Drew Wilson
House District 73 candidate Melissa Howard says her Republican primary opponent, Tommy Gregory, has been trying to smear her with one lie after another as the pair fight to succeed exiting state Rep. Joe Gruters in the Sarasota-based district.
According to Howard, the Gregory campaign has been employing a strategy that is all too common among low-tier debaters: The Gish gallop. Toss out a large enough volume of lies that an opponent can’t respond to each one individually and presto — the galloper wins without making a positive case for himself.
“Tommy Gregory is a liar. The proof speaks for itself. First his campaign tried to push a story out to Floridapolitics.com claiming I wasn’t a Republican. The Ohio registrar confirmed the Gregory campaign lied,” she said.
Indeed, Gregory made that easily disprovable claim and Hamilton County (Ohio) Election Administrator Chuck Eckert confirmed it had no merit.
His response at the time: “Under Ohio election law, political party affiliation is done by requesting the ballot type for the political party with which you wish to be affiliated in a Partisan Primary Election. Your voting history reflects only General Election activity, no partisan primary election activity.”
“Then the campaign pushed another story that I didn’t have a Bachelor’s Degree. So, I flew to Ohio went back to my alma mater, picked up my transcripts and helped my mom find my diploma. Again proving Tommy Gregory’s entire campaign is built on lies,” Howard said.
Howard provided Florida Politics with a picture of her and her mother next to the framed diploma from Miami of Ohio.
***Update*** — Miami University in Ohio told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that Howard attended the school but never graduated. The school also says the diploma she produced is counterfeit, saying it doesn’t match those issued in 1994.
“I am calling on Tommy Gregory to stop the lies, quit the negative campaign, and stop trying to slander my reputation in my community,” she concluded.
Howard and Gregory are the only two Republicans vying for HD 73, a GOP stronghold that covers parts of Manatee and Sarasota County. The seat is open due to current Gruters’ decision to run for the Senate seat currently held by Sarasota Republican Sen. Greg Steube, who is running for Congress.
The primary election is Aug. 28.
22 comments
Emerson White
August 11, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Reports are that Miami of Ohio is saying that she faked her diploma.
Eric Miller
August 13, 2018 at 10:39 am
Notice the nice packaging? The look. The chiseled from Political type persona designed to make you believe that somehow she knows more and is qualified to be a State Rep. Remember elected are just people. They also have the responsibility to protect your Liberty. But, we tend to take the money, looks and marketing as the most important aspect. She has shown what the Republicans in Florida represent. DECEIT ! LIES and General marketing technique to steal the halls so they legislate their munificence. Time for a third and fourth party so the two existing ones can burn to the ground under their own inbreed pressure of cronyism.
Eric Miller
August 13, 2018 at 10:55 am
Here is alink to how we can get these new party structure in place. Unless it is banned. Just sayin. https://nomomrniceguy.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/the-altered-states-of-america/
Howabout Demapples
August 11, 2018 at 6:07 pm
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/401383-university-says-gop-florida-house-candidate-faked-her-diploma-report
DarthBiden
August 11, 2018 at 6:57 pm
and then the university she claims she graduated from called her out and PROVED she is a liar.
Another repub living up to their lying ways.
Eric Miller
August 13, 2018 at 10:42 am
It is not unique to just the R’s. Let’s be honest. We have to speak up whenever we see these crooks and liars – in both party. Can we please get back to being Americans and living some good old American Principle please. https://nomomrniceguy.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/the-28-principles-of-liberty/
marna warne
August 11, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Washington Post reports that the university says in fact she did not receive a diploma
Tom Hudson
August 11, 2018 at 8:07 pm
It is insulting to the intelligence of the electorate that a candidate can campaign on lies, phonying up a degree and producing a forged document to back up the lies.
831.01 Forgery.—Whoever falsely makes, alters, forges or counterfeits a public record, or a certificate, return or attestation of any clerk or register of a court, public register, notary public, town clerk or any public officer, in relation to a matter wherein such certificate, return or attestation may be received as a legal proof; or a charter, deed, will, testament, bond, or writing obligatory, letter of attorney, policy of insurance, bill of lading, bill of exchange or promissory note, or an order, acquittance, or discharge for money or other property, or an acceptance of a bill of exchange or promissory note for the payment of money, or any receipt for money, goods or other property, or any passage ticket, pass or other evidence of transportation issued by a common carrier, with intent to injure or defraud any person, shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
Eric Miller
August 13, 2018 at 10:46 am
Tom – you are 100% right – wait and see what is done though. NADDA – ZIP – ZILCH – BUPKISS.
She lied
August 11, 2018 at 8:11 pm
You’ll want to update this with the facts. She lued. MofO has issued a statement.
Fred Eickhoff
August 11, 2018 at 10:17 pm
She needs to step down now. She’s deleting all negative comments on her Facebook page.
Don
August 12, 2018 at 11:00 am
Well this didn’t age well.
Stellar reporting.
Eric Miller
August 12, 2018 at 12:32 pm
It seems fitting that a candidate that has the backing of Grueters – (Trumps head in FL) – would have a fake a degree. No phonier than A Trump University degree I guess – right – so – who cares anyway – it is just your government and electoral system being eaten by progressive corrupt maggots on both sides of the aisle. https://nomomrniceguy.wordpress.com/2018/08/01/here-is-an-adult-political-solution-not-a-4th-grade-meme/
lookinginfromtheoutside
August 12, 2018 at 12:37 pm
That is such a crazy amount of Botox, I’m surprised her brain isn’t numbed. Wow.
Mrs. Burkes
August 12, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Oh yeah. Nexxxxxxxt.
Mrs. Burkes
August 12, 2018 at 7:08 pm
Liar Liar pants on fire 🙂
Deborah
August 13, 2018 at 7:38 am
Just saw this in the news this morning, and have to comment. Jessica Howard should not have falsified her academic record. She should have just stated on her curriculum vitae that she had attended Miami University, and the dates attended, period. She needs to drop out of the race, as she has zero credibility now.
Daryl Traylor
August 13, 2018 at 7:48 am
Who’s Jessica Howard?
Joe Jacobs
August 13, 2018 at 10:06 am
Can someone please tell us why they pay ZERO property taxes to Manatee county on their $1.6 million house?
Eric Miller
August 13, 2018 at 10:44 am
Curious – can you post a link backing your claim up? I am not calling you out – I am just as outraged as you if this is the case. Can you show us how you know? Expose the rats when you can.
Comments are closed.