The Mayor of Ocala accused his opponent of being “naive” and suggested that the city has a problem with “bad people” before holding up a mugshot of an incarcerated individual.
During a forum held at Brick City Center for the Arts by the Junior League of Ocala on Wednesday, incumbent Kent Guinn, who is seeking another term as mayor, addressed a packed house of residents about his concern with crime in the city. After his opponent, Barbara Fitos, issued her closing statement, Guinn used his closing statement to make the remarks.
“One of my concerns is the police department. I have been very, very aggressive on fighting crime. My opponent, I’m afraid, is somewhat naive about bad people that exist in our community. You know, I see them frequently. Here’s a guy right here named Willie Smith, I put him in prison twice,” said Guinn as he held up a mugshot of Smith.
Marion County court records show that Willie Fred Smith, Jr. has been arrested twice this year, including in February on a felony battery charge that was dropped by the state, and again in June for leaving the scene of a crash and attempting to flee police while driving on a suspended license.
“He likes to prostitute women, he likes to beat them up, he likes to put cigarettes out on them, he likes to shoot them up with dope and keep them in a hotel room,” alleged Guinn.