Anthony Sabatini

Anthony Sabatini is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, serving since 2018. He represents the state's 32nd House district in Lake County west of Orlando.[2]

Anthony Sabatini
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 32nd district
Assumed office
November 6, 2018
Preceded byLarry Metz
Member of the Eustis City Commission
In office
January 2017 – April 30, 2018
Preceded byRobert Morin
Succeeded byMichael L. Holland
ConstituencySeat 2
Personal details
Born (1988-10-20) October 20, 1988
Smithtown, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceHowey-in-the-Hills
Alma materUniversity of Florida (BA, JD)
OccupationFlorida State Representative Sabatini Law P.A.[1]
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceFlorida Army National Guard
Years of service2008–present

Early life, education, and personal life

Sabatini was born in Smithtown, New York in 1988 and moved with his family to Florida the following year. He is an infantry officer in the Florida Army National Guard and Florida State Representative from Florida House District 32. He earned bachelor's degrees in Philosophy and History from the University of Florida in 2012 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 2017.[3]

Sabatini was elected to the Eustis City Commission in 2016 and resigned from the office on April 30, 2018 to focus his attention on his Florida House campaign.[4]

Florida House of Representatives

Sabatini defeated Monica Wofford and Shannon Elswick, to win the August 28, 2018 Republican primary, winning 46.7% of the vote.[5] In the November 6, 2018 general election, Sabatini defeated Democrat Cynthia Brown, taking 56.48% of the vote.[6]

In 2019 Sabatini proposed amendments to protect Gainesville's landmark restaurant The Swamp from demolition.[7][8] The restaurant was temporarily closed, but not demolished and eventually returned.[9]

On January 13, 2020, Sabatini introduced HB 1365, which would have made it a felony for doctors to provide hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery for transgender minors.[10]

In 2020 Sabatini introduced bills allowing Floridians with valid concealed carry licensed to carry firearms on public colleges and universities.[11][12][13]

Under the slogan "Eight is enough", Sabatini has sponsored legislation to enshrine eight-year term limits for Florida's school boards.[14][15][16][17]

Sabatini has introduced legislation to ban red light cameras in Florida.[18][19][20]

Political activism and controversies

Reporters

During Donald Trump's reelection bid announcement in Orlando on June 18, 2019, a rally goer attacked an Orlando Sentinel reporter filming the event. The reporter tweeted the encounter to which Sabatini replied "MAGA". Sabatini said that he routinely replies “MAGA” to Sentinel reporting and wanted to counter what he considered “ridiculous” coverage of the rally.[21]

Photos in blackface and brownface

In February 2019, a photo of Sabatini wearing blackface was mailed anonymously to media outlets, leading some lawmakers to call for his resignation.[22][23]

In the wake of Sabatini's blackface controversy, another photo emerged of the Florida representative dressed in a stereotypical "Mexican" costume at a party, including makeup to darken his skin, an action commonly referred to as brownface.[24]

In response to both controversies, the Chairman of the Florida Republican Party, Joe Gruters, said "My advice for Rep Sabatini would be this – now is the time for less talking and more self reflection," to which Sabatini responded: "The only thing I'll be reflecting about is about [sic] how and when the modern media has become the enemy of the people."[25]

Opposition to Black Lives Matter protests

In response to the protests following the killing of George Floyd, Sabatini posted a tweet that suggested protesters illegally entering businesses would be met with an AR-15 and included an image of the gun, which also appeared with Sabatini on his Facebook page emblazoned with "Don't Tread on Me".[26] This was condemned for being "clearly inflammatory" and "inciting violence" as Florida State Representative Cindy Polo stated in her written complaint to the Florida House.[27] Nikki Fried, Florida Agriculture Commissioner, called for Sabatini to be reprimanded. House Speaker José Oliva found no "direct or preemptive threat" in Sabatini's comments and has not taken punitive actions.[28] Sabatini also drew criticism for referring to Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis as "disgusting, lawless thugs" in a tweet calling for their arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment.[29]

On November 21, 2020, Sabatini sent out a tweet on his official Twitter account reading "KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS", regarding the Illinois teen who is awaiting trial for shooting and killing two Black Lives Matter protesters in the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[30][31]

Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in Florida

On April 23, 2020, the day after Florida saw its second-highest death toll from COVID-19 to date, Sabatino was criticized for circulating an op-ed he authored titled "The time to open is now."[32]

In July 2020, a Florida resident filed an ethics complaint against Sabatini in connection with his involvement in several mask mandate lawsuits.[33] The complaint was in response to a press release about the lawsuit that printed Sabatini's official House email address as the press contact and alleged that this violates a Florida State Statute about misuse of public position:

“No public officer, employee of an agency, or local government attorney shall corruptly use or attempt to use his or her official position or any property or resource which may be within his or her trust, or perform his or her official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself, or others,” the statute reads.[33]

The complaint also notes that this action violates a similar requirement specified under House Rules.[33] Sabatini has dismissed the complaints as a left-wing plot against him by "sick and disturbed people."[34] Sabatini also tweeted what appears to be a booking photo of the complainant taken during a past arrest for driving under the influence.[34]

Sabatini has filed at least 14 lawsuits during the COVID-19 pandemic challenging local ordinances requiring the use of face coverings.[35] On September 2, 2020, he received his sixth loss from the filed suits that have so far been heard. Judge Randell Rowe dismissed this latest loss in Volusia County. In his decision, the judge stated, "The ordinance is authorized not only by statute but by well settled case law precedent dating back over a hundred years."[36]

