Anne Geggis
The Governor is opposing 14 School Board members throughout the state — but none of them have filed for re-election and at least one of those targeted for unemployment thinks it’s a case of mistaken identity.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is thought to be the first Florida Governor to weigh in on School Board races, with a slew of endorsements in 2022. With many of those endorsed candidates elected, the Governor is getting in on the game even earlier this cycle.
Fox News reported on a breakfast between DeSantis, Moms for Liberty and other administration officials that resulted in a list of School Board members in nine counties “who do not protect parental rights and have failed to protect students from woke ideologies.”
That article listed the counties the Governor’s team is targeting for new School Board faces. They are Brevard, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Miami-Dade, Pinellas, St. Lucie, Sarasota and Volusia counties.
One online publication, The Florida Standard, went further and listed the names of those Board members, along with the reason for opposition from the Governor’s team.
Carl Persis, a retired Volusia County school principal and School Board member since 2016, was shocked to find he’s on the list. He said that someone must have given the Governor’s team erroneous information and that Wednesday morning was the first he’d heard of it.
Underneath his name and another School Board member’s, the Standard’s article lists their purported attributes: “Lifelong Democrats, the whole package — masking, transgenderism, wokeism. Son works closely with Leftist radical (Orlando area state Rep.) Anna Eskamani.”
Persis said he’s not working with Eskamani and doesn’t know any family members who are.
“If I sat down with the Governor and talked about educational issues, I suspect we would agree on 90-95% of the issues,” Persis said, voicing his support for parental rights, as the Governor has. “They may have me confused with someone else. That is certainly not my ideology.”
The Governor’s Office referred questions about the list to his campaign office, which had not responded by Wednesday afternoon. Moms for Liberty did not return an inquiry from Florida Politics.
Eskamani also said she was not familiar with either of those names mentioned on the list in conjunction with hers.
“But it’s good to know I live rent free in people’s heads,” Eskamani wrote in an email. “As I’m focused on solving constituent problems like the rising cost of rent and property insurance, our Governor is destroying public education, creating culture wars and attacking family members of candidates. Pretty gross stuff.”
School Board races are nonpartisan, although there is currently a bill under consideration that would require candidates to declare a political party.
Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins says she wasn’t planning to run for re-election — and said last year she wouldn’t. But the news that she’s getting such high-level attention might push her to re-file, she said.
“It’s comical,” said Jenkins, a Satellite Beach resident, whose service on the dais has gotten her picketed at her home and called a “whore” by Rep. Randy Fine, according to previous texts obtained by Florida Today.
Jenkins, in Brevard County, is listed as “a mask mandate supporter who has showcased her disdain for parental rights on MSNBC,” according to The Florida Standard.
But there might be something more personal going on there, Jenkins said.
One of the founders of Moms for Liberty, Tina Descovich, pictured at the Tuesday breakfast with the Governor, was defeated in her 2016 bid for re-election — by Jenkins. The premature targeting, to Jenkins, seems like a serious miscalculation, she said.
“I would have never won my seat against a Republican incumbent by almost 10 percentage points where I live if I didn’t have Republican support,” she said, noting that registered Republicans have a significant advantage over Democrats in her Brevard County.
Descovich did not return a call seeking comment.
Education has emerged as a key priority for state Republicans, who have filed legislation that would change numerous aspects of public education ranging from funding to what’s taught in school.
Meanwhile, Palm Beach County School Board member Alexandria Ayala said she was surprised that no one on her Board was targeted, in spite the Board’s vote in favor of mask mandates and the County Commission’s recent tilt toward Republicans.
Ayala said she’s glad that the Governor is so interested in education, she just wishes it was focused more on bringing the state up from its basement ratings in per-pupil funding, student outcomes and teacher salaries.
Ayala said she sees the Governor’s actions as part of an effort to dismantle the system as it’s been for centuries: a great equalizer for children from all walks of life.
“Most people in education want to show up, teach, have children go on to make the world a better place and not be fighting with their government every single day,” Ayala said.
