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Former Council member Ian O\u2019Hara 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<\/p>\n
Former Council member Ian O\u2019Hara 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<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ordinance 2025-12, introduced on first reading, would place nine proposed Charter changes \u2014 including revisions to Section 305, titled \u201cProhibitions\u201d \u2014 on the March 10, 2026 ballot.<\/p>\n
The measure follows months of discussion by the City\u2019s Charter Review Committee, which urged stronger accountability provisions after controversy involving former Ward IV Council member Ian O\u2019Hara.<\/p>\n
Charter Reforms Move Toward March Ballot<\/p>\n
If adopted, the amendments would allow Council to act on \u201cserious misconduct or failure to perform duties\u201d without waiting for a criminal conviction, subject to review by a Special Magistrate.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
If voters approve the changes in March 2026, the reforms would mark Gulfport\u2019s most significant Charter update in a decade.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not all that happened at the Nov. 4 Gulfport City Council meeting. Read approvals<\/a>, Code Enforcement<\/a>, and what we overheard<\/a>.Spending Scandal Sparks Charter Changes<\/p>\n Between March 2023 and September 2024, O\u2019Hara charged $6,976.21<\/a> to his City purchasing card on restaurants, bars, taxis, and laundry services, according to City records.<\/p>\n He resigned in November 2024<\/a>, and agreed to a repayment plan with the City.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n At the Nov. 4 Council meeting, Vice Mayor April Thanos inquired about the status of the O\u2019Hara investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we need a report\u201d said Thanos.<\/p>\n How We Cover Crime<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, and why we now run the Chief\u2019s report as we do<\/a>.<\/p>\n Police Chief Mary Farrand answered Council\u2019s questions at the podium.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI realize that folks think everything happens overnight, but it doesn\u2019t actually. We have to wait for other people\u2019s schedules sometimes,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Gabber [Newspaper]\u00a0actually did a really good investigation. However, we still have to do our investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked how long it might take, Chief Farrand said, \u201cMy understanding is the only thing left is to interview Ian, so getting their schedules to align has been a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n Chief Farrand told\u00a0The 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\u2019Reilly could, if they wished, speak on the matter.<\/p>\n Thanos asked what would happen if O\u2019Hara refused to cooperate.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that this is the time to actually have that discussion,\u201d Chief Farrand said. \u201cI believe that in the next couple of weeks we should be sending it to the State Attorney\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n Police Chief Addresses Conflict & Concerns<\/p>\n During the Council\u2019s Oct. 21 meeting, resident Courtney Prokopas raised new questions about O\u2019Hara\u2019s ties to a Gulfport police sergeant.<\/p>\n \u201cReports indicate that he\u2019s been living in the home of a Gulfport Police Department sergeant for several months now,\u201d Prokopas said. \u201cDoes 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Chief Farrand addressed those concerns directly.<\/p>\n \u201cSergeant [Rob] Burkhart has nothing to do with the investigation; it\u2019s assigned to Detective [Hanh] Pham,\u201d Chief Farrand said. \u201cThis is a pretty cut-and-dried investigation. It\u2019s a basic improper use of a credit card.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gabber Newspaper? We Go There<\/p>\n In 1968, our founder, George Brann, started The Gabber Newspaper, then called the Gulfport Gabber, to hold Gulfport City Council<\/a> accountable. Read more of our city council coverage<\/a>, and learn about our policies on reporting, fact-checking, and funding<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/02Gulfport_Council_Trei-Johnson_11052025.jpg\")
On Nov. 4, Police Chief Mary Farrand answered Council\u2019s questions regarding an investigation on former Ward IV Council member Ian O\u2019Hara.
Photo by Trei Johnson<\/p>\n