Officials want governor to remove mayor

HALLANDALE BEACH — Mayor Joy Cooper’s political rivals sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott Friday, asking him to remove her from office two days after she slurred her words at a commission meeting and appeared to be under the influence of “some behavioraltering substance.”

Cooper said she was not drunk or on meds but severely dehydrated after contracting “Montezuma’s revenge” during a recent trip to Mexico.

“I have been extremely ill,” she said. “I have been eating crackers and milk and water and bananas for the past few days.’’

Cooper, mayor for the past 12 years, said Friday she had no idea she was slurring her words while running the meeting.

The governor’s office said on Friday it would look into the matter.

The letter, signed by Vice

Mayor Keith London and Commissioner Michele Lazarow, accuses Cooper of rambling incoherently and being unfit to conduct city business.

During the meeting, Cooper mispronounced several words. History became “sistory.” Democracy became “dismocraphy.” And insult became “intersult.”

Not long after Wednesday’s meeting started, the deputy city manager called the mayor’s husband to take her home and the police chief confiscated her car keys, City Hall officials said.

The mayor’s husband showed up to take her home, but she refused to go, saying she had work to do.

London says he felt compelled to contact Gov. Scott’s office in the interest of the public good.

“We are trying to conduct official business and we have tax dollars on the line,” he said. “It’s public money.”

Earlier this year, Cooper said she did not plan to seek re-election in 2020. She has since changed her mind, she said.

“I am very fit to serve as mayor,” she said. “I have always been fit to serve as mayor and I will always remain fit.”

COURTESY Mayor Joy Cooper said she was not drunk or on meds at the meeting, but was severely dehydrated.