Carolina Amesty | |
---|---|
Member of the FloridaHouseofRepresentatives from the 45th district | |
In office November 8, 2022 –November 5, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Geraldine Thompson (redistricting) |
Succeeded by | Leonard Spencer |
Personal details | |
Born | Carolina Dinorah Amesty November 4,1994 [1] [2] Venezuela |
Political party | Republican |
Education | Seminole State College of Florida (AA) University of Central Florida (BA) |
Carolina Dinorah Amesty (November 4,1994) is an American politician and businesswoman who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives for Florida's 45th District from November 2022 to November 2024. [3] [4] Amesty focused her policies on taxes,health care,education,veterans' affairs,and the tourism industry. [4] [5]
Amesty took office on November 8,2022,after winning the Republican primaries with 45% of the votes in a race among five candidates,where her main opponent was Allie Braswell. However,in the November 2024 general election,she faced a closely contested race against Leonard Spencer,who prevailed with 50.8% of the votes compared to Amesty's 49.2%. [6] [7] [8]
Amesty began her preschool studies at La Petite Academy in Orlando,Florida,[ citation needed ] and attended primary school at Oak Hill Elementary.[ citation needed ] She graduated high school from West Oaks Academy. [9]
Amesty earned an Associate of Arts from Seminole State College and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Pre Law from the University of Central Florida. Graduate studies in Business Administration from the University of Miami. [10]
She received a scholarship from the U.S. Department of State's Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs to travel to Eurasia and learn the Russian language as a matter of national security.[ citation needed ]
In 2014 and 2015,Amesty worked as the director of academic affairs at Central Christian University,which is owned and operated by her father. Amesty returned to Central Christian University in 2017,working as senior advisor to the president and executive vice president. [8]
Amesty served as a representative in the Florida House of Representatives for District 45 from November 2022 to November 2024. [9] Her candidacy was endorsed by Donald Trump Jr. [11]
During Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's feud with Disney in 2023,Amesty said that Disney was "indoctrinating" children with "radical gender ideologies" and had "pushed far-left narratives and lies about our great state". [12]
Throughout the course of her tenure,she sponsored several bills,including HB 461,which exempts women who have recently given birth from certain jury service under specific conditions. She also introduced a bill to provide property tax exemptions for veterans,which was incorporated into Florida's tax package and later signed by the governor. [13]
She also supported legislation to ban the use of TikTok on government devices,explaining that the measure aims to mitigate foreign risks. Additionally,she backed a law raising the minimum age requirement for employment in the strip club industry as part of efforts to protect young women from human trafficking. Amesty stated that this initiative was intended to give young women opportunities to pursue safe careers,access education,and lead family lives free from the threat of exploitation. [14]
Amesty ran for re-election in 2024. In early 2022,she expressed her support for President Trump's potential presidential comeback in 2024. [15] During the election,she was challenged by former Disney executive Leonard Spencer,who defeated her by securing 50.85% of the vote. [16]
Amesty was indicted by the state government of Florida on August 28,2024,on four charges of forgery,uttering a forgery,false acknowledgment or certification by a notary public and notarizing her own signature,all third-degree felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison. [17] In October 2024,the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE),along with the State Attorney's office,released a report stating that Amesty "probably" forged a professor's signature on a form for Central Christian University's state licensure. [18] This indictment,however,was also claimed by many to be a political move from the State Attorney's office,which was led by a political candidate at the time. [19]
At the time a candidate for re-election to the House of Representatives,Amesty declared herself innocent of the accusations and described them as part of a defamation campaign aimed at damaging her candidacy. Amesty said the main purpose of this campaign is to prevent her re-election by tarnishing her public image. [20] [21]
In relation to this case,a journalist from Orlando Press raised doubts about the validity of the accusations,highlighting in an article that the prosecution's main witness is a journalist from the Orlando Sentinel,a media outlet that has consistently taken a critical stance toward Amesty. [22] Moreover,it was noted that this witness did not know the candidate in 2021,which calls into question the strength of their testimony. [23]
Additionally,the journalist also criticized the role of a private investigator involved in the case,who also lacked direct knowledge of Amesty during the same period,further casting doubt on the credibility of the evidence presented. [24]
On December 9,2024,the prosecution of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida dropped all charges against State Representative Carolina Dinorah Amesty through a Nolle Prosequi,concluding that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case. [25]
Amesty is a Christian. [26]
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