We, the undersigned, are calling for the immediate termination of employment for Daniel James Gargas, the current Building Official for Alachua County. Florida state law requires that building code administrators be of good moral character, a standard Mr. Gargas has consistently failed to meet.

**Reason for Petition:**

Daniel James Gargas has a documented history of dishonest behavior and poor professional judgment. His previous tenure as Building Official in Lakeland, Florida, was marred by numerous instances of deceit, which ultimately led to disciplinary action and his termination after losing an appeal.

Despite this, Mr. Gargas continued his pattern of dishonesty by providing false information on his application for employment with the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners. His actions since joining Alachua County have further demonstrated his lack of integrity and professionalism, including lying to customers and exhibiting questionable judgment in his official duties.

Mr. Gargas has a documented history of abusing alcohol and is diagnosed as an alcoholic. Despite this, Alachua County allows him to verify the safety and integrity of, and interpret code for, all new construction projects while working unsupervised from home. This raises serious concerns about the reliability and safety of the building inspections and code interpretations under his purview.

Additionally, Mr. Gargas has been involved in a lawsuit related to his code interpretations, which was settled against him. This reflects poorly on his conduct and judgment, further undermining the trust and effectiveness of the Alachua County Building Department.

**We, the undersigned, believe that the position of Building Official requires the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and professional judgment. Daniel James Gargas has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not meet these standards. Therefore, we call upon the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners to take immediate action to terminate his employment and restore trust in the Building Department.**

By signing this petition, we affirm our commitment to upholding the standards of good moral character and professional conduct within Alachua County.