‘It’s Hypocritical’: Denise Nystrom Slams Lee GOP for Almost Endorsing School Board Candidates, Praises GOP Club When They Endorsed Her
August 8, 2022 Updated 5:34 P.M. ET
FORT MYERS (FLV) – Lee County School Board candidate Denise Nystrom criticized the Lee County Republican Executive Committee in May for attempting to endorse school board candidates, but months later praised a local chapter for endorsing herself.
In May, Nystrom stood against the Lee County Republican Executive Committee for considering whether to endorse school board candidates.
“Even though they can endorse candidates prior to the primary election, they have not endorsed in a presidential, gubernatorial, or congressional election for decades, let alone the school board elections,” Nystrom said in an email to supporters May 15.
“This is a question of election integrity. The people should control the elections.”
However, months later Nystrom praised the East Lee County Republican Club, a local club, for deciding to endorse her.
Florida’s Voice reached out to Nystrom Monday but did not receive a response.
Lee County GOP Chairman Jonathan Martin said Nystrom showed up at meetings “vehemently” opposed to the REC membership taking a vote on if members wanted to consider endorsing candidates this year.
“There’s not a better word than just hypocritical. That’s all it is. It’s hypocritical,” Lee County GOP Chairman Jonathan Martin said.
Florida’s Voice asked East Lee County Republican President Michael Thompson if he thought Nystrom’s comments were hypocritical.
“I don’t really have a comment on that,” Thompson said. “If she wants to accept an endorsement, that’s totally up to her.”
East Lee County Republican club endorsed school board candidates Amor Persons, Christine DeVigili, Dan Severson, and Lee County Commission candidates Brian Hamman and Cecil Pendergrass.
Jonathan Martin said the East Lee County Republican Club violated party rules by endorsing the candidates since the Republican Party of Florida and the Lee County Republican Executive Committee did not endorse candidates.
Martin said the Republican Party of Florida was notified. Thompson said the club was allowed to endorse school board races since they are nonpartisan. Hamman and Pendergrass did not have Republican challengers.
