Former Council member Ian O’Hara is under police investigation for misusing a City credit card. Suggested changes to the Charter on how the City disciplines and removes elected officials advance.
Photo by Cameron Healy
During the Nov. 4 Gulfport City Council meeting, Gulfport leaders advanced a suggestion to the Charter that could overhaul how the City disciplines and removes elected officials.
Ordinance 2025-12, introduced on first reading, would place nine proposed Charter changes — including revisions to Section 305, titled “Prohibitions” — on the March 10, 2026 ballot.
The measure follows months of discussion by the City’s Charter Review Committee, which urged stronger accountability provisions after controversy involving former Ward IV Council member Ian O’Hara.
Charter Reforms Move Toward March Ballot
If adopted, the amendments would allow Council to act on “serious misconduct or failure to perform duties” without waiting for a criminal conviction, subject to review by a Special Magistrate.
Council will hold a second reading and final vote in the coming weeks before submitting the ballot language to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections.
If voters approve the changes in March 2026, the reforms would mark Gulfport’s most significant Charter update in a decade.
That’s not all that happened at the Nov. 4 Gulfport City Council meeting. Read approvals, Code Enforcement, and what we overheard.Spending Scandal Sparks Charter Changes
Between March 2023 and September 2024, O’Hara charged $6,976.21 to his City purchasing card on restaurants, bars, taxis, and laundry services, according to City records.
He resigned in November 2024, and agreed to a repayment plan with the City.
City Clerk Theresa Carrico said on Feb. 14, he paid $200. He has not made any additional payments since then. In May 2025, Council voted unanimously to have the City Attorney bring the case to the State Attorney.
At the Nov. 4 Council meeting, Vice Mayor April Thanos inquired about the status of the O’Hara investigation.
“I think we need a report” said Thanos.
How We Cover Crime
When the current owners purchased The Gabber Newspaper in 2020, they made many changes. In October 2020, they changed policies on how The Gabber Newspaper handles crime reporting. Take a look at why we made that change, and why we now run the Chief’s report as we do.
On Nov. 4, Police Chief Mary Farrand answered Council’s questions regarding an investigation on former Ward IV Council member Ian O’Hara.
Photo by Trei Johnson
Police Chief Mary Farrand answered Council’s questions at the podium.
“I realize that folks think everything happens overnight, but it doesn’t actually. We have to wait for other people’s schedules sometimes,” she said. “The Gabber [Newspaper] actually did a really good investigation. However, we still have to do our investigation.”
When asked how long it might take, Chief Farrand said, “My understanding is the only thing left is to interview Ian, so getting their schedules to align has been a challenge.”
Chief Farrand told The Gabber Newspaper that, as this involves an open investigation, she could not give detailed updates. However, she said, City Attorney Andrew Salzman and City Manager Jim O’Reilly could, if they wished, speak on the matter.
Thanos asked what would happen if O’Hara refused to cooperate.
“I don’t think that this is the time to actually have that discussion,” Chief Farrand said. “I believe that in the next couple of weeks we should be sending it to the State Attorney’s office.”
Police Chief Addresses Conflict & Concerns
During the Council’s Oct. 21 meeting, resident Courtney Prokopas raised new questions about O’Hara’s ties to a Gulfport police sergeant.
“Reports indicate that he’s been living in the home of a Gulfport Police Department sergeant for several months now,” Prokopas said. “Does this create a conflict of interest or the appearance of one? As a citizen, I believe the public deserves to know what safeguards are in place to ensure this investigation remains unbiased and trustworthy.”
Chief Farrand addressed those concerns directly.
“Sergeant [Rob] Burkhart has nothing to do with the investigation; it’s assigned to Detective [Hanh] Pham,” Chief Farrand said. “This is a pretty cut-and-dried investigation. It’s a basic improper use of a credit card.”
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