New Smyrna Beach CRA Chairman Jim Kosmas resigns; says he was 'thrown under the bus'

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Jim Kosmas has resigned his seat on the CRA, the fifth board member to do so since April, which moves the responsibility for the disbursement of funds on the shoulders of the City Commission.

Like the others, the resignation was effective immediately, but this has a far greater personal tone to it by Kosmas who has felt disrespected by commissioners and even misled by his board's own attorney.

"I feel the City Commission has and continues to direct criticism at me personally, as well as at my fellow board members, for public policy decisions made by the CRA in good faith and subsequently approved by the city commission, that now have become politically unpopular," Kosmas wrote in part.

Kosmas didn't mince words, emphasizing, "To have certain elected and appointed public officials try and throw me and the other volunteers who serve on the CRA under the bus to advance their own political agenda is simply wrong. As a result, I cannot continue to serve as a member of the CRA.

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