WATCH: Winter Garden Mayor John Rees refutes claims made by City Commissioner Ron Mueller while campaigning for reelection

Winter Garden Mayor John Rees used his time at the end of the Thursday, March 14, City Commission meeting to address several statements made by City Commissioner Ron Mueller while campaigning for reelection to the District 2 seat.

Rees spoke for nearly 10 minutes and identified several of Mueller’s claims. The first was one Mueller made in a March 4 Observer story about Rees and the rest of the City Commission endorsing one of Mueller’s challengers, Iliana R. Jones. In his comments, Mueller said both Rees and City Commissioner Lisa Bennett had “extensive” business relationships with the Ramos family, “from which they stand to gain financially if their preferred candidates win.”

“If you have anything on that, proof on that, documentation on that, then bring it forward,” Rees said to Mueller. “If you don’t, then I think you need to admit that this is not a true statement. Period. This is what our Observer printed and said that you said." 

Editor’s note: The Observer has asked Mueller to provide proof of his claims and has removed those comments from the previous story until that proof is obtained and verified.

“I didn’t even really know what the Ramos family did until I was in (City Manager Jon Williams’) office a couple weeks ago, and we looked it up,” he said. “I have not gotten anything from them, and I know Lisa hadn’t, either. Not one penny.”

Rees also addressed several instances in which Mueller's campaign materials credit him for work on several projects. One in particular was securing land that connects Dr. Bradford Park with Newton Park. According to Rees, that agreement was made May 24, 2018. Mueller assumed his post on the commission in 2021.

“We closed on that … three years before you were on the commission,” Rees said.

In other claims, Rees said Mueller took credit for the work city staff and others had done.

“You just take it away from our staff and this commission,” he said. “Our staff does a wonderful job. And to read this … I just don’t know how that makes them feel. … They make our job so much easier, because of the great job that they do. That’s where I think the credit needs to go. I think the credit needs to go to our staff and not to one person.”

In addition to Mueller and Jones, Danny “DJ” Culberson also is vying for the District 2 seat. The election will take place March 19.

See our exclusive 2024 Winter Garden City Commission District 2 Candidate Q&A to learn more about the candidates.