ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Florida congresswoman says she wants a county sheriff candidate to stop using her picture in campaign fliers, claiming he's not even fit to be the county's dog catcher.
The Orlando Sentinel reports U.S. Rep. Val Demings posted the request on Facebook Thursday. The Democrat says her campaign has twice asked Darryl Sheppard, a Democratic candidate for Orange County sheriff, to stop using a picture of the two in a way that implies she endorses him.
The photo remains on Sheppard's Facebook, along with photos of Sheppard with other Democratic politicians. The fliers don't explicitly claim their endorsements. After saying she doesn't trust Sheppard, Demings pointed to his criminal record, which includes at least 13 arrests.
Demings' husband, Jerry Demings, is the sheriff, but he's leaving office after being elected county mayor.