Storming of the United States Capitol

Following the storming of the United States Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump in 2021, Sabatini tweeted lists of Republican politicians he considered to lack "courage", including U.S. Senators Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski, and described U.S. Representative Liz Cheney as a "national security threat".[37]

Electoral history
2016 Eustis City Commission Seat 2
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Anthony Sabatini 3,414 46.1
Nonpartisan Brandon Avallone 1,186 16
Nonpartisan Michael Strong 2,804 37.8
Total votes 7,404
2018 Florida House of Representatives 32nd district Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Anthony Sabatini 8,278 46.7
Republican Shannon Elswick 5,170 29.2
Republican Monica Wofford 4,276 24.1
Total votes 17,724 100.00
2018 Florida House of Representatives 32nd district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Anthony Sabatini 46,446 56.5
Democratic Cynthia Brown 35,784 43.5
2020 Florida House of Representatives 32nd district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Anthony Sabatini 63,164 55.7
Democratic Stephanie Dukes 50,226 44.3

References
  1. "Member Profile – Anthony Frank Sabatini – The Florida Bar". Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  2. "District map at www.myfloridahouse.gov website" (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  3. "Florida House of Representatives - Anthony Sabatini - 2018 - 2020 ( Speaker Oliva )". myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  4. McNiff, Tom (May 1, 2018). "Sabatini steps down from Eustis Commission". Daily Commercial. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  5. "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  6. "Florida Election Watch - State Representative". floridaelectionwatch.gov. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  7. "Florida lawmaker proposes amendment to make The Swamp Restaurant a landmark - The Independent Florida Alligator". Alligator.org. April 18, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  8. Marr, Madeline (April 19, 2019). "Popular Gator Nation bar The Swamp faces wrecking ball. Lawmaker joins fight to save it". www.miamiherald.com. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  9. "The Swamp restaurant to return to Gainesville in new location - The Independent Florida Alligator". Alligator.org. December 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  10. Lipscomb, Jessica (February 4, 2020). "Nonbinary Broward Candidate Confronts Florida Rep Sponsoring Anti-Trans Bill". Miami New Times. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  11. Patrick, Craig (December 29, 2020). "Florida lawmaker confident legislature will allow guns on college campuses". Fox13news.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  12. The News Service of Florida (December 4, 2020). "Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini shoots for 'campus carry' concealed gun permits yet again in 2021 session | Blogs". Orlandoweekly.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  13. "Anthony Sabatini pulls trigger on 'campus carry' legislation". Floridapolitics.com. November 30, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  14. "Florida lawmakers renew push for school board term limits". Tampa Bay Times. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  15. "Florida lawmaker files another school board term limit proposal". WJXT. December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  16. Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida (January 29, 2020). "Florida House Republicans are pushing for term limits on county school-board members | Blogs". Orlandoweekly.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  17. Katie Sartoris. "School board term limits one step closer to the voters - News - Daily Commercial - Leesburg, FL". Daily Commercial. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  18. Rousseau, Beth (January 16, 2021). "Florida lawmaker pushes ban on red light cameras". WFLA. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  19. Report, Wire (December 7, 2020). "Rep. Sabatini files bill again to abolish red-light cameras in Florida". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  20. "Anthony Sabatini Wants to Eliminate Red Light Cameras for Good". Florida Daily. April 10, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  21. Bever, Lindsey; Iati, Marisa (February 19, 2019). "A Trump supporter was arrested after smacking a reporter's phone. 'MAGA,' a GOP lawmaker responded". Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  22. Brice-Saddler, Michael (February 7, 2019). "A politician wore blackface to dress as his friend. They call it a 'silly high school prank.'". Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  23. Lemongello, Steven. "State Rep. Anthony Sabatini dismisses Florida Democratic chair's call for his resignation over high school 'blackface' photo". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  24. Wolf, Colin. "Photo appears to show Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who's still dealing with a blackface scandal, wearing brownface". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  25. Lemongello, Steven. "Rookie Rep. Anthony Sabatini draws fire from GOP leader, critics. The session hasn't even started yet". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  26. Lipscomb, Jessica (June 2, 2020). "Hialeah lawmaker says colleague's AR-15 tweet was inciting violence". Miami New Times. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  27. "Freshman Florida state representative under fire for 'openly calling for violence'". Washington Examiner. June 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  28. Lemongello, Steven (May 31, 2020). "Lake County GOP Rep. Sabatini posts picture of AR15 rifle directed at protesters". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  29. Gancarski, A. G. (May 30, 2020). "'Thugs' drive Florida House Twitter beef". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  30. "Republican lawmaker calls for Kyle Rittenhouse, who is on trial for murder, to be elected to Congress". www.msn.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  31. Maxwell, Scott. "Sabatini cheers accused murderer, calls for imprisoning Joe Biden. Will Florida House Speaker reward him? | Commentary". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  32. Plotkin, Dave. "'The time to open is now,' says state rep, one day after Florida's second-highest death toll". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  33. Schorsch, Peter (July 29, 2020). "Anthony Sabatini faces ethics complaint in connection to mask lawsuits". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  34. "Fla lawmaker says he was slapped with ethics complaint in retaliation for challenging mask mandates". www.bizpacreview.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  35. "Florida lawmaker files lawsuit against Manatee County, one of 14 lawsuits against mask mandates". wtsp.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  36. "Judge sides with DeLand over Anthony Sabatini in mask lawsuit". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  37. Siders, David (January 13, 2021). "Capitol riot fueled by deep network of GOP statehouse support". Politico. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
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