Headline Surfer® photo / NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Carl Watson's tenure as executive director of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority had been suspect from the very first day he on the job when he agreed to have lunch with the office manager paid for by the agency credit, even though he knew full well it was against the written bylaws of the agency.
It didn't end there. Two months later, Watson also bought lunch for the newly-appointed SVAA Board Chairman Tom Clapsaddle, after he sent an email to County Councilwoman Deb Denys while she was on the dais to provide dirt to nail Clapsaddle's predecessor, Palmer Wilson, so he could get the chairmanship. Which Clapsaddle was rewarded with after Denys led a 4-3 vote to dump Wilson, which was clearly politically motivated on her part in her bid for re-election in 2014.
Today, both Watson and Clapsaddle tendered their resignations, Volusia County Chair Jason Davis said in a brief phone call to Headline Surfer® just before 5:45 p.m. when he found out.
"They both resigned," Davis said. "Watson apparently has some kind of sickness from when he was in Texas and Clapsaddle said he had to resign to take care of his sick father and run his hotel and he couldn't do both plus be chair of the ad authority. That's all I was told."
Asked if this was continuation of the scandal that befell the SVAA in 2013 with the credit card and their roles in pushing out Wilson, Davis said he didn't think so, but added, "We don't need another scandal involving these two. Good riddance is all I can say. I'm just reporting the news to you as to what I heard. It was done during their (board) meeting today."
Neither Watson nor Clapsaddle could be reached for comment.
Watson's resignation is effective June 30 while Clapsaddle's is immediate.
Editor's Note: This story is being updated.