Beach. Yes, it is primarily about power and control. The commissioners have no real verifiable proof that these measures are justified. I recently heard one of the commissioners on a local radio program proclaiming with some joy that they had recently written a lot of parking tickets. Yup.
Have you seen the “social distancing on Flagler Beach? Yup, that’s working.
THere is practically no chance of catching the virus on or near the beach. The UV rays would mean instant death to it.