Deltona Commissioner Emma Santiago is seeking criminal charges against fellow Commissioner Dori Howington, alleging that Howington threatened her and touched her without her consent at City Hall.
The tension began at a Deltona City Commission meeting on May 4, according to the report filed with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
During an audit presentation, Santiago raised concerns about Howington’s employment with the Volusia County Clerk of Court and asked whether the city should get an opinion on a potential conflict of interest.
Howington is the chief financial officer of the clerk’s office. The office does some business with the city, including withholding child support payments from employees’ checks, according to the audit presentation.
The annual comprehensive financial report, shared during the presentation, didn’t allege a potential conflict of interest. Rather, it disclosed that “a member of the City Commission also serves in a key position with another governmental entity with which the City may conduct business.”
It also said, “This relationship may give rise to transactions between the City and the other governmental entity in the normal course of operations. During the fiscal year, no material (transactions) requiring disclosure occurred between the City and this governmental entity.”
Emma Santiago is the wife of Volusia County Councilman David Santiago.
David Santiago said Howington should consider resigning.
“It’s sad that the discourse on this City Commission by Dori Howington has risen to this level. … She’s clearly not capable of doing the job professionally,” he said.
Santiago says fellow Deltona commissioner used threatening language, touched her
Emma Santiago told a deputy that after she made the successful motion to have the city attorney look into a potential conflict, Howington mumbled, “‘I’m going to get that bitch,’ which was overheard by Mayor (Santiago) Avila,” according to the report.
Howington also voted in favor of the investigation.
Santiago said that the next day, Howington confronted her at City Hall and began yelling about her needing to sign a document that had been submitted to the city attorney’s office. When she asked what the document was about, Howington started a verbal confrontation, Santiago told the officer.
During that confrontation, Santiago said that Howington told her, “I know where you live.”
“Commissioner Santiago reported feeling threatened due to this statement, combined with the comment made during the previous day’s meeting,” according to the report.
Howington then patted Santiago on the shoulder.
Sheriff’s report: Commissioner says behavior a ‘pattern of ongoing and escalating agression’
A video provided to The News-Journal shows the confrontation and Howington touching Santiago’s shoulder.
“Commissioner Santiago indicated that this behavior is part of a pattern of ongoing and escalating aggression, and she now has concerns for the safety of her family,” according to the report. “She reported no injuries as a result of the incident. Commissioner Santiago completed a sworn written statement advising she wishes to pursue charges.”
Howington declined to meet with a deputy who was investigating the report.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office submitted the report to the State Attorney’s Office for review, which will decide whether charges are warranted. The potential charges listed in the report are simple battery and threatening an elected official or their family.
Howington has not responded to a News-Journal request for comment.
The State Attorney’s Office will review the report and make a decision, an official with the office said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Deltona commissioner says fellow official threatened, touched her
Reporting by Sheldon Gardner, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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