Orange Park Vice-Mayor resigns after he claims racism among town and council members

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — The town of Orange Park is without a vice mayor after he resigned claiming he left due to racism.

Former Vice Mayor Eddie Henley says after long thought and consideration it would be best for him to resign. This comes two weeks after he didn’t get the mayor position which would have made him the first Black mayor in Orange Park’s history.

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“And move forward being proud of what I’ve done, what we have accomplished as a council,” says Henley.

Henley says he felt he had to resign after he claims he was mistreated because of his skin color.

“It was a continuation truthfully of emails, statements, name-calling,” says Henley.

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According to Henley’s resignation letter that he submitted in last night’s town council meeting, it states, “unfortunately, I cannot continue to serve faithfully in my capacity under the subtle overt and covert racism I have experienced this year and weeks leading up to May 17, 2022.”

Just weeks ago, Action News Jax told you Henley was looking to be the first Black mayor in the town of Orange Park’s history, but the city council turned against him in a 3-2 vote last month.

“That I wasn’t competent enough to preside as mayor of their town. That I didn’t have the qualifications, that was disheartening,” says Henley.

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One of those council members who voted against him was councilman John Hauber.

Hauber says he never heard of any council members saying Henley wasn’t fit to be mayor, and it’s hurtful that Henley claims racism among their council.

“As far as council members I can tell you right now. Every single one of us has worked in some sort of form or fashion that we’ve no issues with any kind of race, beliefs of religion anything of that nature. So to describe us as racist is very hurtful to come from him,” says Hauber.

Councilman Alan Watt, who voted in favor of Henley says after last night’s resignation there are a lot of emotions going through his mind.

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“Angry, and the anger is dissolving into some really depressing disappointment,” says Watt.

He says Henley deserved better.

“Eddie Henley is a soft-spoken gentleman and some people take that as a weakness, but it’s not,” says Watt.

Mayor Randy Anderson did ask Henley to stay on the council, but he declined the offer.

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