WFLA

Sheriff Grady Judd outraged over political mailer

A Tampa Bay area congressional candidate is under fire for his newest political mailer. But, it’s not Ross Spano’s opponents crying foul, it’s Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

“I made it abundantly clear to Spano that I was not going to endorse anyone in the campaign,” Sheriff Grady Judd told WFLA.

A last-minute political mailer sent out over the weekend by Republican candidate Spano included a photo with the Sheriff and a quote, “Ross Spano is a hero in my eyes.”

Sheriff Judd said the mailer gives a clear indication that he is endorsing him, when he is not.

The photo and quote came from a news conference held by Sheriff Grady Judd and Spano when they announced a school safety plan in response to the Parkland High School shootings.

Spano eventually voted against the bill.

“He mislead the people. He took that out of context. Nowhere on that flyer does he say, ‘oh and by the way, I cast a political vote instead of a vote that’s interested in keeping your children safe in Florida,'” Judd said.

Spano responded in a statement, “I’m proud of my efforts to protect the Second Amendment and our children’s safety, and I was honored to work with Sheriff Judd earlier this year on our joint school safety plan. I’m disappointed to see politics take away from that relationship.”

“This is so deceptive. It’s such rotten politics in the end. I don’t think it’s a mistake that it got dropped in this late in the game,” said political science professor Dr. Bruce Anderson.

Dr. Anderson said the move could have an impact on the election. 

“It’s anybody’s race. Something like this could push it Spano’s way in the most dishonest way possible.”

Voters head to polls Tuesday for the Primary Election.