Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) helped establish a COVID vaccination site exclusively for two of Manatee County’s richest zip codes, according to the Bradenton Herald.
Why it’s important: The county has spent weeks trying to convince its 180,000 residents over the age of 65 who have enrolled in the state’s vaccine reserve that the selection process is random.
- Lakewood Ranch is predominantly white and highly Republican, and developed by Rex Jensen, a contributor to the DeSantis campaign, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- The average income of the two zip codes is more than double the county’s overall average income. Both zip codes have not seen as many COVID cases as other parts of the county.
What happened: County commissioners expressed shock that his partner, Vanessa Baugh, had been working with the governor’s office and Jensen to establish the location.
- “I’ve been fighting like hell to show people that the lottery is the same and that we can’t compromise the system,” said Commissioner Reggie Bellamy.
- “There’s no reason Governor DeSantis should ration vaccines based on political influence,” added Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “This is worrying and potentially illegal.”
The other side: In response to allegations of favoritism, DeSantis threatened to send future emerging vaccination sites elsewhere.
- “If Manatee County doesn’t like us doing this, we’re completely fine with putting that on the counties that want it,” he said.
Add insult to injury: On Wednesday afternoon, the Herald also reported that Baugh created a VIP list of Lakewood Ranch residents who wanted to be vaccinated, including Jensen, Jensen’s father, and herself.
This story first appeared in the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter, designed to help readers be smarter and faster on the most relevant news unfolding in their own garden.