FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) \u2014 Community leaders and civil rights advocates are increasing pressure on Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson to step down following public allegations of sexual misconduct, prompting plans for demonstrations outside City Hall ahead of the upcoming City Council meeting.<\/p>\n
The controversy intensified after two men, Dominic Hendricks and Kagan Vann, made allegations during public comment at last week\u2019s council meeting. Both men claimed Anderson propositioned them for sex and continued making advances after they expressed discomfort.<\/p>\n
Anderson has repeatedly denied the claims. Speaking at the Sept. 21 meeting and at a city event the following day, Anderson described the statements as false and taken out of context.<\/p>\n
“I just want to be clear the allegations are false, these exchanges are being taken out of context and used to create a false narrative,” Anderson said. “With that, I will be focused on carrying out the work of our city as I have for the past six years.”<\/p>\n
Despite his denials, Anderson has stepped down from three high-profile board positions, including the local chapter of United Way, the Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Board, and Valerie\u2019s House. However, he has given no indication that he intends to resign as mayor or withdraw from his re-election campaign.<\/p>\n
Lee County NAACP President James Muwakkil sat down exclusively with Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander, he called for Anderson\u2019s immediate resignation and urged the City Council to act.<\/p>\n
“Mayor Anderson needs to resign,” Muwakkil said. “He needs to voluntarily come forward with information… This has criminalized the office of mayor in Fort Myers.”<\/p>\n
Muwakkil criticized members of the City Council for remaining silent on the allegations, stating that council members took an oath to uphold the Constitution rather than protect an individual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Silence equals permission,” Muwakkil added, noting that if council members refuse to take steps to remove the mayor, they should also resign.<\/p>\n
Multiple inquiries made to Fort Myers council members yielded no direct comments on the allegations. Outreach to organizations listed as endorsers on Anderson\u2019s campaign website also produced limited response; the Lee Building Industry Association declined to comment, while the Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association did not respond.<\/p>\n
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Meanwile, Anderson\u2019s opponent in the upcoming mayoral race, Amber Ware, stated she is not focusing her campaign on the allegations.<\/p>\n
“I was taken by surprise of these allegations, however I did not want that to be the primary focus of my campaign, I wanted nothing to do with it,” Ware said.<\/p>\n
Ware emphasized that the city\u2019s budget and financial health remain her main concerns. “Of course, I feel they are important if they are true to flush them out,” Ware said regarding the claims. “However, the budget is what comes first for me, and whatever comes with\u2014of these allegations, as far as he is concerned, that is his problem.”<\/p>\n
The Lee County NAACP plans to hold a rally and protest outside Fort Myers City Hall on Monday afternoon prior to the scheduled City Council meeting.<\/p>\n