Congresswoman Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, endorsed Democrat Debra Tendrich, who is running for a Florida House seat, HD 89, and then, in a snake-in-the-grass move, quietly endorsed her Democrat opponent, Destinie Baker Sutton, for the same seat.
This house seat is currently held by term-limited Representative David Silvers, D-Palm Beach County, who says Baker Sutton is the best choice. The one who wins the August 20th primary will face Republican Daniel Zapata in the general election in November.
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In an Oprah-like, everyone gets a trophy moment: “You get an endorsement, you get an endorsement, everyone gets an endorsement,” Frankel endorsed the two Democrats running for HD 89, making her endorsement useless. But that’s not stopping the candidates from bragging about it and trying to make it seem special, as though everyone didn’t get the same thing. So, who are these candidates, and what the heck happened with this endorsement?
Candidate Debra Tendrich, real name Deborah, runs a local nonprofit organization called Eat Better, Live Better. She filed to run early, and it seemed she wouldn’t have a primary opponent. She managed to acquire quite a few endorsements, many from the most liberal, progressive Democrats in Florida, such as State Representative Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, known as a squad-like member of the Florida House for her anti-Republican votes, including voting against specific bills in support of the Jewish community. This is not an endorsement one wants to accept when one is claiming to be a “bipartisan candidate who will serve everyone” while trying to show support for Israel. Although Tendrich told Florida Jolt that some random Republican who isn’t in office and never has been supports her, which sounded like “My aunt’s Republican friend in Idaho supports me,” she doesn’t have endorsements from any Republican politicians. Still, she has some significant endorsements, such as the Police Benevolent Association and the Firefighters of Palm Beach County (IAFF).
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Candidate Destinie Baker Sutton is an accomplished attorney who has represented the Board of County Commissioners on both the state and the federal level. She has quickly gained an enthusiastic base of support based on fundraising reports, which show that she has out-raised Tendrich by a lot. Her endorsements include many Democrat politicians, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Realtors. The Mayor of Wellington, a Republican, has also endorsed her. Additionally, she has the endorsement and support of the current occupant of the seat, David Silvers, D-Palm Beach County.
Baker Sutton entered this race much later than Tendrich, which is probably the cause of the Frankel endorsement debacle. Word on the street is that Frankel, a one-time attorney herself, worked for many years with Baker Sutton’s father and has a long-time relationship with the family. When Baker Sutton entered the race, Frankel endorsed her. Then, instead of taking responsibility for her mistake by jumping the gun, endorsing early, and rescinding her Tendrich endorsement, she must have thought she could get away with quietly supporting both candidates and that no one would notice—no such luck.
Tendrich and Baker Sutton have a lot of support, including the odd dual Frankel endorsement. The current Rep for the seat, David Silvers, is known as a moderate Democrat who works well with everyone. He says that he doesn’t see Tendrich as someone who can work with Democrats and Republicans at all, which is one of the reasons he’s not supporting her.
I waited to endorse the best candidate for my seat. Destinie Baker Sutton has shown me that she cares about the district and is willing to work with Democrats and Republicans. She wants to do what’s best for all of the constituents, and she’s willing to listen to the ideas of others. Debra, on the other hand, is an extreme progressive who will only work with one side, which will do nothing for the people who live in the District.
~Representative David Silvers
Tendrich and Baker Sutton are making sure everyone and their mothers know that Frankel supports them. Chances are that when word gets out about the dual endorsement, Democrats will want to know who Frankel really supports, but maybe Republican Zapata, an earnest newcomer who doesn’t have or want a Frankel endorsement, could end up being the winner come November.
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