Ed DePuy Dishonestly Claiming Support
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tallahassee, FL - On Monday, October 20th, the
Leon County Democratic Party called upon County
Commission candidate Ed DePuy to cease and
desist the distribution of dishonest, illegal
campaign materials. On many of his
campaign materials, DePuy falsely claims
support from Sen. Lawson and other
African-American leaders.
"Ed DePuy has illegally and
dishonestly claimed that he has support from
many of Leon County's African-American
leaders. He has misled Leon County
voters into thinking that he has endorsements,
when in fact he does not," said Leon County
Democratic Party Chair Rick Minor.
State
Senator Al Lawson has not endorsed Ed DePuy and
has not provided written permission allowing
the use of his name, as required by law.
And yet, Ed DePuy has listed Senator Lawson as
a supporter in flyers distributed at FAMU
football games and predominantly
African-American churches in the
area.
Althamese Barnes, Director of the
Riley House Museum, has declined to endorse
political candidates in order to avoid any
conflict with the museum's 501c(3)
status. And yet, Ms. Barnes is listed as
an endorser of DePuy's on the same
flyers.
County Commissioner Bill Proctor
also has not provided Ed DePuy with written
permission for the use of Proctor's name, but
he is also listed.
By listing these
people as a supporter on his flyers, Ed DePuy
and his campaign have violated Section
106.143(3), Florida Statutes:
"It is
unlawful for any candidate or person on behalf
of a candidate to represent that any person or
organization supports such candidate, unless
the person or organization so represented has
given specific approval in writing to the
candidate to make such
representation."
"Ed DePuy has been
dishonest with Leon County voters and he has
betrayed the trust of African-Americans in this
community. We deserve more from someone
who wants to serve us in the Leon County
Commission," said Minor.
The Leon County
Democratic Party requests that Ed
DePuy:
1) Admit that he has falsified
support from Leon County African-American
leaders.
2) Cease the distribution of
any campaign materials or advertisements that
falsely claim endorsements or otherwise violate
Section 106.143(3), Florida Statutes.
3)
Issue a formal, public apology to voters in
Leon County.
Unless Ed DePuy complies
with these requests by October 22nd, 2008, the
Leon County Democratic Party will submit a
formal complaint with the Florida Elections
Commission.