A vulgar answer from Plantation Councilman Nick Sortal stunned the audience attending a candidate forum Tuesday evening at the Jim Ward Community Center. The moderator asked Sortal name his number one passion to be mayor. Sortal said “helping people.” Innocent enough, right?

Sortal immediately followed up with, “I get off on it. I love it!” Mayor Lynn Stoner and most of the audience was stunned. One senior citizen buried her face in her hands.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “get off on it” is defined as “to enjoy or be excited by (something) especially in a sexual way.”

When Sortal finished his answer, Mayor Stoner said, “So, do you realize what you just said?” The moderator cut off the debate before Sortal could respond.

Earlier this summer, REDBROWARD revealed how Nick Sortal made inappropriate sexual and racial remarks to a female city employee.

According to an HR memorandum obtained by REDBROWARD, when Nick Sortal filed paperwork to run for Mayor in May, he was accompanied by his wife. Sortal told the employee about their “scuffle” with the popular incumbent Mayor Stoner. Sortal said he exchanged words with Stoner regarding his decision to challenge her. Sortal said his wife, Robyn Sortal, also exchanged words with Mayor Stoner.

Then, Councilman Nick Sortal told the female employee, “My dick is hard for this!”

Shocked by Sortal’s graphic comment, the female employee said he covered her face.

Sortal then asked her if anyone else filed paperwork to run for mayor. She told him yes. 

Sortal asked if the person was black. The employee, a person of color, said no.

Sortal said, “Oh good, Plantation will never have a black mayor.”

The female employee would later file a complaint with the City of Plantation Human Resources Department.

Following Tuesday’s forum, REDBROWARD attempted to ask Sortal about his sexually-charged comment. He was hurried out of the room and the building by his wife.

Can Plantation voters trust Nick Sortal to act like a grown up if elected mayor?