Moms for Liberty Cofounder Stands Firm, Declines Resignation from Sarasota School Board
In Tallahassee, Florida, Bridget Ziegler, a cofounder of the conservative parents group Moms for Liberty, stood resolute on Tuesday night, rejecting calls for her resignation from the Sarasota school board. Despite intense pressure from both the board and numerous community members, Ziegler remained steadfast.
All four board members, including two with the support of Governor Ron DeSantis, urged her to resign in a resolution. The call for her resignation came amid revelations about her personal life, coinciding with an investigation into her husband, Florida GOP chair Christian Ziegler, for an alleged rape. However, Bridget Ziegler remained defiant in the face of the public admonishment from the board, emphasizing that they lack legal authority to remove her.
Expressing her disappointment at the meeting, Bridget Ziegler shared, “I serve on another public board, and this issue did not come up, and we were able to forge ahead with the business of the board.” She referenced her position on the board managing Walt Disney Co.’s special land district.
Amid the ongoing investigation into her husband’s alleged rape and sexual battery, Bridget Ziegler revealed to the police that she, her husband, and the woman making the assault claims engaged in consensual sexual activity a year ago.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Christian Ziegler and the victim had a relationship spanning more than two decades. On the day of the alleged incident, Christian Ziegler and Bridget Ziegler had attempted to arrange a tryst with the victim, who backed out upon learning that Bridget Ziegler couldn’t attend.
While Bridget Ziegler is not accused of any illegal activity, her critics label her a hypocrite due to her vocal support for traditional family values and Florida’s controversial law, often referred to as “Don’t Say Gay,” prohibiting teachers from addressing sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms.
A co-founder of Moms for Liberty, Ziegler gained national prominence and secured an endorsement from Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2022 school board election. Additionally, DeSantis appointed her to the Florida board overseeing Disney’s park in central Florida.
Beyond the resolution, the ongoing Ziegler investigation is causing ripple effects. Recently, a Moms for Liberty chapter in Pennsylvania severed ties with the national group. The chapter’s chair noted, “It’s hard to advocate for parental rights when the co-founder is caught up in the scandal.”
Last week, Bridget Ziegler stepped down from her role as vice president of school board programs at the nonprofit Leadership Institute, dedicated to supporting conservatives seeking office.
The Sarasota board meeting unfolded amidst tension, with protestors outside demanding Ziegler’s resignation. One sign boldly read “Don’t say 3-way.” The meeting saw the student representative excluded, and customary student performances were canceled due to the board addressing an adult-themed resolution.
Tom Edwards, the sole Democrat on the board, advocated for Ziegler’s resignation, criticizing her for becoming the “distraction du jour in a long list of distractions” that bring unwarranted attention to the school district.
Emphasizing her focus on students, board chair Karen Rose, who introduced the resolution condemning Bridget Ziegler, asserted, “For me, as chair of the school board, it’s not about the left, it’s not about the right — it’s about students.”
During the meeting, Ziegler spoke briefly, redirecting attention to the board’s limited history of passing resolutions and their perceived political motivations. She also highlighted the non-binding nature of the resolution, asserting its lack of power to force her resignation. In her first public comments since the investigation became public, Ziegler sought clarification, asking the board’s attorney, “This does not have any teeth, is that correct?”
DeSantis holds the exclusive authority to remove a school board member, and it remains uncertain if action against Bridget Ziegler is under consideration by the Republican governor. While DeSantis has hinted at Christian Ziegler stepping down as GOP chair amidst the ongoing rape investigation, Bridget’s status remains unclear.
Supporters present at the meeting denounced the board’s actions against Ziegler as a “political charade.” One accused Republican members of the school board of aligning with the “woke mob” against Ziegler, expressing a sense of betrayal with a poignant “Et tu, Brute?”
Martin Hyde, a local Republican likened to the mini-Donald Trump of Sarasota, characterized the meeting as dedicated to a motion carrying no more authority than if conducted in the street.
Conversely, others attending sought a “pound of flesh” from Ziegler, highlighting her previous support for policies criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates for their perceived harm to students, causing feelings of ostracization and shame.
Nick Machuca from Equality Florida, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, addressed the crowd outside before the meeting, stating, “Participation in same-sex activity is not shameful. However, Bridget Ziegler has done this while simultaneously denigrating our community and working overtime to instill policies that directly marginalize us. That hypocrisy is unacceptable.”
