GROVELAND, Fla. – The fate of the Groveland mayor hangs in the balance after the City Council decided to table the discussion about removing him from office.
The Groveland City Council met Tuesday, but did not discuss the option of removing newly elected Mayor George Rosario from office after reports surfaced about his criminal background.
Rosario was convicted of two felonies in Pennsylvania and did not disclose the information before the election. Convicted felons are barred in Florida from holding elected positions.
Rosario was convicted of selling more than an ounce of cocaine to undercover officers more than 30 years ago, according to arrest records.
He was also criticized during the 2016 campaign for falsely claiming he had received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars for his military service.
No new date has been set for a decision on the mayor's fate.
File: DOCUMENT Mayor Rosario email exchange
A group called Concerned Citizens of Groveland held a news conference Tuesday at Rosario's home to address the controversy.
The group claims that Rosario’s opponent in the mayoral race, Glen Wilson, is conducting a “witch hunt” and trying to keep Rosario from investigating “city corruption.”
Rosario has called for a complete audit of the city's finances.
"I filed the paperwork with the Supervisor of Elections and they reviewed them, they looked into them and there was no problem," Rosario said at the news conference.
The newly elected mayor said city officials are attempting to keep "corruption" going.
"(It's) the good ol' boys system, that is all it is, and they want to keep it going," Rosario said.
Rosario's civil rights to vote, serve on a jury or run for public office were never taken away, according to Chris Walker, with the Concerned Citizens of Groveland.
Pennsylvania is one of 13 states that restores a convicted felon's right to vote after they serve their sentence.
According to the Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office, the city recognizes Pennsylvania's rights to vote and officials said Rosario does have a right to vote, but when it comes to the right to hold a public office that is up to the Groveland City Charter.
The Groveland City Charter doesn't have a policy about convicted felons running for an elected position.
Groveland city attorney Anita Geraci-Carver said the problem is a lack of documentation that Roasrio had all his civil rights restored.
Geraci-Carver said while it is true a convicted felon has their right to vote restored in Pennsylvania after completing their sentence, there is one more step to regain the right to run for public office.
“Upon being convicted for a crime punishable by more than one year, a person loses eligibility to serve on a jury, and upon conviction of a felony loses eligibility to hold public office,” Geraci-Carver told News 6. “It requires a pardon which must be applied for and granted."
Groveland City Council would need proof of the pardon.
"[Based on] the lack of documentation his civil rights have been restored, Mr. Rosario is ineligible under the Florida Constitution to hold office until such time as all of his civil rights are restored,” she said.
News 6 reached out to the Groveland council members. Councilman Mike Radzik was the only one to respond in an email
“I was shocked to learn that the (Rosario) was a convicted felon but not totally surprised given the FBI’s investigation into the stolen valor issue,” Radzik said.
Radzik said the council has no other choice then to follow the Florida law.
“ Mr. Rosario swore under oath that he was qualified under the Constitution and Laws of Florida to hold that office for which he was running however, as we know felons are not allowed to hold public office unless they apply for and are granted clemency from the Governor’s office,” he said. “There is not record to date that he has done so.”
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