Tag Archives: council

Denise Horland Joins Hunt For Whistleblower(s) Who Leaked HR Investigation Of Plantation Councilman Nick Sortal

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Denise Horland Joins Nick Sortal

Denise Appleby Horland is trying to unmask the whistleblower who revealed a City of Plantation Human Resources Department investigation of Councilman Nick Sortal, records show. On June 13, 2022 REDBROWARD revealed a longtime female City employee accused Sortal of making inappropriate sexual and racial comments to her while he was conducting official business inside City Hall. An official memorandum showed Sortal admitted to making remarks about his erect penis as well as expressing satisfaction that “Plantation will never have a black mayor.”

Despite the admission, a labor attorney told City leaders they were powerless to hold Sortal accountable for his behavior. Not long after being told Sortal would face no punishment, the longtime employee left her position. Nick Sortal is currently running against popular incumbent Mayor Lynn Stoner

After the news broke about Nick Sortal’s inappropriate comments, Denise Horland remained silent. During last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Nick Sortal admitted, for the third time, to making the remarks. Even though he told the Sun-Sentinel that reports of racial remarks were a “lie,” Sortal said his racial remarks about a black mayor were just a “tone deaf” attempt at sarcasm. Instead of a lie, Sortal told residents it was a joke.

Denise Horland remained silent.

Instead of being angry over the treatment of a female employee or the lack accountability of a sitting elected official, Plantation Councilwoman Denise Horland wants to know who made Nick Sortal’s dirty laundry public.

Two days after Nick Sortal made his third admission to making the inappropriate sexual and racial comments, Denise Horland filed a public records request with the City of Plantation clerk.

Horland wrote, “I would like to know the name of any person’s who either requested or were sent a copy of the file memorandum which details what transpired between Councilmember Sortal and Ms. [REDACTED].”

“I would also like to know the dates of the requests received and the dates the memo was shared/sent,” Horland wrote.

Horland knows the facts of the investigation. She was sitting next to Nick Sortal Wednesday night when he admitted everything to the public.

So why does Denise Horland wants names and dates of who let the public know about this injustice?

REDBROWARD asked Denise Horland. She did not respond to our request for comment.

Normally, politicians want to know who leaked embarrassing information so they can “plug the hole” or intimidate other whistleblowers from going public.

Since our story broke, prominent Sortal supporters on social media have sought out the identities of the whistleblowers.

Why is Denise Horland sticking her neck out for Nick Sortal?

Is she showing loyalty to a fellow Democrat?

Are their shared donors and campaign advisers urging Denise Horland to defend Nick Sortal?

Doesn’t Denise Horland owe a duty to City employees to defend them from attacks and inappropriate comments by City leaders?

Is this duty overshadowed by politics?

Denise Horland is on the ballot this November.

City of Plantation voters deserve answers, no?

Denise Horland Wants Names & Dates

“MY D*CK IS HARD FOR THIS:” Plantation Councilman Nick Sortal Admits Making Inappropriate Sexual And Racist Remarks To City Employee

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Nick Sortal comments on chances of a black mayor.

Plantation City Councilman Nick Sortal made highly inappropriate sexual and racist remarks by to a city employee sparking a Human Resources investigation, records show. REDBROWARD obtained a memorandum detailing the City’s investigation into Sortal’s remarks following a complaint filed by a high-level City of Plantation employee. While REDBROWARD knows the name of the employee, we are not naming her at this time.

The memorandum bears the signature of City Of Plantation Human Resources Director Denese Edsall, Ph. D.

According to the memorandum, the incident occurred last month when Nick Sortal filed paperwork to run for Mayor. Sortal, accompanied by his wife, told the employee about their “scuffle” with popular incumbent Mayor Lynn 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!”

Rhymes with “Nick”

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.

NOTHING CITY COULD LEGALLY DO

According to the memorandum obtained by REDBROWARD, City of Plantation officials met on May 23, 2022 to discuss the “protocol for handling the complaint” against Nick Sortal. Chief Administrative Officer Jason Nunemaker and Human Resources Director Denese Edsall conducted a telephone conference call with labor attorney Denise Heekin. City leaders wanted to determine the City’s responsibility and how to handle the matter.

According to the labor attorney, since Nick Sortal is an elected official, the City could not level any sanctions against him. She advised Nunemaker to speak with Sortal about the inappropriate nature of the comments and the fact that a complaint was made against him. Heekin said there was nothing else Plantation could legally do to Sortal.

Screenshot of City Of Plantation memorandum detailing Sortal HR complaint.

SORTAL FELT “COMFORTABLE”

According to the memorandum, CAO Jason Nunemaker discussed the matter with Nick Sortal on May 24, 2022. The memo states, “Mr. Nunemaker spoke to Councilman Sortal who admitted to the comments.” Sortal said he, “did not realize they were taken as inappropriate as he has been speaking to [the employee] for four years and felt comfortable.” Sortal told Nunemaker he “would be more careful in the future.”

On May 25, 2022 another discussion was held with labor attorney Denise Heekin. She advised leaders to document the actions taken and to “document to a separate complaint file the actions taken.” Heekin advised leaders to discuss the actions with the female employee.

Later that day, a city official spoke with the female employee. The official told her that Nunemaker spoke with Sortal. Sortal promised to be more careful. The employee asked if she was required to deal with Sortal in the future. The City official said no.

The employee stated she understood what the City had done to address the matter. The City of Plantation official told her “If anything else happened she should let me know immediately.”

Last Friday, Councilman Nick Sortal sent a floral arrangement to the employee at her City Hall office.

Nick Sortal sent flowers to victim.

REDBROWARD contacted Nick Sortal for comment on this matter.

We wanted to know why Nick Sortal felt “comfortable” talking about the state of his penis with a woman not his wife.

We wanted to know if Nick Sortal regularly discusses the state of his penis with other City of Plantation employees.

We wanted to know why arguing with a female colleague made his penis “hard.”

We wanted to ask Nick Sortal why he asked about the race of potential opponents.

We wanted to ask Nick Sortal why he said “Oh Good” when told the opponent was not black.

We wanted Nick Sortal to tell us why there will never be a black mayor in Plantation.

We wanted to know why Nick Sortal sent flowers to an employee who filed an HR complaint against him?

Nick Sortal did not respond to our request for comment.

Nick Sortal has a history of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior at City Hall. And he wants to be the next Mayor of Plantation?

Stay tuned….