Florida Senator Debbie Mayfield Urges Gov. Ron DeSantis to Suspend Palm Bay Councilman Over Anti-Indian Remarks

Palm Bay City Council to address matter Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. at City Hall

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — State Sen. Debbie Mayfield has formally asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to suspend Palm Bay City Councilman Chandler Langevin after a string of social-media posts in which the councilman attacked Indian Americans, calling the comments “inexcusable for an elected official” and urging swift action from the governor.

In a letter dated October 1, Mayfield called Langevin’s remarks “repulsive and could not be further from the truth,” and asked DeSantis to use his executive authority to suspend Langevin on grounds of malfeasance.

The letter explicitly quoted posts attributed to Langevin that said, among other things, “Indians are destroying the South” and “There’s not a single Indian that cares about the United States. They are here to exploit us financially and enrich India and Indians.”

Langevin’s remarks prompted a large turnout at a special Palm Bay City Council meeting on Sept. 30, where residents and fellow elected officials — including Councilman Kenny Johnson — called for Langevin’s resignation or suspension.

Langevin has publicly refused to apologize and has said he will not step down.

City of Palm Bay leaders, including Mayor Rob Medina, have acknowledged the outcry and scheduled a special council meeting to address residents’ concerns.

Some council members say they will pursue local disciplinary routes, while others have urged the governor to act.

Florida law gives the governor the authority to suspend municipal officials by executive order for causes such as “malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence,” or if the official is arrested or indicted on specific charges.

A suspension creates a temporary vacancy and, depending on the circumstances, can be followed by removal if the underlying basis for the suspension is later proven. Historically, governors most often have invoked that authority in cases involving criminal charges or clear misconduct.

Mayfield’s letter makes the case that Langevin’s statements are beyond the bounds of acceptable conduct for someone holding public office; whether DeSantis will issue an executive suspension order — and whether state or local authorities will pursue any parallel actions — remains to be seen.

With the matter now front and center, Palm Bay’s City Council is set to address it further at its regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

At the meeting, in addition to public input, the council may also hear from legal or ethics advisors about whether Langevin’s speech could legally qualify as malfeasance or neglect of duty—two of the statutory bases under Florida law for a governor to suspend a municipal official.

Mayfield’s letter to DeSantis can be seen below in its entirety:

October 1, 2025

The Honorable Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida 400 South Monroe Street. Tallahassee. FL 32399
THE FLORIDA SENATE
Tallahassee. Florida 32399-1100
RE: Suspension of Councilman Chandler Langevin

Dear Governor DeSantis,

The actions of Palm Bay City Councilman, Chandler Langevin, are inexcusable for an elected official in our state. He has publicly espoused hatred on his social media towards the Indian American community, which we both know is comprised of some of Florida’s most hardworking, respectable, and entrepreneurial individuals and families.

Since September 26th, Councilman Langevin has made a series of posts on X, calling to “Deport every Indian immediately”, while making claims that “Indians are destroying the South” and “There’s not a single Indian that cares about the United States. They are here to exploit us financially and enrich India and Indians.”

His remarks are repulsive and could not be further from the truth. Nonetheless, when the community expressed their outrage at the post, rather than backing down, he released a statement standing by the hateful rhetoric. As a state we must continue to reject racism in all aspects, and I respectfully request that you address the situation by suspending Councilman Langevin from office, effective immediately, on grounds of malfeasance.

For your reference, I have attached a selection of his recent posts. If you would like to further discuss this important matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Debbie Mayfield, State Senator, District 19

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