JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown spoke on the steps of the Duval County courthouse Monday morning, speaking on a filed complaint against State Rep. Angie Nixon and an LLC for fraudulent voter guides.
Brown filed a complaint for injunctive relief against Nixon and Step To Success LLC for allegedly distributing fraudulent 'Quick Pick' voter guides in Duval County on Friday, Aug. 9. A hearing on the injunction filed by Brown is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Aug. 16.
"For decades, the congresswoman has vetted individuals vying for various elected positions, then placed the individuals she found most qualified on her 'Quick Pick' list," a press release from Brown states. "This time, Rep. Nixon falsified Brown's Quick Pick list to reflect Brown's endorsement, which was never earned or given."
Brown said the fake voter guides attribute her endorsement to candidates she has never endorsed, adding that in some cases, the voter guides mention she has endorsed the candidate whom she actually opposes.
The complaint for injunctive relief against Nixon and Step to Success LLC includes the following three counts of violating Florida law, according to the release:
- Making false or malicious statements
- Campaigning with false information
- Misrepresenting the identity or source of a political advertisement
During the press conference in front of the Duval County courthouse, Brown said she reached out to Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland about the fraudulent voter guides, to which he told her "it's nothing a person could do to change it."
State Rep. Kimberly Daniels who joined Brown in the press conference, said the motive for filing the complaint "is only for a cease and desist of the egregious acts that have taken place for all, forever."
"I've had the honor and privilege of serving in elected office for over 12 years and I have never seen a campaign of this nature," said former city councilwoman and school board member Brenda A. Priestly Jackson who also joined Brown at the courthouse. "It saddens me that someone is repeatedly attempting to deceive neighbors and the electric [electoral], that is disenfranchisement."
First Coast News reached out to Nixon following the press conference, and she said: "My campaign didn't authorize the distribution of any 'quick picks' and honestly, I don't feel comfortable being on those quick picks anyway. My record speaks for itself."
Nixon believes this injunction feels like a personal attack by past opponents.
"I just feel that someone has a personal vendetta against me that has expanded to four years now, and it's just very unfortunate that the voters have to see this. This is what turns people off from voting," Nixon explained.
A representative with Step to Success LLC also told First Coast News they did not authorize anyone within the company to make the fake fliers. The company works with local candidates to perform campaign outreach, and is helping with Nixon's campaign.
Daniels is a candidate for State Representative District 14, while Jackson is a candidate for State Representative District 13, the release states.
Will the fliers have an impact?
Florida Politics correspondent and Jacksonville Today columnist, A.G. Gancarski, believes the flyer controversy could have an impact on local elections.
"I think, particularly the Corrine Brown press conference today, that's intended to reach Northwest and North Jacksonville. Bring out voters for, you know, pretty disappointing Kim Daniels and Brenda Priestly Jackson campaigns," Gancarski said.
Gancarski said controversies like these have occurred during primary elections and said they target a certain voter.
"They're targeting the low information, voters, the ones who are going to be swayed by something they read rather than looking at policy positions and performance in office and things like that," Gancarski said.