DeSantis objects to photo used in mailer supporting Miami-Dade School Board candidate
A lawyer for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is demanding that a political committee backing a Miami-Dade County School Board candidate stop using the governor’s image on advertisements because DeSantis has endorsed a different candidate.
A mail piece pitches Marta Perez, who is running for the District 8 seat, as a “solid conservative voice.” The advertisement features a photo depicting Perez side-by-side with the governor and another small image of the governor giving a thumbs-up.
The advertisement also has a photo of Perez with former Gov. Jeb Bush and a picture of former President Ronald Reagan.
The law firm Shutts & Bowen LLP, which represents DeSantis and his political committee, on Monday sent a ceaseand-desist letter to Christian Camara, chairman of the political committee Parents United for School Excellence, which paid for the mailer. Ben Gibson, a Shutts & Bowen partner who also is a member of the State Board of Education, wrote in the letter that it is “no secret” that DeSantis has endorsed “proparent” candidate Monica Colluci.
“The political committee’s unauthorized use of a picture of Governor DeSantis and Ms. Perez in the attached mailer creates a false and misleading impression that
Governor DeSantis has endorsed and is supportive of Ms. Perez’s candidacy for Miami-Dade County School Board — both are false,” Gibson wrote.
Gibson demanded in the letter that Parents United for School Excellence remove DeSantis’ image from all mailers endorsing Perez and that it stop using the governor’s
name, image and likeness on campaign, advertising and fundraising materials. The letter said Colluci was “among the first” School Board candidates whom DeSantis endorsed this election cycle as the governor has backed more than 25 candidates across the state who align with his education agenda.