Photo: Getty Images North America
Gov. Ron DeSantis is in campaign mode as he reacts to Charlie Crist's choice for lieutenant governor should the Democrat defeat the incumbent in November.
"You see Crist with this running mate that he picked from down in Miami, who's a teacher union boss and sympathetic to Fidel Castro, which was unbelievable to see that tweet."
The 2019 Tweet from Karla Hernandez-Mats came after the death of Castro and noted that while "Most in Miami rejoice, many in Cuba mourn."
During an appearance in Fort Pierce on Tuesday, DeSantis also said that the President of the United Teachers of Dade union worked "tooth and naill" to lock kids out of school during the pandemic.
The governor linked Hernandez-Mats to a former teacher and high-ranking member of the United Teachers of Dade union, who is now serving time for having sex with students.
"He was sexually abusing middle school students for years and years. And everybody knew this was going on and her union protected him, knowing that he represented a threat to those students in middle school classrooms."
DeSantis made his comments while at the 2nd Street Bistro, touting nearly $2.7 million for the City of Fort Pierce through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The money will be used on infrastructure improvements and the redevelopment of the City's historic downtown area to spur economic growth. It's estimated that the projects will support more than 1,300 jobs in the area.
The governor also explained what led him to cancel a trip to a fundraiser in New York on Sunday.
A spokeswoman for Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin, who's running for governor in that state, had cited an "unforeseen tragedy." But DeSantis says his family is fine.
"People thought it was like a family tragedy. We're okay. That's not what it was. I had family obligations to get back. And then Monday morning I attended, which was a tragedy, we lost one of our special agents from FDLE and so we went to the funeral."
Special Agent Jose Perez died earlier this month from injuries sustained when he was struck by a driver while on duty in Miami-Dade County.
Police say that driver was under the influence of alcohol, cocaine and marijuana. He's being held without bond.