Published: May 3, 2025 | By: Redington Beach Residents Media Team
Redington Beach, FL — Despite claiming to be a staunch conservative and a registered Republican, Mayor David Will of Redington Beach is drawing outrage from homeowners and constitutionalists after doubling down on anti-property rights policies, all while riding the coattails of conservative rhetoric. Locals are calling it what it is: “RHINO behavior” — Republican In Name Only.
While many true conservatives believe in small government, private property rights, and freedom of choice, Mayor Will has taken a hardline stance against homeowner autonomy, especially when it comes to short-term rentals and property use.
🧨 The Truth Behind His Opposition to SB 280
In a recent interview on The Florida Roundup, Mayor Will praised Governor Ron DeSantis’s veto of Senate Bill 280 — a bill that would have limited local overreach and protected private property owners from overly restrictive municipal regulations on short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO.
“This removes our ability, our residents’ ability… it takes them out of the decision-making process,” Will said.
Critics point out the irony: a mayor who claims to be pro-freedom is celebrating the power to restrict freedom.
🔥 Mayor’s Quote Revealed in Public Records: “Make Their Life a Living Hell”
In a public records request recently reviewed by residents, Mayor David Will was documented laying out a clear strategy to harass and exhaust property owners:
“Let’s make it as humanly difficult for these renters so they won’t want to rent here. Let’s put up ‘No Parking’ signs, limit households to 2–3 cars, make them get background checks, and force them to get short-term rental permits from the city. We’ll audit them at any time, demand they produce documents, and make their life a living hell so they won’t want to rent out their properties ever again.”
This has been viewed as intentional retaliation—a direct campaign of government-led harassment.
🚨 Enter Deputy Tony DeAngelo: Retaliation in Uniform
Residents say Mayor Will isn’t acting alone. He’s reportedly using Deputy Tony DeAngelo, a Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy contracted by the Town of Redington Beach, as a “patsy” to enforce retaliation tactics. Paid by local taxpayers, Deputy DeAngelo has allegedly been showing up unannounced at properties with renters, knocking on doors, interrogating guests, and applying pressure to both tenants and homeowners.
This behavior, residents say, is not only intimidating but blatantly retaliatory.
“It’s well-known in this community that if you speak up, you’ll get a visit from DeAngelo,” said one homeowner. “This isn’t law enforcement — it’s political intimidation wrapped in a badge.”
Both Mayor Will and Deputy DeAngelo have developed reputations for targeted harassment, abuse of enforcement, and using municipal power to silence opposition.
💥 Republicans Slam “Fake Conservatism”
Liberty-focused residents and Republican voters alike are furious:
“Will calls himself a Republican, but this is Democrat-level government overreach. He’s pushing restrictions, surveillance, and retaliation. That’s not conservatism — that’s authoritarianism.”
🏛️ SB 280 Would Have Protected Property Rights
Senate Bill 280, vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024, would have placed statewide limits on how far cities like Redington Beach could go in regulating short-term rentals. Mayor Will lobbied against it — not to protect residents — but to preserve his ability to target them.
“This was never about keeping Redington quiet. It was about keeping it under control,” said a resident.
📢 Call to Action
Redington Beach residents are demanding:
- An independent investigation into retaliatory enforcement by Deputy DeAngelo
- The immediate end of short-term rental harassment tactics
- Oversight of Mayor Will’s coordination with law enforcement and code enforcement
- Legislation that protects homeowners from political targeting at the local level
“Mayor David Will’s actions are anti-freedom, anti-property rights, and anti-American. He is no conservative — he’s a control freak hiding behind a red tie.”
Breaking Info:
| Details | Value |
|---|---|
@type | NewsArticle |
headline | Mayor David Will Exposed: “RHINO” Republican Doubles Down on Stripping Property Rights |
author | Redington Beach Residents |
datePublished | 2025-05-03T08:30:00-04:00 |
image | https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/45fc5758-023b-4404-bbec-d69c20f6718b |
description | Despite presenting himself as a staunch conservative, Mayor David Will is actively working to strip Redington Beach homeowners of their private property rights through retaliation and unconstitutional regulation. |
articleBody | Full article includes confirmed anti-renter quotes, police involvement, SB 280 context, and RHINO accusations. |