ActionfigureJoe Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Republican Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel resigned Thursday after photos emerged of him wearing blackface as a Hurricane “Katrina victim” at a Halloween party in 2005. The stunning development ended the former Seminole County election supervisor’s 16-day stint as Florida’s top elections officer. The Tallahassee Democrat obtained the photos and showed them to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office on Thursday morning. The governor’s office announced Ertel’s resignation just hours later. “It has been an honor to serve you and the voters of Florida,” Ertel’s resignation letter stated. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that the photos were taken two months after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in August 2005, leading to an estimated 1,836 deaths. Ertel, 49, a Republican, had been appointed Seminole Supervisor of Elections just a few months earlier by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. He had previously served as spokesman for Seminole County and the county Sheriff’s Office. Ertel told the Tallahassee Democrat that he was the man “in blackface and red lipstick, wearing earrings and a New Orleans Saints bandanna, and falsies under a purple T-shirt that had ‘Katrina Victim’ written on it.” Ertel would not talk with the paper about the circumstances surrounding the photo. “There's nothing I can say,” Ertel said. He did not respond to the Sentinel’s request for comment. In an appearance at a Panhandle news conference, DeSantis said he thought the controversy was “unfortunate” and that Ertel regretted the incident. He added that Ertel had done good work in his two weeks on the job, but that he didn’t want the distraction in his administration. “I want people to be able to lead and not have these things swirling around him,” DeSantis said. “I've got to have an administration that's going to be focused on what matters to Floridians, and I don't want to get mired into kind of side-controversies.” After his appointment in 2005, Ertel was elected supervisor in 2006 and re-elected three times. State Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Sanford, had just praised Ertel at a state House committee hearing Thursday morning, telling legislators “they had a slogan that he would use for his office: ‘America’s Finest Elections Team.’ I think by him being secretary of state, we are going to, despite our history and some challenges we’ve had … [have] America’s finest election process here in Florida. Seminole County’s loss is Florida’s gain.” After Ertel’s resignation was announced, Plakon echoed his earlier remarks. Ertel was “very effective in Seminole County and well-respected by members of both parties,” Plakon said. “It’s a big loss to the state.” Plakon had been good friends with Ertel, who he said had helped and supported him while his wife was battling Alzheimer’s. “That is not the Mike Ertel that I know,” added Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine, who had been considered one of the potential successors to Ertel as supervisor. However, DeSantis named Chris Anderson, chief investigations officer for the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office, as the county’s new supervisor of elections on Jan. 18. “I was shocked to see these photos,” said Anderson, the first African American constitutional officer in Seminole County. “Personally, I do not believe these pictures are representative of the Mike Ertel I know today. Acts like these are unacceptable, but as we work through issues surrounding race, it is important to understand people can learn and grow from their actions.” Ertel’s appointment to the key post of secretary of state, which oversees the Division of Elections, earned bipartisan praise after the state dealt with chaos during the November election and an unprecedented three statewide recounts. Ertel “has proven that he is vastly qualified to lead the state’s elections efforts as Secretary of State, and will strive to ensure that Florida voters are confident that elections continue to be fair and accurate,” DeSantis said at the time. Ertel had long been active on social media, providing opinions on Twitter and Facebook about elections issues. He had called for closing the loophole that allows a single write-in candidate to close off primaries, criticized President Trump’s allegation that “millions” voted illegally in the 2016 election and had stressed protecting Florida’s elections systems from hackers. But on Thursday, his Twitter account was deactivated. The Seminole elections office had also received plaudits for its programs during Ertel’s tenure, including the student registration efforts which earned it a prestigious First Time Voters Award in 2017 from the International Elections Awards in Jordan. On Friday, DeSantis suspended Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher at the recommendation of Ertel, who wrote a three-page letter that listed what he called “ingrained institutional incompetence” at the Palm Beach office. “I strongly recommend you [suspend Bucher],” Ertel wrote, “allowing fresh, competent leadership to take the reins of the much-maligned office.” Staff writers Ryan Gillespie, Gray Rohrer and Martin Comas contributed to this report.Slemongello@orlandosentinel.com, 407-418-5920, @stevelemongello, facebook/stevelemongello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 https://www.thewrap.com/9-blackface-star-backfire-ted-danson-julianne-hough-kylie-jenner/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 3 minutes ago, DAVE said: https://www.thewrap.com/9-blackface-star-backfire-ted-danson-julianne-hough-kylie-jenner/ Republican Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 14 years later....fuck it...crucify him!