Thread by @MappingFL

Several months ago, Ron DeSantis appointed a white Republican to the majority-black Gadsden County’s commission. That appointee has now resigned after a KKK costume photo emerged.

I delve into Gadsden politics and Ron’s horrible pick

mcimaps.substack.com/p/issue-71-gad…

#flapol #sayfie

While I’ll give Ron the benefit of the doubt that the photo, which is old, was not likely known, it still was insulting for him to appoint a white Republican to Florida’s lone majority black commission - especially in replacing a black democrat #flapol.

Gadsden has a long and nasty political history - subject to Jim Crow suppression. In the 1950s, only a few black voters were registered. It took federal laws to finally see a massive shift in voter registration. See the rapid rise in the late 1960s #flapol.

To this day elections have severe racial splits. I delve into multiple Commission contests in the article.

In 2004, Morris Young became the first black sheriff (running as an indi) - the results are heavily driven by race - and the campaign saw nasty racist attacks #flapol

As late as 2011, the county was rocked by scandals when 2 white commissioners worked to purge the county of black employees. These members were eventually defeated (I cover their races in the substack). Here is the story from that time #flapol

tampabay.com/archive/2011/0…

Ron’s pick gave Gadsden its first GOP commissioner since reconstruction. Now the seat is vacant till November’s election. It will for sure go back into democratic hands. But the entire saga this year has been a painful episode for a county that has been through enough #flapol