Leesburg City Commission votes 4-1 against adding fluoride to drinking water
- Leesburg City Commission reversed its decision to fluoridate the city’s water due to public opinion and political trends.
- The reversal comes amidst a growing trend of anti-fluoride sentiment, including from the state surgeon general and newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr.
- Concerns about potential health risks associated with fluoride and individual freedom of choice were raised during public comments.
- City officials cited potential state legislation banning fluoride and financial savings as reasons for abandoning the project.
- Former Mayor Jimmy Burry, a proponent of fluoridation, expressed disappointment, viewing the decision as an erosion of city rights by state influence.
LEESBURG — Public opinion and political trends have taken a big bite out of Leesburg’s plans to fluoridate the city’s drinking water.
Former Leesburg mayor and current City Commissioner Jimmy Burry was among those at a Dec. 17 meeting who narrowly voted to continue plans to fluoridate the city’s water, despite a recommendation from the state surgeon general not to implement fluoridation.
At the Feb. 24 City Commission meeting, however, Leesburg officials reversed course and joined the state’s anti-fluoride cavalcade, deciding that they would not proceed with plans to fluoridate the water.
Burry, whose family has owned a local pharmacy for seven decades, felt backed by science and by dentists in the community, including Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays, a staunch supporter of the city’s initial plan in December to add fluoride to the water.
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At the Dec. 17 meeting, Hays emphasized that we absorb fluoride through our digestive tract and compared the efficacy of only using the mineral in topical forms, such as toothpaste, to a lady putting on lipstick.
Burry emphasized that fluoridation was the right thing to do despite public comments against it and a growing trend from conservative municipal leaders to ban fluoride, including the city government of Tavares, Florida’s state surgeon general and Robert Kennedy Jr., the recently appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
But at the Feb. 24 meeting, city commissioners voted 4-1 to end the fluoride additive project.
During public comment, registered nurse Karen Motley brought up concerns that fluoride is retained in the body in various amounts, depending on the person.
“Several factors can modify fluoride metabolism, affecting the relation between intake and retention of fluoride and consequently the risk of developing dental fluorosis,” according to a 2022 Advanced Nutrition journal study cited by the National Institutes of Health.
“Genetics, diet composition, nutritional status, physical activity, renal impairment and acidosis due to acid-base disturbances” can all influence how much fluoride we excrete or retain.
“What it boils down to is the freedom to choose what goes into our bodies,” Leesburg resident Caroline Van Dyken said during public comment.
Anti-fluoride proponent/registered nurse Nicole King returned after successive attempts to speak out against fluoridation, encouraged that the matter was up again for debate.
“We cannot in good faith believe that anyone would want to think that it is a conspiracy theory to want to have informed consent protected,” King emphasized during the meeting.
Commissioners Mike Pederson and Allyson Berry stood by their sentiments in voting in favor of fluoridating the water. The commissioners decided to change their vote, however, due to what may be an inevitable state ban in the coming months.
Berry said she respected the input of her constituents while voicing concern for children in economically challenged areas who might not have access to dental care.
Pederson said he “didn’t want to argue the science” but has decided to do what’s best for the city considering recent developments.
City Manager Al Minner, who also originally advocated for fluoride in the early stages of the project, voiced reservations about going forward with the fluoridation, citing political and financial factors, specifically recent state legislation proposed by Rep. Keith Truenow.
“This bill has better than average chance of passing in its form,” Minner said. “While there have been no federal or state directives, with our luck there will be by the time we get the project finished.”
In a Feb. 21 email to commissioners, Minner estimated a savings of $225,000 for Leesburg by not going forward with the fluoridation project.
Burry stood firm and was the only “no” vote.
“Once again our city rights have been eroded by Tallahassee,” Burry lamented.
