Announces that she has collected enough petitions to be put on the ballot and forgo the filing fee at an Avalon Park Easter event Saturday morning.
By Jacob Engels
Teresa Jacobs protege and Orange County Commissioner (District 4) Jennifer Thompson will qualify by petition and get her name on the ballot for her 2014 re-election bid according to a status shared on her campaign’s facebook page.
Thompson, who has had a rocky first term – featuring dalliances with a Disney lobbyist and her subsequent destruction of public records, will have an uphill battle if she hopes to retain her spot on the Orange County Commission.
Many GOP donors and activists were shocked when Thompson announced her intent to run for re-election in the Hispanic heavy district, worried about her careless comments about Hispanic representation in local government that landed her a spot in a New York Times article.
Thompson’s comments to WFTV about her choice to pick two non-Hispanic whites were placed in the first several paragraphs of the article titled, “Latinos Rise in Numbers, Not Influence.” The quote is below.
From the New York Times –
When asked by WFTV Channel 9 news in Orlando about why she did not name a Hispanic, she said, “I wouldn’t’t say it was a priority.” Commissioner Thompson “claims she could not find a single qualified person, with a high percentage population in the Hispanic Latino community, to serve on that advisory board,” Mr. Bonner said. “That’s just absolutely atrocious in my mind. It’s almost like they are making an effort to suppress the Hispanic representation.”
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This coupled with Thompson being slapped with a fine by the State Attorney’s office for destroying public records and having illegal clandestine communiques with a top Disney lobbyist, left local Republicans hoping that she would forgo a re-election bid and let a less tainted & possibly Hispanic candidate carry the Republican banner.
Well, now it seems that Republicans in District 4 are stuck with the “Textgate” ridden Thompson as their standard bearer for 2014.
Thompson’s main opponent, Hispanic attorney Euri Cerrud (Democrat) has shown signs of an active campaign since jumping in the race several months ago following fellow Democrat Sean Asbhy’s withdrawal. Like Thompson, the Cerrud campaign has been actively canvassing neighborhoods.
Thompson will have to drop off her petitions at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office Monday to determine if she actually has enough valid signatures to actually qualify by ballot. We will update you when the county processes the petitions.
Jacob Engels, is the Founder of East Orlando Post & Seminole County Post. He is a seasoned political operative who has led numerous statewide political groups and has worked on several high-profile local, statewide, and national races. Jacob has been interviewed on national television & radio programs, with his work having been featured in the Orlando Sentinel, New York Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald and other publications nationwide. He can be reached at info@eastorlandopost.com