19 comments
KING TRUMP 2024
February 22, 2023 at 4:17 pm
Ron DeSanctimonious should be running a deli selling his famous meatballs. Governing isn’t his strong suit.
Snoot
February 22, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Good ol’ Meatball DeSantis seems confused, but that’s what happens when you put an idiot in charge.
Suze
February 23, 2023 at 7:12 am
Why aren’t people outraged that DeathSantis brags about his strategy to send his Taliban after the education system in Florida. Pretty soon girls won’t be allowed in schools.
Mac Wiseman
February 23, 2023 at 7:15 am
Be afraid School Board Wokesters be very afraid. Many of you are looking at long prison terms for child sexual abuse. And once back in society all of you will have to be on the short leash of life time probation of child sexual preditor reporting and under State DOC probation control for, again, the REMAINDER of your twisted perverted lives.
Say your prayers varmets Florida is coming after you one and all. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK (school board wokesters) it’s The Great State of Florida outside your doors “coming to take you away”.
Anton
February 23, 2023 at 10:41 am
Sieg heil, fascist varmint. Psychotic threats like yours do not intimidate the righteous.
Jay Smif
February 23, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Piss off, nazi trash.
M. Mouse
February 24, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Not one school board member in Florida is “looking at long prison terms for child sexual abuse.” You just make shit up. You do seem to have a fixation on sexual perversion. You talk about it a lot, you know, in your comments. Perhaps you are projecting?
cassandra
February 24, 2023 at 6:14 pm
I’m disappointed in you, Mackie. Still waiting for you to post a couple news articles about atheist Drag Queen perverts. While we’re waiting, Mackie, let’s read this:
“Former Youth Ministry Volunteer Gets Life In Prison For Child Rapes ‘I did ask God for mercy … and He has forgiven me,’ he said.”—-CrooksandLiars.com
That’s funny
February 24, 2023 at 6:39 pm
The great state of Florida.
Said no one ever lol
Mac Wiseman
February 24, 2023 at 9:43 pm
Why just look at all the lefties above each and everyone of them know they are wrong. Best of all each and everyone of them were triggered by Mac Wiseman.
There there now triggered lefties relax and get some rest now. Dream of your Floridafornia utopia lefties. Dream Andrew Gillum is your leader. Enjoy your Andrew Gillum, Floridafornia, twisted fantisy fetishes little lefties. And go ahead and touch yourselves it will be the best $ex you nerds ever had. Enjoy.
Only thing
February 25, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Only thing In Florida is methheads bad drivers and Florida man lol
Mollywood
February 26, 2023 at 11:19 am
I’ve heard it said that when someone points a finger, they are pointing their thumb at the sky, and 3 fingers at themselves.
It appears that you have many perverse thoughts, have you ever considered that you may actually have a problem?
Mr. Haney
February 25, 2023 at 6:08 am
You should be in prison.
Mac Wiseman
February 25, 2023 at 8:19 am
Good old Mr. Haney is a perverted groomer. Back off old man. Does your probation officer know you are in violation of your court order by having access to a computer or smart phone?
Anton
February 25, 2023 at 10:59 am
She is in prison…it’s called MAGAt hell.
Jim
February 23, 2023 at 9:12 am
Florida public schools are already among the lowest-ranked in the nation. And, still, DeSantis won’t be satisfied until every student is in a state-run political re-education camp.
Ronda Santis
February 25, 2023 at 11:57 am
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
gloriajame
February 25, 2023 at 2:30 pm
I make over 13,000 US dollars every month working part-time. I paid attention to various people letting me know how a reasonable plan of money they might make on the web, so still up in the air to situate out. Indeed, it transformed into all ne-09 real and it totally changed my life. Everyone should attempt this occupation presently simply
.
.
By utilizing this site—————————————>>> urlis.net/55whjx6p
Ashfaq
February 25, 2023 at 2:33 pm
This just shows republicans are insane
Comments are closed.