Wicker PerlisTreasure Coast Newspapers
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — County Commissioner Jamie Fowler will step down from the county Canvasing Board — a body that oversees a number of election-related activities including absentee-ballot verification and recounts — after a candidate for sheriff threatened to go court to have her ousted if she didn't quit.
Fowler will be replaced by Commissioner Larry Leet, the designated alternate board member. The commission will pick a new alternate, County Administrator George Landry said.
Fowler's decision was announced by interim Port St. Lucie Police Chief and Republican candidate for sheriff Richard Del Toro at the start of a County Commission meeting Tuesday. The meeting started late due to the initial absence of Fowler, Landry and County Attorney Daniel McIntyre. The three had been meeting with Richard Del Toro and his brother and attorney Peter Del Toro.
The meeting, Richard Del Toro later told the commission and audience, had the result he had desired. Fowler had agreed to step down.
Fowler's decision came less than a week after Peter Del Toro raised concerns to Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker in a July 31 email about a potential conflict of interest involving Fowler and a prominent supporter of one of Richard Del Toro's primary opponents, Sheriff Keith Pearson.
Pearson, appointed in December by Gov. Ron DeSantis, has received multiple maximum $1,000 donations from local businessman Anthony DiFrancesco, corporations he owns, his family members or corporations they own.
Additionally, Pearson attended a fundraiser for DeSantis' presidential campaign, hosted by Anthony DiFrancesco, that came shortly before his appointment. Anthony DiFrancesco — who is related to the third Republican in the race, Preston Michael DiFrancesco — was pardoned of multiple felonies by DeSantis in 2023.
Anthony DiFrancesco has sued Richard Del Toro for defamation, Peter Del Toro pointed out to Walker. TCPalm was later added to the lawsuit.
Fowler, Peter Del Toro pointed out, identifies herself on the St. Lucie County website as having "worked her way through the ranks to become the Operations and Community Outreach Manager for Tri-County Enterprises, LLC," a company owned by Anthony DiFrancesco.
Peter Del Toro also provided documents to Walker backing up claims that the house Fowler lists as her residence — an address that determines the district where she is eligible to run for office — is owned by Tri-County Realty LLC, another Anthony DiFrancesco-owned business.
"It is our belief that Mrs. Fowler has a conflict of interest as it pertains to the sheriff’s race due to her employment with Mr. DiFrancesco," Peter Del Toro wrote to Walker. "It is without question that Mr. DiFrancesco has endorsed current interim Sheriff Keith Pearson, and Mr. DiFrancesco’s position as employer of Mrs. Fowler calls into question her ability to be fair and impartial as it relates to my client."
A similar email was later forwarded to McIntyre, Assistant County Attorney Katherine Barbieri and County Commission Chair Cathy Townsend. In that email, sent Sunday, Peter Del Toro said legal action would be taken to remove Fowler if she was still on the Canvassing Board by Wednesday.
Walker, who is seeking reelection, has recused herself from her seat on the Canvassing Board for this election cycle. She did not respond to requests for comment.
Fowler, in an email Monday to TCPalm, said she has not been employed by Tri-County since 2022. She said she intended to remain on the Canvassing Board.
However, late Tuesday night, following the County Commission meeting, she said her resignation was the result of a family health situation.
"My husband literally had heart surgery today," Fowler said. "It was supposed to be a month ago. It's four to six weeks of recovery time, and it's going to require a lot of family time to help him. My obligations, unfortunately, and my schedule, have changed."
Fowler said she believes she could have continued serving impartially on the Canvassing Board.
"I don't have a dog in this fight. This political cycle, all the way across the board, not just the sheriff's race, it's incredibly toxic," Fowler said. "Would I like to serve? Do I know I can serve? One hundred percent. But, it's not worth it, and obligations to my family are first and foremost."
Richard Del Toro painted the picture a bit differently earlier in the night, as he was leaving the chambers.
"I met with her, explained my concerns," he said. "She was disappointed that I had not come to her originally with my own personal concerns, which I take responsibility for. I commend her for doing the right thing. She has stepped down from the Canvassing Board process in this primary to protect the integrity of this process (against) any optics of improprieties."
More: Pearson, Del Toro, DiFrancesco face off in hotly contested GOP primary for SLC sheriff
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Richard Del Toro noted that he has supported Fowler in the past, and said he continues to do so.
"I did so because I always believed she was going to do the right thing for St. Lucie County, and she's done that again tonight, and I applaud her for that," Richard Del Toro said.
Richard Del Toro, Pearson and Preston Michael DiFrancesco will face off in the Republican primary for sheriff Aug. 20. The winner will face Democrat Steven Giordano in the Nov. 5 general election.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com.
