Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faces criticism over vaccination clinics in upscale
One prominent developer in two communities donated to DeSantis’ campaign — in amounts of $25,000 and $50,000 between 2018 and 2019 for a total of $125,000, according to campaign finance records.
The exclusive vaccine clinics allowed about 6,000 people to jump ahead of tens of thousands of seniors on waitlists in Manatee and Charlotte counties, where the drives happened.
“I’m an active Republican, so I’m a fan of the governor, but I think that this could have been done better,” said Harvey Goldstein, a staunch Republican in Charlotte County.
DeSantis declined CNN’s request for an on-camera interview for this story. Meredith Beatrice, the governor’s director of strategic initiatives, sent an email to CNN saying, in part, “The insinuation that politics play into vaccine distribution in Florida is baseless and ridiculous.”
Florida, where demand for vaccination has exceeded supply since the state started administering it in late December, is facing statewide vaccine distribution challenges.
3 million have received vaccines
Baugh said at a public county commissioners’ meeting that DeSantis called Rex Jensen, the CEO of the parent company of the Lakewood Ranch community, about setting up a vaccine drive — and that Jensen called her for help setting up the drive. A news release on the Manatee County website says it aimed to vaccinate 3,000 people over three days.
Jensen’s spokesperson, Lisa Barnott, told CNN their involvement in the vaccine drive was only “to help identify a site that could accommodate 1,000 people per day.”
Some residents in Manatee County said they were outraged by Baugh’s actions.
“The whole thing smacked to me of politics, favoritism, elitism and racism,” Ken Schultz, a Manatee County resident, told CNN.
Baugh apologized following intense criticism regarding the vaccination site, but said at another public county commissioners’ meeting February 18 that if presented with the opportunity again, “I will do exactly what I did this time.”
CNN asked Baugh for comment on the investigation but has not heard back.
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