Sarasota Enquirer

IS IT LEGAL TO PRETEND TO BE A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN PAID POLITICAL ADS?

Apparently, according to Heidi Brandt for Sarasota County School Board, yes.

Facebook's Meta Ad Library clearly lists her ads as coming from a "Government Official," a title she has no right to use. She does not hold elected office, does not chair any government board, and has never taken an oath of office. She is simply a candidate.

Still, she is running four active Facebook campaigns that falsely identify her as a government official.

This is not a technical glitch or a simple mistake. Although we expect her to take no responsibility and blame a "technical error," the choice is intentional. The goal is to boost her credibility with voters who see "Government Official" and assume she already holds office. This is deception disguised as advertising.

Florida law is clear on this. Section 104.271 explicitly prohibits candidates from making false statements intended to mislead voters and it specifically covers false representations in campaign materials.

Here's what should concern you most: If she's willing to deceive voters before she's elected, imagine what she'll do in office when accountability is even harder to enforce.

Deception is a character issue. It reveals how she views YOU and your trust.

Sarasota County voters and the Florida Elections Commission should recognize this for what it is: a documented violation of election law.

Jimmy Glover is running for Sarasota School Board, but he can't even manage his own finances.

The Facts:

- $5,000 loan (June 2021) → $8,881 default judgment (Jan 2026)
- Ignored lawsuits. Never showed up to court.
- Currently being evicted for non-payment of rent
- Judgment debt + 8.65% interest accruing NOW

He wants to oversee a $1.5 BILLION school budget.

If Glover can't pay his rent or respond to a simple lawsuit, how will he steward taxpayer dollars responsibly?

How will he make decisions about teacher pay, facility maintenance, or student programs when he can't even manage his own financial obligations?

Our teachers cannot afford for someone like this to be making decisions over their finances. Sarasota deserves a school board candidate who demonstrates basic financial competence and personal accountability.

Jimmy Glover has demonstrated neither.

Make Sure to Vote for School Board on August 18th

Source: Sarasota County ClerkNet 3.0