Casey DeSantis ‘Sickened’ by Karla Hernandez-Mats Comparing Special Education Teaching Experience to ‘Dysfunctional Legislature’

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – First Lady Casey DeSantis said she was “sickened” to hear Karla Hernandez-Mats claim her experience as a special education teacher “qualifies” her “to deal with the dysfunctional legislature” if elected Florida’s next lieutenant governor.

Fox News reported a video of Hernandez-Mats making the comments at a campaign event in Cape Coral Tuesday.

“I’m a teacher, I am a sp-ed teacher, so my major was emotionally-handicapped education, okay? That by itself qualifies me to deal with the dysfunctional legislature,” Hernandez-Mats said, leading the audience to laugh and applaud.

Democrat nominee for governor Charlie Crist tapped Karla Hernandez-Mats to be his running mate in August.

“Sickened by callous words from someone who claims to be an advocate for children,” DeSantis said on Twitter. “Karla, saying children w/ unique abilities are ‘dysfunctional’ & equating them to political opponents is a new low.”

Hernandez-Mats responded to Casey DeSantis on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.

“Just wow. Sounds like she resented her students,” the DeSantis campaign said on Twitter in response to the video.

“I will make it my mission to let parents know of the ‘hate in your heart,’” Casey DeSantis ended her tweet with.

DeSantis is referring to a previous comment from Crist where he labeled Gov. Ron DeSantis supporters as those with “hate” in their hearts.

“Those who support the governor should stay with him and vote for him and I don’t want your vote,” he said. “If you have that hate in your heart, keep it there. I want the vote of the people of Florida who care about our state – good Democrats, good Independents, good Republicans. Unify with this ticket. Unify with Val Demings and Charlie Crist. Unify with us.”