Rudy Ferguson, a candidate for Tallahassee City Commission and challenger to Commissioner Jack Porter, filed a complaint with the Florida Democratic Party accusing officials with the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee (LDEC) – including Chairman Ryan Ray – of siding against him in the Porter race.
In addition, the complaint documents that Ray asked Ferguson to leave the party after Ferguson defended law enforcement in a campaign newsletter.
Ray serves as aide to City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow and was elected in late 2022 as chair of the DEC.
The complaint is based, in part, on a story that TR broke related to a social media post emphasized by the LCDEC that stated “U.S is a Fascist Police State….”
Ferguson responded to the message in a campaign newsletter, stating, in part, “as a Democratic candidate running for a local office, I do not agree, nor do I align with this message…..These divisive rhetorics are unproductive.”
Ferguson’s full message is provided below.
In response, LCDEC Chairman Ryan Ray asked Ferguson to leave the Democratic Party. Ray posted on social media, “I would like to ask you to leave the Democratic Party if you’re going to criticize us.”
Ray’s tweet is provided below.
The Complaint
The 13-page complaint details allegations that Ryan Ray and other Democratic Party officials are helping the Jack Porter campaign in violation of Florida Democratic Party bylaws.
The Florida Democratic Party’s 2022 bylaws has a provision which prohibits endorsements in primary elections and defines an endorsement “as “endorsing, certifying, screening, or recommending, in any manner, candidates in primary elections.”
The complaint includes social media posts to support the allegations of bias and also provides campaign donation records that show local party officials supporting Porter.
@ Emma... a weak attempt at projection at best. The body of evidence in support of my position is clear. Both Matlow and Porter consistently cause disruption and portray decent if they don't get their way. Both consistently attack and accuse - without cause or proof - their fellow Commission members when they don't get their way. Both actively and publicly seek to malign and target their "colleagues". Neither are at all interested in compromise or reasonable discussions and discourse. They are activists, NOT Representatives.
They are both ideological zealots who seek to forward political and ideological "agenda"... NOT the citizens and taxpayers' agenda.
not sounding so collegial yourself there "ed"
@ Ish... 100% spot-on. Neither Pro-Hamas Progressive (Jackboot Porter or Anti-LEO Pizza Boy) have any intention of working as part of a collegial body to improve the City. They are both ideological zealots, and they both need to be voted out if we are to move our City forward.
Wonderfully, beautifully ironic that the aide to "non-partisan" elected Commissioner Jeremy Matlow is, perhaps, the most partisan hack in Florida's Democratic Party. He is acting like a child. Remember the days when the Dems would brag about its "Big Tent?" Rudy is learning what scores of former Democrats have learned in Florida and nation-wide ... if you do not agree with EV-RY-THING the elitist progressive nutjobs demand you are out. It doesn't matter what color, how you identify, etc. 100% onboard with their idiocy or you are no longer acceptable.
that hawai'i story about the DUI linked in that tweet is pretty crazy.
More police surveillance costs a lot of money and freedom.
When talking Local Races and saying that the US is a Fascist Police State that will Arrest you to justify paying themselves more of your Tax Dollars, leads me to believe that you are comparing Tallahassee/Leon County to also being a Fascist Police State and doing the same thing. Can you give true examples of TPD and LCSO doing that?
TR, think hard about what a Bethel majority would mean. Curtis is on his last legs while Rudy never had one to stand on.