ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla (CBS12) — What started as a St. Lucie County budget workshop turned into a tense exchange between two county commissioners, with one commissioner making pointed comments about Lakewood Park residents and another firing back over what he called an attempt to “educate” the board.

The exchange happened Monday during a St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners budget workshop, after commissioners debated funding for economic development and whether to support the Economic Development Council at its full requested amount.

County Manager George Landry first laid out several budget scenarios for commissioners, including options tied to the rollback tax rate and funding requests from the sheriff’s office, the clerk’s office, judicial agencies, Hands of St. Lucie County and the Economic Development Council. The board discussed whether to fully fund the EDC at $325,000 and how to close a multimillion-dollar gap if commissioners chose a rollback-rate budget.

During that discussion, Commissioner Cathy Townsend defended the EDC, saying commissioners cannot market the county the way the organization does. She also criticized the Chamber of Commerce, calling it “nothing more than a social club” and saying the EDC provides more value to the county.

Commissioner James Clasby pushed back on the idea that the county should continue subsidizing the EDC at the same level, arguing that St. Lucie County is already attractive to businesses and should prepare for a future with tighter budgets and less reliance on property taxes.

That led to a sharp personal exchange.

“Commissioner Townsend, let me just say this once,” Clasby said. “You need to stop trying to educate other people on the board.”

Clasby continued, saying the board had seen what Townsend had done as commissioner and that the policies and development projects she supported were “some of the reasons” he ran for office.

Townsend responded that she was not ignoring him, but was telling him to talk to people involved with the EDC.

The meeting then moved on, but the tension resurfaced later when Landry raised a separate topic: whether St. Lucie County should begin reviewing its commission district boundaries.

Landry said the county’s rapid growth over the past several years may have created population imbalances among districts. He noted that Florida law allows counties to review district maps in odd-numbered years and asked whether commissioners wanted staff to start looking at possible changes for early 2027.

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Townsend said her district stretches across several areas, including Lakewood Park, and argued the boundaries should be reviewed.

She then made critical comments about Lakewood Park residents, saying they are “very demanding” and making a remark about people there having “a mouth for lying, Townsend also said they were “probably friends with” Clasby.

Clasby responded by defending Lakewood Park.

“I really like Lakewood Park and the people there are my friends,” Clasby said, while agreeing that the district boundaries need another look.

Commissioners ultimately appeared open to having staff gather data and bring back examples of potential district changes later this year, with possible action in 2027.

Kimberly Byrd, who lives in Lakewood Park, shared her reaction to Townsend’s comments.

“I was just incensed. I was like, why would someone say that we’re needy, that we lie? Like, I haven’t really been caught up in the drama so much. I just know that there’s a lot of concern about overdevelopment in the area,” said Byrd.

Commissioner Townsend responds

CBS12 News reached out to the commissioners on Tuesday, and received the following statement from Cathy Townsend:

“My comments during the meeting have been taken out of context, and I want to be clear about what I meant.

“I was not referring to the residents of Lakewood Park as a whole. I was speaking out of frustration about a small group of individuals who repeatedly spread misinformation, make personal attacks, and create unnecessary division. My comments were directed at that behavior, not at an entire community.

“Anyone who knows my record knows how much I have supported Lakewood Park over the years. I have worked hard to advocate for projects, funding, and improvements because I believe the families who live there deserve the same opportunities and quality of life as every other part of St. Lucie County. While I can advocate, ask questions, and fight for my community, no single commissioner has the authority to make decisions alone. It takes a majority vote of the Board to approve any action, and I have always worked to build consensus to move good projects forward.

“I’m especially grateful for the many Lakewood Park residents who have worked collaboratively with me over the years. They know they can pick up the phone, call me directly, and together we’ve solved problems, answered questions, and gotten things done. Many of those same residents have also helped correct misinformation by sharing the facts with their neighbors. Because of those relationships, I would have hoped they knew my comments were never directed at them or at the community they love.

“Unfortunately, too often our meetings become more about creating moments that will play well on social media than about having thoughtful discussions and making informed decisions. I believe every commissioner has a responsibility to come prepared, educate themselves on the issues before us, ask tough questions, and work collaboratively to make decisions that are in the best interest of the people we serve. That has always been my approach, and it will continue to be.

If anyone in Lakewood Park felt personally hurt or insulted by my words, I sincerely regret that because it was never my intention. I care deeply about people, including the residents of Lakewood Park.

“Unfortunately, what many people are seeing online or being told about what happened is not the full truth. A brief clip or a single quote does not reflect the entire discussion, the context, or what led to my comments. I encourage anyone interested to watch the entire meeting and judge my remarks in context.

“Public service isn’t always easy. There are times when emotions run high, especially when there are repeated personal attacks and false information being spread. While I won’t apologize for standing up for the truth, I do want to make sure my comments are understood as they were intended.

“At the end of the day, my commitment remains the same: to listen, to work with every community, including Lakewood Park, and to continue serving all the residents of St. Lucie County to the best of my ability.”

Some residents feel this apology wasn’t enough.

“It’s political gaslighting kind of at its finest. Now hearing that she wants to run for supervisor of elections and really doesn’t care much about the constituents, I see now that I know where my vote will not be going,” said Byrd.