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will that make everybody feel better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcticCrusher Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Just now, Jimmy Snacks said: 14 years later....fuck it...crucify him!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will that make everybody feel better? Only if he is a repug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 2 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said: Republican Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen Actor Ted Danson and his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, attend a "Get Out the Vote" campaign rally for Hillary Clinton in Hudson, New Hampshire, Feb. 8, 2016. Danson, who stars on "CSI: Cyber," for CBS, and Steenburgen have been friends with the Clintons for a number of years. Bill Clinton even walked Steenburgen down the aisle when the couple tied the knot in 1995. The two campaigned for Hillary Clinton in her first shot at the Democratic nomination. Credit: Brian Snyder/Reuters Poor stupid spin cry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 1 minute ago, ArcticCrusher said: Only if he is a repug. Just now, DAVE said: Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen Actor Ted Danson and his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, attend a "Get Out the Vote" campaign rally for Hillary Clinton in Hudson, New Hampshire, Feb. 8, 2016. Danson, who stars on "CSI: Cyber," for CBS, and Steenburgen have been friends with the Clintons for a number of years. Bill Clinton even walked Steenburgen down the aisle when the couple tied the knot in 1995. The two campaigned for Hillary Clinton in her first shot at the Democratic nomination. Credit: Brian Snyder/Reuters Poor stupid spin cry. Bingo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 Republican Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 2 minutes ago, DAVE said: Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen Actor Ted Danson and his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, attend a "Get Out the Vote" campaign rally for Hillary Clinton in Hudson, New Hampshire, Feb. 8, 2016. Danson, who stars on "CSI: Cyber," for CBS, and Steenburgen have been friends with the Clintons for a number of years. Bill Clinton even walked Steenburgen down the aisle when the couple tied the knot in 1995. The two campaigned for Hillary Clinton in her first shot at the Democratic nomination. Credit: Brian Snyder/Reuters Poor stupid spin cry. Hey isn't that Mainecats town? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Skidooski Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 Just now, ActionfigureJoe said: Republican Democrats get a pass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 Just now, Skidooski said: Democrats get a pass? Republican. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 5 minutes ago, Jimmy Snacks said: Bingo. Republican mocking Katrina victims. It’s all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 ANd for 13 yrs no one cared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 3 minutes ago, steve from amherst said: ANd for 13 yrs no one cared. Yup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 5 minutes ago, steve from amherst said: ANd for 13 yrs no one cared. They do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Skidooski Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 9 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said: Republican. This kind of shit transcends political lines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member SnowRider Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 Repugs FTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member SnowRider Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 6 minutes ago, DAVE said: Yup You’re Canadian - STFU 👍 Repugs don’t want you here..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 Just now, SnowRider said: You’re Canadian - STFU 👍 Repugs don’t want you here..... No he's fine......you on the other hand... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold War Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 18 minutes ago, Skidooski said: Democrats get a pass? Absolutely!! The National media still hasn’t stumbled across this racist asshole in 2 years. Hes not a SOS though, only mayor of larger city in MI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted January 25, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 Wasn't black face man the dude who restored voting rights for felons in Fla? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motonoggin Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 1 hour ago, steve from amherst said: Wasn't black face man the dude who restored voting rights for felons in Fla? It would actually be the voters of Florida who did that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtralettucetomatoe580 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 What sort of fucking idiot masquerades as a Katrina victim??? That’s the most disturbing part.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 ...with lipstick and earrings. Well, wtf? Seems somebody was rejected by a black woman at some point in his life. Mommy issues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoslinger Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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