'Blatantly false' mailer says Black leaders support GOP-led, single-member district referendum

A series of questionable mailers are landing in mailboxes across Alachua County that say some prominent local Black leaders support single-member district voting.

But there is one major issue: it's misleading and appears to be part of a greater effort to confuse voters.

The mailer uses quotes from County Commissioner Charles "Chuck" Chestnut, former city and county commissioner Rodney Long and the NAACP to give the impression that they are in favor of the Republican-backed measure on the upcoming ballot.

"Our leaders agree," the mailer says. "We must protect our voice!"

Some of the quotes used in the political piece are taken out of context from other discussions, including one that references the city of Gainesville's district changes. But those pushing out the information say the ones opposing the ballot measure are being "hypocritical."

The referendum in question was created from a bill filed by state Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, and only affects the Alachua County Commission.

Long, Chestnut and the Alachua County NAACP branch have each publicly voiced their opposition to the referendum.

"It's absolutely blatantly false," Long said. "African Americans aren't going to be fooled by this false mailer."

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Currently, under the county's representation structure, five commissioners are elected by voters countywide — or at large. If passed, only those living within a specific district can vote for candidates in that race.

Advocates of the current structure say it allows for more representation across the board, while those wanting change argue it allows voters more say who is elected for their region.

The change could also help more Republicans get elected. The board's makeup now is four Democrats to one Republican.

Out-of-context quotes

In 1984, Long, then an executive secretary with the local NAACP, helped push for single-member districts within Gainesville to help more people of color get elected after seeing them struggle to do so on a consistent basis.

A ballot measure was passed by voters, dividing the Gainesville City Commission into four districts and three at-large seats, including the mayor. The change created District 1, which has historically been held by a Black commissioner.

Long said the situation is different from the county, which hasn't had the same issues electing minorities and conservatives to office. He made clear in an interview with The Gainesville Sun that he is adamantly opposed to the latest ballot measure.

In a video published on Alachua County's YouTube page prior to the bill being approved by the Florida Legislature, local Black leaders were asked whether they supported the measure and if they were consulted prior to the bill being filed.

Each said no.

Chestnut argued that the change would be detrimental to African Americans, adding that they aren't concentrated in nearby municipalities like seen in Gainesville. Rather, people of color are more evenly spread out.

"(Clemons') bill is troubling to me because when you really look at it, it's a way of not getting African Americans elected," Chestnut said in the video.

Another video posted by the county in February shows local leaders in Tallahassee voicing their opposition to Clemons' single-member district bill.

"The NAACP opposes House Bill 1493," said Evelyn Foxx, the group's local chapter president.

But despite the local branch's take, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund has long held the position that at-large voting is discriminatory. The organization even won a lawsuit in 2019 for the cause.

Republican state Sen. Keith Perry, who is facing Long for his seat this November, had his office request an investigation from the Florida Department of State to look into the county's production of the videos.

Perry said the videos should be pulled and added that they appear to violate a state campaign finance law that forbids local governments from spending funds to discuss local referendums to be voted on. The law he cites, however, went into effect July 1 months after the videos were produced.

County Commissioner Ken Cornell argues that it's actually Perry and those closest to him that are running afoul of campaign laws.

"Senator Perry is using his office to once again threaten and intimidate Alachua County while pushing his own agenda through dark money, Tallahassee and local PACs," he said.

Making a case for the referendum

A political advertisement disclosure shows the mailers are being pushed by the Social Justice political action committee (PAC). Finance records show that the group is headed by Leiann McGinnis, of Gainesville.

McGinnis was previously linked to questionable mailers during the 2018 election.

The group's funding largely comes from organizations and PACs operated by GOP strategist Stafford Jones, who plays a key role in helping elect conservatives around the state. He also currently serves as campaign treasurer for Clemons who wrote the bill for the referendum.

The Social Justice PAC received $200,000 over the summer from a group called "Consortium of North East Florida," which doesn't appear to be a registered business or PAC in Florida.

It uses the same address and suite number as other businesses operated by Jones, according to business filings. The Alachua County Republican Executive Committee is located in the same building, as well.

Jones in a phone interview with The Sun argues the single-member campaign is based on facts, given the national NAACP and Long's positions on the issue.

"I think they're being completely dishonest and hypocritical," said Jones, who added Long and Foxx only oppose the measure because they have a "walled-off power base" of Democrats.

"The areas of the county are very diverse," he said. "I would argue that you'd probably have two African Americans on the County Commission if we had single-member districts."

Texts to trick local Democrats?

Other messaging efforts to trick Democrats into supporting the ballot measure have been sent out recently and appear to be with the use of "dark money" — funds that are often difficult if not impossible to trace.

Some county residents reported receiving random text messages sent out by a group called "Amplify Alachua." The text alert fails to include a "paid for by" political disclosure, which is required by law.

"Alachua Democrats, we can protect representation in our community with the Single-Member District Referendum," the text said.

Amplify Alachua is operated by the North Central Florida Political Committee, run by Republican Ronald Sartain of Gainesville. The group previously tried to help elect Raemi Eagle-Glenn to the County Commission prior to Gov. Ron DeSantis appointing her to a vacated seat.

A different set of mailers also funded by the Leading for Our Future PAC — and also led by Jones — have arrived in mailboxes over the past week, too. Finance records show the group was given money by other Republican-led groups, including the nonprofit Economic Improvement Fund, operating out of the same address.

Filings show the improvement fund group is a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) that is run by Jones, Alachua County Republican Party treasurer Ann Stone and county soil and water candidate Walter Boyer.

Boyer, the former chair of the Alachua County Tea Party, previously ran a PAC that failed to gather signatures for the single-member ballot measure prior to Clemons' bill.

Contributions records show Economic Improvement Fund has been heavily involved in political activity.

Federal law states that the majority of funds spent by tax-exempt organizations can't be spent on political activity, though the group's IRS status allows it to shield much of its activity throughout the year until taxes are filed.

In February 2021, the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) claimed two nonprofits involved with Jones participated in similar activity illegally. Jones, who has a long history of navigating non-profit groups, said the complaint was a political "hit job" and "bogus," adding that 501(c)(4) organizations have greater latitude and can engage in more advocacy and lobbying.

The same can be said for those complaining about the Economic Improvement Fund, he added.

"Every C4 I have has been reviewed by the IRS," Jones said.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Republicans send misleading mailers, texts in Alachua for ballot measure