Palm Coast Vice Mayor and County Commission candidate Ed Danko has agreed to remove a portion from one of his campaign videos referencing his support of Sheriff Rick Staly, per a letter shared with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office this week.
Danko received a cease-and-desist letter and FCSO General Counsel John LeMaster alleging he'd misrepresented the political relationship between himself and Staly. LeMaster threatened legal action against Danko unless he immediately ceased using Staly and FCSO's name and imagery in all campaign functions.
Background: FCSO Threatens Legal Action Against Danko for ‘Misleading’ Ad Implying Staly Endorsement
In the video in question, Danko was receiving support from retired Lt. Col. Oliver North, the famous military leader involved in the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration. In that video, North said that Danko had endorsed Staly's re-election campaign this year. LeMaster argues that this is untrue because he hasn't done so in writing, per Florida election laws. He also accused Danko of insinuating in his video that Staly might've endorsed Danko's campaign; Staly has not done so.
"I want to be very clear that LtCol Oliver North never said in the video that Sheriff Rick Staly endorsed me," Danko said in the letter. "Instead, just the opposite, Mr. North said, referring to me, 'he endorsed my friend Sheriff Rick Staly and his efforts to reduce crime'."
What North said is true in a loose sense - Danko has been vocally supportive of Sheriff Staly both as a constitutional officer and as a political candidate. However, he conceded after the cease-and-desist that he hadn't done so via written statement, which Florida law requires for one to claim a political endorsement for campaign purposes. "If Sheriff Staly runs again in four years, I will certainly endorse him," Danko continued. "I will do it the old school method and issue a formal press release." Whether he could do it this year is now a moot point, as Staly received no challengers before the qualifying deadline and was thus re-elected by default.
Danko announced a new version of the previous video, edited to remove any mention of Staly or the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. He said the decision was made with the 'utmost respect' for Staly, and further clarified that the pictures of the two that were shown in the video were taken with Staly's knowledge and consent.
The full response letter sent by Ed Danko to John LeMaster is as follows, as sent by Danko himself.
Mr. LeMaster,
I have received your email dated July 7, 2024 and have discussed it with my campaign.
First, and foremost, I want to be very clear that LtCol Oliver North never said in the video that Sheriff Rick Staly endorsed me. Instead, just the opposite, Mr. North said, referring to me, 'he endorsed my friend Sheriff Rick Staly and his efforts to reduce crime.'
As I have already stated to the media, I did not write the script. LtCol North and his staff wrote it. No doubt, they saw on my website where I stated that 'I fully support Sheriff Rick Staly, his outstanding Deputies, and hardworking staff. Thanks to Sheriff Staly, crime has no home in Flagler County.' Also, they probably saw on my Facebook page where I have called Sheriff Staly 'America's Sheriff,' while posting one of the two pictures used in the video.
While those postings, along with the many times I have told audiences how much I support our Sheriff, may not be the old school press release type of endorsements, I can understand how LtCol North would interpret this as an 'endorsement' from me for Sheriff Rick Staly. I have always fully supported our Sheriff, and I consider that support an endorsement.
I would also note that both photos in the video were shot on my cell phone camera, one at a public event, and the other by a FCSO deputy with Sheriff Staly's permission when we were on patrol together.
In short, I do not believe there was any intention to mislead by myself, or LtCol Oliver North.
That said, after discussing this issue with my campaign over the weekend, and out of the utmost respect for Sheriff Staly, I have decided to edit the video and remove all photos and references to our Sheriff.
Here is a link below to the new video that will be released later this week.
If Sheriff Staly runs again in four years, I will certainly endorse him, and I will do it the old school method and issue a formal Press Release.
Sincerely,
Ed Danko
Vice-Mayor, Palm Coast and Candidate for Flagler County Commissioner.
