SARASOTA, Fla. — Embattled Sarasota Board Member Bridget Ziegler was the target of dozens of public comments on yet another packed board meeting.
At least 67 speakers were signed up for the public comments period of the Sarasota County School Board meeting with the majority calling Ziegler to step down. Last month, school board members voted a recommendation that Ziegler step down.
Ziegler's husband, ousted Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler, is being investigated following allegations of raping a woman that he and Ziegler admitted to having a relationship with. Bridget Ziegler was not involved in the alleged incident and her husband has not been criminally charged.
Ziegler is standing firm despite numerous calls for her to step down, including those from including board member Tom Edwards.
"It's evident that distraction is what we're facing here," Edwards said.
The Sarasota County School Board cannot directly remove Bridget Ziegler from the panel but voted 4-1 last month for a resolution requesting that she step down. Only Florida’s governor can remove a school board member, and only under certain conditions, such as a criminal charge.
Some who spoke at the meeting called on the board to petition Gov. Ron DeSantis for Ziegler's removal.
Critics of Ziegler argue the recent month has tarnished the reputation of the school district and that her resignation is too much of a distraction.
Opponents also referred to Ziegler as a hypocrite over her consensual sexual relationship with her husband's accuser. Ziegler is a co-founder of the Moms For Liberty and was a champion of the DeSantis-backed law known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay,” which restricts teaching of sexual and gender material in early school grades.
Ziegler did not address the calls for resignation during the meeting and went on to discuss other items on the agenda.
This year will mark Ziegler's 10th year on the Sarasota School Board after being appointed by former Gov. Rick Scott.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.