DELTONA, Fla. - For the second time since the beginning of January, a Deltona City Commissioner has resigned their seat. This time, it's Thomas Burbank, who announced this week he was stepping down effective on Thursday. His departure follows the resignation of Anita Bradford on January 2nd.
The City of Deltona is still making sense of Burbank's sudden resignation; the now ex-Commissioner did not provide a reason in his letter of resignation. No stranger to controversy, Burbank received a censure in February 2023 for a Facebook comment directed at candidate Nick Lulli. Burbank called Lulli a laundry list of derogatory names, including 'tool', 'parasite', 'leech', 'impulsive liar', and 'wet-butt boy'. The last of these is a homophobic slur referencing same-sex prison relationships.
Lulli, a gay man, responded that "city officials have no business using homophobic hate language against private citizens". Burbank later said that he didn't know Lulli was gay, and that it was not his intention to be homophobic. Lulli sued the City of Deltona for libel, and received an $8,000 settlement in August.
Burbank's resignation will spark the search for an interim commissioner, the second such time in recent memory such a process has been undergone. Troy Shimkus was chosen to fill out the term of Bradford, who resigned for health reasons. Other applicants in that process included residents Elbert Bryan, Matthew Shaw, William Mabery, Emma Santiago, Timothy Tyckoson, and Elizabeth Chavez.
Those interested in applying to serve as an interim commissioner until the November 2024 election are asked to apply by sending a resume or letter of interest to the City Clerk's office at 2345 Providence Blvd, 2nd floor, Deltona, FL 32725. They can also do so by email, via jraftery@deltonafl.gov. The deadline to send in an application is at 12:00 pm on Monday, February 19th.
