New court paperwork sheds like on a phone call between former Port Richey mayor Dale Massad and acting mayor Terrence Rowe.
In it, the men talked about Port Richey police officer Donald Howard, who was involved in Massad’s February arrest for practicing medicine without a license.
“I’m on it,” Rowe said
“Okay, so anything you can do is good,” Massad replied.
The acting mayor then said, “You know, this doesn’t go down without somebody answering for it!”
“First of all, I don’t think anything sinister was intended. Secondly, he’s having a conversation with a friend, who happens to be the mayor at the time,” said Massad’s attorney, Bjorn Brunvand.
Judge Mary Handsel wasn’t buying it last week.
She ordered Massad to remain in jail on no bond, believing the phone was intended to get back at the officer.
His attorney explained that’s not possible.
“The mayor of Port Richey is more of a ceremonial type of position. The city manager is the one who has any authority to hire or fire people. The mayor does not,” Brunvand said.
Brunvand just filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which allows an appellate judge to look at the previous judge’s ruling that’s keeping Massad in jail on no bond.
The city manager is currently in charge of city business.