Moms for Liberty co-founder selected as vice chair of Florida Commission on Ethics
Tallahassee Democrat | By Douglas Soule | December 11, 2024
Tina Descovich, a former Brevard County School Board member, has served on the commission since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her last year.
Not waiting to see if the Senate confirms her appointment, the Florida Commission on Ethics unanimously selected conservative Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich as its new vice-chair.
Descovich, a former Brevard County School Board member, has served on the commission since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her last year.
The Florida Senate didn’t confirm her during the 2024 legislative session; concerns were raised toward the end of session that Descovich’s work counted as lobbying, which would conflict with a role on the commission.
Senate spokesperson Katie Betta said in a statement that the issue required “additional review prior to Senate confirmation.” But the Senate process allows two years for the confirmation process, which Betta said “provides time for the Senate to review these matters and provide answers to questions brought forward by Senators.”
Moreover, DeSantis reappointed her in April, Betta said.
Moms for Liberty founder Tiffany Justice (L) and Tina Descovich present the Liberty Sword to Governor Ron DeSantis before he speaks during the inaugural Moms for Liberty Summit at the Tampa Marriott Water Street on July 15, 2022, in Tampa Florida.
“I have a record of sitting on the commission now, working with my fellow commissioners across all aisles in a nonpartisan manner and ruling consistent with what a good commissioner should do, and so I fully expect that the Senate will confirm me this year,” Descovich said in a Wednesday phone interview.
Among other things, the commission is “responsible for investigating and issuing public reports on complaints of breach of the public trust by public officers and employees,” according to its website.
Its nine members serve two-year terms. Five are appointed by the governor; two are appointed by the Senate president the other two are appointed by the House speaker.
“I’ve never been a lobbyist,” Descovich added. “I’ve never had to register as a lobbyist. Moms for Liberty as an organization is not registered as a lobbyist in the state of Florida or anywhere.”
Moms for Liberty, a parental rights organization that is closely aligned with DeSantis, has drawn criticism from Democrats. For example, it has vigorously advocated against classroom discussion of LGBTQ topics and critical race theory.
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich (L) and Arizona GOP Chair Gina Swoboda (C) cheer during a campaign rally for U.S. Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump at Findlay Toyota Center on October 13, 2024, in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
Some of the group’s most headline-generating work has been the targeting of school library books its members deem inappropriate, leading to the removal of many titles, especially in Florida.
During a Moms for Liberty panel over the summer, Descovich had a dire take on these issues: “The enemy wants to come between us and our children,” she said. “Once that happens … our families are done. Our communities are done. And our country is lost.”
While Descovich’s confirmation didn’t make it to a full Senate vote, all three Democrats of the Senate’s Ethics & Elections committee voted against her, concerned with her political advocacy and how it might affect decisions on ethics cases.
“We need to be better than this,” Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, said during the February meeting. “There are many people out there who we can find who are maybe part of a political party but do not run one of the most divisive organizations in this country.”
But DeSantis is a fan, and was a featured speaker at the group’s annual “Joyful Warriors” National Summits that were held in Tampa in 2022 and Philadelphia last year.
