At a news conference regarding a new housing development in Iowa on Monday, Mayor Neal Watkins said “misinformation” discussed on social media platforms like Facebook is detrimental to the town.

He referred to a post from last week. He said in the post, a citizen “blatantly lied multiple times within his public comments.”

“It’s gotten to the point where we must correct this.”

When asked what lies were told in the post, Watkins referenced claims that “the mayor is not serving the interest of the people,” “the project has begun without proper notice or consultation with residents,” the town has sent “evasive responses” to “repeated attempts to contact the town,” and that he “has held private meetings with the developer, but has ignored requests for transparency and communication.”

Watkins denied these allegations.

In response, he said Iowa is an “open door,” and that he has not made any decisions without the council’s knowledge or approval.

“The council and I have tried to ignore these ignorant comments, as we have worked to put the town of Iowa back on the tracks of success, but it has gotten to the point where the squeaky wheel has got to be addressed,” he said. “We must hold these individuals who profess lies as truths, and seek to gaslight our citizens, we must hold these individuals accountable, lest we allow them to tear this town apart.”

He said the “actions of a few vocal individuals, including those who already lost this election the first go around” have curbed potential new business in Iowa.

Watkins believes those involved in the recall “twist the facts to support their baseless reasons for a recall.”

“It is of my opinion that there are some that wish that I be beholden to their whims, whether we have the manpower or are financially able to do so.”

A petition to recall Watkins was filed with the Office of the Secretary of the State in June. Last month, Recall Chairman Joey Mathis told the American Press on July 31 that the recall effort was “roughly 45 percent” complete. Calcasieu Parish Registrar of Voters Kim Fontenot said the petition will need to be completed by approximately Dec. 23.

Watkins said he believes the recall effort is “pure activism,” and “there are some that are bitter they lost an election and have continued to campaign unofficially.”

“It is my opinion that this individual is upset that I have told them I’m not interested in them communicating on behalf of the town on social media.”

He did not state the name of the citizen he referenced.

Joshua Macer, who ran for mayor in the 2022 election, released a statement to the American Press in response.

“My wife has cancer; all my attention and focus has been on her and my family since the end of June/early part of July –that’s the first month of the recall. I couldn’t tell you the status of the recall or anything to do with it if you asked me,” he said. “The fact that Watkins continues to try to use me as some sort of effigy to rally folks against me and the recall is disturbing.

I guess it’s easier for him to blame all this on me than to take any accountability for his own actions.”