Texts Show Political Motives Behind Elite Vaccine Event: Report

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Text messages between Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh and Lakewood Ranch developer Rex Jensen indicate political motives behind a February pop-up COVID-19 vaccine distribution event, the Herald-Tribune reported.

In the text exchange, the two discussed how the vaccination event could benefit Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, reports said.

The event, which took place Feb. 17-19 in Lakewood Ranch, was open only to residents of the two wealthiest ZIP codes in Manatee County. Baugh, the representative of District 5, which includes Lakewood Ranch, selected the ZIP codes for the state-run event.

She also created a VIP list of five people to receive the vaccine at the event and told the county's Public Safety Director, Jacob Sauer, to add their names to the list of those being vaccinated at the pop-up clinic. The list included Baugh and Lakewood Ranch president and CEO Rex Jensen, though Baugh didn't receive the vaccine.

In a text, Jensen suggested that DeSantis might show up at the pop-up event, telling Baugh that it would help the governor “get exposure here,” according to the Herald-Tribune.

In a seeming reference to the 2022 gubernatorial election in Florida, Baugh responded, “Excellent point. After all, 22 is right around the corner.”

She also texted Jensen that they could make the event “a very big deal” for DeSantis and that the pop-up could “be huge for him.”

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The text messages were obtained by Sarasota paralegal Michael Barfield through a records request, reports said.

Barfield also filed a more than two-dozen-page complaint against Baugh with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in February. That criminal investigation is still ongoing.

Ellenton attorney Jennifer Hamey also filed an ethics complaint against Baugh through the Florida Commission on Ethics. This investigation is ongoing, as well.

Patch has made a public records request for text messages between Baugh and Jensen, and also reached out to Baugh, Jensen, and Barfield for comment.