Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila denies special treatment for home rental

By Realestates News On Oct 10, 2024

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Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr., says during a City Commission meeting Tuesday that allegations brought by the vice mayor about his home lease are incorrect.

Two top elected officials in Deltona traded accusations and barbs at the end of a four-hour meeting this week, with the vice mayor suggesting the mayor got a special deal on a rental home.

Vice Mayor Jody Lee Storozuk said he had heard from an attorney – who he did not name – that the mayor, Santiago Avila, Jr., was living in a home that had recently been bought by a developer who routinely has business before the city, and that the home was being leased at a low cost.

The vice mayor assembled packets of public records and other documents he had gathered and placed them on a table for public consumption in the City Commission Chambers before Tuesday’s meeting.

“Supposedly, a house was purchased just for the mayor’s rental,” Storozuk said to the mayor, seated directly to his left. “So as you said, if you hear something, you report it. So that’s what I did.”

Storozuk said he shared the information with authorities, including the State Attorney’s Office and Florida Commission on Ethics. Storozuk also said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement called him in reference to the allegations. An FDLE spokeswoman said Thursday she was trying to verify the agency’s involvement, while Haley Harrison, a public-information officer for the state attorney, said she could not confirm nor deny any investigation.

Avila told The News-Journal on Friday that he is paying $1,899 per month for the four-bedroom, two-bath home. The real-estate website Zillow reports the median home-rental price in the city is $1,905.

During the meeting, he defended the rental arrangement, pointing to factual errors, such as the timeline Storozuk presented.

“Supposedly, Mr. Storozuk says I moved into my home on Nov. 1,” Avila said, adding that he didn’t move in until Dec. 1.

Avila then ran through a timeline of events.

A pending sale was noted on Sept. 27. The home was sold and listed for rent on Oct. 31. The rental price was reduced on Nov. 9 before finally being removed from listings on Nov. 18.

Avila showed copies of text messages he said prove his case.

On Nov. 13, as he and his wife were contemplating moving, he texted her three possible options, including a home on Paragon Street, where they now reside.

On Nov. 16, his wife texted him about the Paragon Street home, pointing out that the offer included free rent in the first month and a $600 security deposit. They applied later that day and were accepted on Nov. 18.