Politics
Calls for State Probe into State Rep. Rita Harris’s Finances: Allegations of Negative Net Worth, $78,000 IRS Liability, and Suspicious $13,000 Campaign Loan
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The 2024 rematch election for Florida House District 44 is heating up as the Daisy Morales Campaign demands a state investigation into the background and financial dealings of incumbent State Representative Jennifer Rita Harris, according to a recent press release issued by the Daisy Morales Campaign.
The Florida Election Commission and the Office of State Attorney Andrew Bain are called upon to scrutinize potential election law violations, which could significantly impact the race, the press release stated.
The Daisy Morales campaign issued a press release regarding a formal complaint filed in early July concerning State Representative Jennifer Rita Harris’ questionable financial background. The complaint highlights Harris’ reported net worth of -$3,511.91 in her current State Finance Disclosure Report, questioning how she managed to loan nearly $13,000 to her 2022 campaign. Additionally, the Morales Campaign pointed out Harris’ history of unemployment, her unpaid role as CEO in her husband’s businesses for six years, and her claims of being solely a housewife on IRS tax returns.
Campaign Highlights Concealed Background
The Morales Campaign has uncovered troubling aspects of Harris’ background, positioning these findings as a liability for her high-profile endorsers, including US Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, US Congressman Maxwell Frost, and Florida State Senate candidates Shevrin Jones and Carmen Torres. Other notable endorsers include Florida State House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, Florida State House Democratic Leader Designate Christine Hunschofsky, Florida State Representative candidate Johanna Lopez, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association PAC, Florida Professional Firefighters PAC, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association PAC, United For Progress PAC, and former Florida State Representative candidate Samuel Vilchez Santiago who’s also the current Chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, and among others.
Call for Investigation
The Morales Campaign has formally requested an investigation into Harris’ potential campaign finance and election law violations. The latest financial disclosure report filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics reveals Harris’ net worth is negative $3,511.91, despite loaning her 2022 campaign approximately $13,000.
Questionable Background
The Morales Campaign highlights Harris’ questionable unemployment history, her unpaid role as CEO in her husband’s businesses for approximately six years, and her claims of being solely a housewife on IRS tax returns.
Employment and Business History
- Kronos Unlimited, LLC
2012 – 2015: Company Administratively Dissolved by the State
Jennifer R. Harris, Managing Member
John C. Harris, Managing Member - Salesforce.com Overflow Services, LLC
2013-2018: Company Administratively Dissolved by the State
John Harris, Managing Member - Harris Cloud Consultants
2016-2017: 2022 Company Reinstated by the State (Current)
Rita Harris, CEO, Sales Executive (LinkedIn profile)
John C. Harris, Owner (2021 Financial Disclosure) - Orlando County Democratic Party
2018-2022: Rita Harris, Events Chair (Volunteer) LinkedIn profile - Valeo Cloud Consulting, LLC
2021 (Current): John C. Harris, Owner
Raising Serious Questions About Harris’ Background
“Who was the real Jennifer Rita Harris before she moved to Florida and her allies’ disinformation campaign misled voters into electing her to the Florida House?” the Morales campaign asks. It alleges that endorsements from elected officials, community leaders, and PACs were given without proper vetting, leaving voters uninformed.
Harris’ Social Media Posts / Vulgar Comments
Source: The Daisy Morales Campaign
Harris’ Medium platform posts (2017-2022) display a pattern of using offensive language and engaging in race-baiting. Her posts show anger towards U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, elderly individuals, white men, and progressive supporters.
Key Issues Highlighted:
- Stereotyping: Based on age, race, and gender.
- Ageism: Prejudice against elderly men.
- Racism: Negative attitudes towards white individuals.
- Gender Bias: Hostility towards men.
- Offensive Language: Including 27 instances of the F-word and other offensive remarks.
**VIDEO WARNING: The language in this post is very graphic **
It’s not safe for work or around children.: https://www.facebook.com/DaisyForFlorida/videos/893343599501765
Source: The Daisy Morales Campaign
“Harris has demonstrated abusive, racist, and hateful behavior that has no place in our communities, county, or election process. In her postings, she made it clear that she’s also a part-time ‘asshole,’” the campaign asserts.
The Real Jennifer Rita Harris’ Background: A Disaster
Recent disclosures reveal:
- Negative Net Worth: Harris’ 2024 Finance Disclosure Report shows a net worth of negative $3,511.91.
- Lack of Paid Employment History: No paid employment history for over 25 years.
- Significant Federal Debt: $78,000 in federal debt owed to the IRS (2022 report).
- Struggling Businesses: Multiple struggling and revoked businesses listed under her name.
- Unpaid CEO: Admitted to being the CEO of her husband’s business without pay for six years.
- Educational Debt: Approximately $30,000 in educational debt owed without any completed certification or degree.
Deceptive Campaign Tactics
“Harris, her allies, and endorsers’ campaign to whitewash her background from District 44 voters and the public is coming to an end,” a Morales campaign declares. “Voters deserve transparency and honesty from their elected officials and candidates.”
Key Points:
- Endorsements Without Due Diligence: Endorsements in 2022 and 2024 without proper vetting.
