http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... G/60717004

Published Monday, July 17, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006

Council Fires Avon Park City Attorney

By Kevin Bouffard
The Ledger

AVON PARK -- The City Council has fired City Attorney Mike Disler after he publicly criticized Avon Park's controversial illegal immigration ordinance as ``poorly drafted.'' and unconstitutional.

``They have every right to do what they did,'' Disler told The Ledger today in response to council's action during a Saturday budget meeting, which the lawyer did not attend.

The Ledger reported Disler's remarks in a Thursday front-page story regarding how the ordinance might affect Wal-Mart's plans to build a supercenter in the city later this year. It was the first time Disler had spoken out on the ordinance.

When asked Monday if he regretted those remarks, Disler said, ``No, I don't.''

According to local media reports, the five council members did not discuss the reasons behind their unanimous vote to give Disler a 30-day notice of his dismissal. But Councilman Doug Eason, who made the motion, said it stemmed from a recent embarassing incident.

Disler said ``it would appear'' his firing was related to criticisms of the ordinance, which he had no part o drafting.