Former Oviedo, Florida mayor Mary Lou Andrews describes the story of her journey from resignation to retraction to moving on. And, she explains her quest for justice regarding subsequent Oviedo City Council actions surrounding the manner by which a resigning mayor may be replaced in the future.

Feature length 34:24

“I saw a TV show last night. It was something about revenge and justice. And revenge is when you just want to get even; but justice is when you want to make things right for the future. I don’t really want revenge, but I do want justice.” Andrews offers this comment in an intense interview CMF had with her September 9, 2010, 40-days after the dust settled surrounding her July 31 resignation as mayor. Andrews submitted her resignation as a result of events precipitated by a family medical crisis.

Whether revenge or justice is her destination will be for you, others and Andrews to determine; but the initial steps of that journey are described by Andrews in this feature.

Her edited remarks last 31-minutes and are essentially the result of just one question asked of her by producer-reporter Stephen McKenney Steck — “Describe your recent journey from being Mayor to now being the “former” mayor.”

As you’ll hear, that question yields answers which will fall into two distinct categories – first, the story of her journey from resignation to retraction and to eventually moving on. It runs 19-minutes.

And second, her rationale and her quest for justice regarding subsequent Oviedo City Council actions surrounding the future manner by which a resigning mayor may be replaced. It runs 12-minutes.

For additional context or clarity on former mayor Mary Lou Andrews’ perspective and her interpretation of events, CMF has provided below relevant links to many of the documents Andrews claims makes her case and other links we have added for useful background.

The extended interview with Andrews is also posted below. It is from that which her comments in this feature were excerpted. It lasts 64-minutes.

New Oviedo mayor, Dominic Persampiere, is also heard in this interview recorded prior to, separately and coincident to the Andrews interview. Hear Persampiere briefly remark on how he learned of Andrews’ resignation, the stylistic differences between Andrews and himself, and the city’s charter review actions.

Also below, CMF offers a slide show of still pictures from various interviews conducted over time with Andrews as well as links to other CMF podcasts featuring Mayor Andrews.

Extended Interview & Pictures

	Mary Lou Andrews extended interview Length – 01:04:38

Additional Feature Information

• Bio

Useful links to issues addressed by Mary Lou Andrews

• Current Oviedo City Charter (PDF - 25 pages 1.2mb)
• Oviedo City Council Resolution # 2211-10
• Proposed changes to Oviedo City Charter as stated in Ordinance # 1493 of the City of Oviedo, adopted by Council on August 2, 2010
• Video from the August 2, 2010 City of Oviedo Council meeting whereat Ordinance #1493 was adopted. (Note – the relevant portion of the meeting as regards Ordinance #1493 starts at approximately 34-minutes into the recording and continues until the ordinance is adopted at 42-minutes into the video. Note, also, the video starts in black for approximately 2-minutes, though audio can be heard through out)

Links to other podcasts produced by CMF Public Media featuring Mary Lou Andrews (from oldest to most recent)

• Voting Smart in Oviedo – Andrews’ election interview (10/8/2009)
• Voting Smart in Oviedo – Andrews’ 2nd election interview (10/29/2009)
• Commentary – Andrews’ on city goals (post-mayoral re-election (11/19/2009)
• Annual State of the Cities Luncheon – (1/27/10)
• Follow-up interview regarding State of the City remarks – (2/11/10)

Other links from area newspapers

• Oviedo Mayor Mary Lou Andrews Resigns – (from Orlando Sentinel)
• Andrews quits with one year remaining – (from Seminole Chronicle)
• Mayor shouldn’t un-ring resignation bell (from a letter to editor, Seminole Chronicle)
• Oviedo Mayor won’t step down after all – (from Orlando Sentinel)
• Mayor rescinds resignation – (from Seminole Voice)
• Mayor reverses decision to step down – (from Seminole Chronicle)
• Andrews unable to resign as mayor—(from Seminole Chronicle)
• Oviedo Mayor can’t rescind resignation – (from Orlando Sentinel)
• Deputy Mayor steps up to finish Andrews’ term – (from Seminole Chronicle)