ORLANDO, Fla. (July 22, 2020) – In response to the Orlando Sentinel’s July 21, 2020 endorsement article, Florida State Representative House District 48 candidate Daisy Morales is setting the record straight and calling out the Orlando Sentinel to be fully transparent and stop misinforming readers.
The article states in relevant part:
“The race’s fifth candidate, Daisy Morales, declined our interview invitation, possibly because she expected we would ask why she didn’t show up for almost a year for Soil & Water Conservation District meetings, a post she was first elected to in 2014. Morales doesn’t deserve serious consideration by voters.”
Morales slammed the Orlando Sentinel’s claims. “The voters of District 48 have their own minds and will consider all candidates, as they should, so that line about me not deserving serious consideration is a baseless attempt to sway the election,” said Morales.
“As for the Orlando Sentinel implying that I possibly declined the interview because of the questions they would want to ask me, that’s a dead point for three reasons. One, the Orlando Sentinel and Florida National News already covered my attendance in previous articles. That allegation is misleading and had nothing to do with why I didn’t attend. Two, I did a virtual interview with El Sentinel on July 13, 2020—just two days before the Orlando Sentinel’s interview—so I clearly have nothing to hide. Three, it’s the candidate’s prerogative to not participate, but more importantly, I had a scheduling conflict on the day of the interview and their editorial team was aware of that, offered me two alternate days, and we confirmed one, but the interview never happened.”
As the Orlando Sentinel coordinated a virtual interview with the five Democratic candidates for Florida House District 48, Orlando Sentinel’s Barbara Jay frequently communicated with Morales via email to confirm her attendance for the proposed July 15 date. Morales clearly indicated early on that she wasn’t available to participate on that date. Jay, however, reached back out to offer two alternate dates, Tuesday, July 14 and Thursday, July 16, and Morales agreed to July 16, which Jay apologetically confirmed. “I regret we had so many changes that week that it moved to Wednesday from so many other days,” Jay wrote in a July 13 email [See attached screen captures].
“I had no problem sharing the reason why I’m running for House District 48 in Spanish and looked forward to doing it in English,” said Morales.
“The public deserves to have a news outlet that is accurate, transparent and trustworthy. The accusation that I declined the interview because of what the Orlando Sentinel might ask me is inaccurate and the article needs to be corrected to reflect the facts.”
Media Contact: DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com | Campaign Website: DaisyForFlorida.com
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