- Financial Irregularities: Significant debt and business issues.
- Educational Discrepancies: Educational debt claims without corresponding credentials.
- Campaign Misrepresentation: Misleading voters about her qualifications.
Democrats: Florida State Representative Daisy Morales (2020-2022) and Florida State Representative Jennifer “Rita” Harris (2022-2024) Source: Florida House
Former Florida State Representative Daisy Morales has a proven track record as a bipartisan lawmaker who effectively passed sponsored and cosponsored legislation into law. She successfully cosponsored over $15 million in appropriation projects. Her campaign focuses on accountability, and tirelessly serving the constituents in the Florida House.
In Contrast
Jennifer Rita Harris’ legislative record is marked by numerous sponsored dead bills and unsuccessful record of over $20 million in appropriation projects in the Florida House. Sponsored bills and appropriation projects all dead in her first term.
This press release seeks to aggressively highlight the concerns and issues surrounding Jennifer Rita Harris’ background, overlooked by local media for years, while reinforcing Daisy Morales’ commitment to effective leadership, the press release stated.
Democrats, Independents and Republicans voters in Florida House District 44 will decide on August 20 whether to give incumbent Jennifer Rita Harris or former State Representative Daisy Morales a second term to represent them in the Florida House.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Facing serious legal challenges, State Representative Carolina Amesty is determined to clear her name as she confronts four third-degree felony charges related to forgery and improper notary practices. Amesty surrendered to officials at the Orange County Jail. The 29-year-old lawmaker faces charges including two counts of forgery, one count of illegally notarizing her own signature, and one count of falsely certifying a signature as a notary.
Amesty’s legal troubles stem from her role as an administrator at Central Christian University, a private institution founded by her father, Juan Amesty. The allegations involve notarizing a document with a forged signature, which was part of the school’s licensing submissions to the Florida Department of Education. The controversy, first reported by the Orlando Sentinel, triggered a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation and ultimately led to her indictment by a grand jury on August 28.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Amesty’s campaign swiftly responded with a statement asserting her innocence and labeling the prosecution as politically motivated. “This prosecution, initiated just a few weeks prior to absentee ballots being dropped, is based on misleading reports from a partisan newspaper,” Amesty stated. She expressed confidence in a swift trial and public vindication, urging for a quick resolution.
Political responses have been sharply divided. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried has called for Amesty’s resignation, questioning her ability to serve effectively while under indictment.
On the other hand, Republican House Speaker-designate Daniel Perez emphasized that the charges appear unrelated to Amesty’s duties as a state representative and supported her right to defend herself.
Amesty, who won her House District 45 seat with 53% of the vote in 2022, faces a tough reelection battle this November against former Disney executive Leonard Spencer. Her district, which leaned slightly Democratic in the 2020 Presidential Election but supported Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, is expected to be one of the most competitive legislative races in Florida this cycle.
Despite the mounting pressure, Amesty has signaled her intention to remain in the race, bolstered by nearly $123,000 in campaign funds. She continues to rally her supporters, sharing a verse from Psalms on social media and retweeting a post from Donald Trump about political persecution.
As the legal process unfolds, the race for House District 45 remains a closely watched contest with significant implications for Florida’s political landscape.
Politics
Former Tea Party Candidate Jose Alvarez Wins Democratic Primary for Florida House District 46
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN) — In a surprising political shift, former Kissimmee mayor Jose A. Alvarez, who once ran as a Tea Party candidate in the 2010 Florida House District 79 race, has secured the 2024 Democratic Primary nomination for Florida House District 46. Alvarez, who initially aligned with the conservative Tea Party movement, now stands as the Democratic nominee, marking a significant evolution in his political journey.
Source: Florida Division of Election’s website
Alvarez’s political path has been anything but typical. In 2010, he challenged Republican incumbent Mike Horner for the Florida House District 79 seat, running on a platform that emphasized limited government and conservative values. His campaign under the Tea Party banner drew attention, particularly when Horner confronted Alvarez before he officially filed his candidacy.
According to Alvarez, “Horner told me things could get ugly” if he didn’t drop out of the race. Alvarez, a Realtor at the time, also recalled receiving calls from fellow brokers urging him to step aside. Horner, however, stated to Sunshine State Newsthat his intent was simply to inform Alvarez about the Florida TEA Party’s “real agenda,” which he claimed aimed to weaken Republican re-election efforts and assist Democrats in gaining seats in the state legislature.
Fast forward 14 years, and Alvarez’s recent victory in the Democratic primary underscores a remarkable transformation in his political alignment. His ability to connect with a diverse electorate in Osceola County highlights the unpredictable and dynamic nature of local politics.
Osceola County Election 2024: John Cortes Wins Recount, Advances to Runoff Against Jackie Espinosa for Kissimmee Mayor
With his Democratic nomination secured, Alvarez is set to compete in the general election for the Florida House District 46 seat. He will face Republican Michael Cruz and NPA Ivan Rivera on November 5, 2024. Alvarez’s journey from a Tea Party candidate to a Democratic nominee illustrates the evolving landscape of political identities and the complexities of voter appeal in contemporary elections.
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