Election stunt swamps emergency phones

Flagler Countys Emergency Operations Center was flooded with phone calls Thursday afternoon by people pleading with Flagler County not to raise taxes.

County officials said the calls were apparently the result of a an automated call that went out to residents on behalf of Dan Quiggle, a Republican candidate for the District 8 State Senate seat.

"Not only were the phone calls going to the wrong number and tying up the county's Emergency Services lines, but Flagler County is not proposing to raise taxes," read a statement sent to FOX 35 by Flagler County officials.

"This is an irresponsible election stunt," County Administrator Craig Coffey said. "Not only is the information inaccurate, but he put out an incorrect phone number and tied up our emergency services lines."

County taxes make up less than a third of the overall tax bill sent out to property owners, according to Coffey. The State Legislature, in its last session, raised school taxes which make up much a larger percentage of property owners tax bill. Cities and special districts make up the remainder of the tax bill.

Coffey said the calls started coming in around noon on Thursday with more than a hundred calls all referring to Quiggle and asking the county to reconsider raising taxes.