SURFSIDE, Fla. – There’s even more drama in the small town of Surfside. This time, an official ethics complaint has been filed against the mayor.
Dina Goldstein, a longtime Surfside resident and a longtime employee until last summer, said she now feels like a target.
She said Mayor Charles Burkett is involved in ongoing social media posts about her and made public once-confidential information.
“These are all of my commendations,” Goldstein said, displaying more than 16 years’ worth, including Police Civilian of the Year.
“Her quality of work is exceptional,” she read from a paper.
But Goldstein was terminated last summer without a chance to review or dispute the reasons why.
“All the cops came by with cake and flowers and said, ‘We’re so sorry about what happened to you,’” William Blumenkranz, her husband, said.
But what prompted her to file a county ethics complaint against Burkett this week was finding out about his posts about her on the Nextdoor app and on his citywide blog, including that confidential ethics complaint.
“My address, phone number, a complete violation of my privacy,” Goldstein said. “It created vicious attacks against me, a lot of false accusations.”
The complaint is the latest in a city divided over the mayor’s moves in the last few months.
He’s been seen walking in on officers’ traffic enforcement efforts. He blocked streets with unsanctioned gates, leading the county to come in and remove them.
“I speak out against him and he doesn’t like anybody that speaks out against him,” Blumenkranz said.
Goldstein and her husband believe being outspoken and critical makes them among the targets. An ethics complaint is a resident’s only option.
“I want to essentially just clear my name,” Goldstein said. “I want the best for this community and this town.”
She said she not only wants to clear her name, but, at some point, get her job back.
Burkett told Local 10 News via text message that he was not told of any obligation to keep the complaint confidential and does not believe he has to.