Dispute at One Tamarac Festival Leads to Calls for Review of Vice Mayor’s Conduct

by David Volz February 15, 2026

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Marlon Bolton.

During the One Tamarac Multicultural Festival on February 7, Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton allegedly became involved in a verbal altercation with the Master of Ceremonies, Ludy Saintil.

The two were separated and encouraged to move apart. In a social media post, Saintil wrote, “I never take anything to social media, but today I’m so disappointed in one of y’all well-known pastors/commissioners who felt the need to disrespect me on stage so much that Tamarac staff had to hold him back when he got off stage.”

Bolton was contacted for comment on the incident, but did not respond.

During the February 11 meeting, Mayor Michelle J. Gomez requested that an item be placed on a future agenda so the commission could discuss whether to investigate Bolton’s conduct at the festival.

The commission voted against the request.

Supporters of Bolton attended the meeting, carrying signs in his favor, criticizing Gomez, and calling her a tyrant.

Some residents were concerned about Bolton’s behavior. In a letter written by Monique Dalien, community advocate, to Tamarac leadership, she said, “During the event, the contracted host Ms. Ludy Saintil reported experiencing verbal threats, intimidation, and conduct that required intervention by City staff and others present. This incident has deeply impacted community trust and safety, particularly given that the individual involved is a currently sitting Vice Mayor, Marlon Bolton.”

Dalien asked the city leadership to conduct a formal review of the incident, release findings through a transparent process, and clearly outline and enforce conduct standards and de-escalation protocols for public events.

Another resident, Frantz Cerant, a community advocate, wrote to the city attorney and commission, “As a deeply concerned resident of Tamarac, I am writing to demand prompt investigation and decisive action concerning a serious and disturbing incident involving Commissioner Marlon Bolton at the recent One Tamarac Festival.

He continued in the letter, “Multiple credible eyewitnesses reported that Commissioner Bolton subjected Ms. Ludy Saintil—a hostess simply performing her assigned duties—to intense verbal aggression so alarming that bystanders were forced to intervene to prevent escalation and de-escalate the confrontation physically.”

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.