‘Election guide’ sent by PAC
County commission race draws mailer from Florida Integrity PAC
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor
In the days leading up to Election Day, Wakulla voters received a mailer labeled “Wakulla County Election Guide.” While statewide and regional races often focus on Wakulla voters, it’s unusual for local races to draw interest from outside political groups.
The mailer focused on the candidates in the two county commission races – John Quinton and Fred Nichols II in district 2 and, on the other side of the mailer, Samuel McGrew and Quincee Messersmith in the district 4 race. (There is also a write-in candidate in that race, Patricia Dyszer, but she isn’t mentioned in the mailer.)
A QR Code on the mailer that says ‘Watch Candidates Debate Here” leads to The Wakulla Sun’s YouTube page with the video of the county commission debate.
The mailer gives opinions from the candidates, especially on growth and sewer.
The disclaimer on the mailer reads “Paid for and approved by the Florida Integrity Political Action Committee.”
According to the Department of State, Florida Integrity is based in Fort Lauderdale and was created on Oct. 5.
Willie Rumph Jr. is listed as treasurer, and Yolanda Brown as officer.
Yolanda Brown is an officer of Florida Integrity PAC.
Yolanda Brown is listed as the officer of at least a dozen political action committees, ranging from groups with names like Floridians for Truth Now and Justice for Florida to Forward Florida, which lists Andrew Gillum as chairperson.
Brown is also listed as an officer of Build Black Better, which is listed as as making the $5,000 donation to Florida Integrity PAC.
State records indicate some $4,200 was spent by Florida Integrity on the mailer.
Brown’s LinkedIn page says she graduated from Florida A&M in 1994, attended University of Miami Law School and is currently an administrator at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale.
Efforts to contact Brown about the mailer were unsuccessful.
Some past election mailers in local races include a negative mailer against then-commissioner Howard Kessler when he was being challenged by Sally Gandy.
Several years later, in the race to be Wakulla sheriff, Maurice Langston’s campaign sent out a mailer claiming candidate Charlie Creel as a state trooper in South Florida was reckless in shooting incident.