Seminole elections chief: County leaders verbally attacked my family

In an extraordinary letter to Seminole County commissioners, county Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson said he’s concerned “about the safety of my family and myself” after what he says are “deeply unsettling” statements by some commissioners.

“Of particular distress is the inclusion of my wife and children in these attacks by some members of the board [of county commissioners],” Anderson said in his June 18 letter. “Statements implying child abuse and the power some members of the board state they have to force individuals out of town.”

Anderson doesn’t name any commissioners in his missive. But he told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday he was referring to a letter Commissioner Amy Lockhart sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis more than eight months ago, on Oct. 3, that asked his office to investigate the elections supervisor’s seemingly “erratic” and “combative” conduct. Lockhart said she received no response to that request.

Anderson’s new letter and his statement to the Sentinel is the latest turn in a nasty fracas between the elections supervisor — originally appointed to his post by DeSantis — and county leaders. Some of those leaders have now lined up against Anderson’s bid for reelection in August, an unusual step in this largely Republican county.

Lockhart’s October letter to DeSantis was triggered by the most notable of those claims: an emotional video Anderson posted on TikTok discussing what he called repeated racism among county leaders. Anderson is Seminole’s first Black constitutional officer; Seminole County’s five commissioners are white.

Anderson, his wife and three children often create TikTok videos of themselves acting or speaking out on various issues. He said “it’s something that we like to do as a family” and the videos have become popular.

But in her letter to DeSantis, Lockhart said one such video showed an actor threatening to harm Anderson’s daughter.

“The film….opens with a scary looking ‘white-faced’ intruder who places a knife at the throat of Anderson’s sleeping young daughter,” Lockhart said in her letter. “The video was so disturbing that I reached out to a professional in our community for their advice.”

Lockhart added in her letter that Anderson’s wife is “publicly threatening and disparaging members of the community.” She pointed to a May 2022 commission meeting where Anderson urged commissioners to expand his public office’s building.

“As Mr. Anderson was testifying, his wife could be seen sitting behind him, shaking her head and making distracted gestures that could be perceived as an attempt to influence and intimidate,” Lockhart wrote in her letter.

Anderson said he remains angry about Lockhart’s accusations.

“She is using her position of power, with a letter with Seminole County letterhead to the governor’s office, to make it seem we’re abusing our children,” he said in the interview with the Sentinel.

“If they have concerns about the elections that’s one thing,” Anderson said. “But to talk about my wife? What made them think that a Black woman in the audience is intimidating? Why is it that a person of color gets special attention?”

In a June 21 letter responding to Anderson’s allegations, Commission Chair Jay Zembower said he and other board members had “deep concern” over the situation. He urged Anderson, a former deputy Sheriff and police officer, to contact law enforcement authorities if he feels threatened.

“Additionally, the Board requests you to identify to the County Attorney immediately all materials, written statements and other evidence supporting these allegations,” Zembower’s letter continued.

At Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Zembower raised the issue again.

“It’s not conduct that I think any of us would support,” Zembower said of Anderson’s charges. “We want to make sure that people are not in fear of their lives or their family’s lives or their children’s lives.”

But Lockhart said in a Thursday interview that she stands by her letter to DeSantis.

“It’s unfortunate that he’s perseverating on this letter,” she said. “I spoke plainly and truthfully and I can see why he wouldn’t like that.”

Anderson first took office in January 2019 after he was appointed by DeSantis to replace Mike Ertel, who was selected to serve as Florida’s secretary of state.

In 2020, Anderson was elected to a four-year term. On Aug. 20, he will face School Board member Amy Pennock in the Republican primary in his bid for re-election. The winner will face Democrat Deborah Poulalion in the Nov. 5 general election.