As an inveterate watcher of local politics and those who practice it, I have concluded that most politicians are drama queens – more enamored with the overemotional theatrics and attention seeking histrionics inherent to political conflict than serving the pressing needs of their constituents. 

Few make my point better than the always squirrelly Sen. Tom Wright… 

Before the partisan fangs come out – this is not a Republican v. Democrat issue.  As a confirmed No Party Affiliate, I have equal disdain for what has become of both major political factions.

Rather, it reflects the clear difference between a douchebag and a decent human being.   

In a jaw dropping article by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal this week, “Senator angrily confronts domestic violence worker after shelter leadership resignations,” we learned that Sen. Wright is alleged to have put his hand on a female employee at The Beacon Center during a heated confrontation last Saturday. 

I don’t make this shit up, folks…

“State Sen. Tom Wright put his hand on a worker outside Volusia County’s only domestic violence shelter Saturday in an angry confrontation that later involved Daytona Beach police, witnesses said.

Wright has been at the center of an implosion of the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County Inc., which oversees the operation and programs at the Beacon Center. Approximately 26 women and children were living there last month in an effort to escape dangerous situations at home and rebuild their lives.”

According to the report, Sen. Wright and his “apparent ally” Beacon board chair Carmen Ruiz, engaged in a campaign to sully former CEO Angie Pye – including filing outrageous allegations with state oversight officials – in an ongoing conflict which led to the recent resignations of Pye, Program Manager Valerie Brooks, and several board members.

“He went to the inspector general’s office. He had me investigated and told them I was trafficking children and doing drugs with the residents in the shelter,” Pye said, adding that there were no such findings and she mostly ignored him even as he continued to make similar allegations elsewhere in the community.

Misty Sanders, a former employee at the Beacon Center, has been attempting to build support around Pye.

“The accusations (Wright) threw around were as absurd then as they are now,” Sanders said.”

My God…

On Saturday, Wright was “touring” the shelter with officials from the Department of Children and Families.  In keeping with state statutes that protect the identity of domestic violence victims, the residents of The Beacon Center were uprooted and moved to a bus while Wright and DCF completed their sightseeing. 

Inexplicably, in apparent contravention of these state confidentiality laws, Pye and other witnesses told the News-Journal that “Wright started to board the bus when a worker told him he was not supposed to enter in order to protect the residents’ identities.”

According to Harper’s report, a camera captured the rest:

“Wright can be seen stepping off the bus placing his right hand on the worker’s left shoulder or chest as she stepped back. He then stepped away for a moment before returning to yell in her face, as another worker attempted to stand between them.”

In the mute video, Sen. Wright can be seen boarding the bus as the shelter employee approaches.  In turn, Wright reaches out and touches the woman on her shoulder, briefly walking away, then returning to scream in the employee’s face – placing his hands behind his back, aggressively leaning in, advancing, backing the employee down, as another female courageously attempts to put herself between the Senator and the target of his rage… 

Ugly.

Don’t take my word for it, watch it for yourself here: https://tinyurl.com/4zsa7xrk  

Then, in an unbelievably crass demonstration of political power run amok, Sen. Wright responded to a request for comment by the News-Journal with a deluded and self-centered message, painting himself as the victim, and publicly withdrawing his support for Volusia County’s only domestic violence shelter:

“This is the thanks I get for trying to help DCF in The Beacon Center, and yet nobody but nobody today other than Carmen stood up for me and said no that isn’t what happened. So I can’t stand up for you all anymore either and I wish you all the best.”

Really? 

So, who are we supposed to believe, Senator – you, or that damning video that captured you menacing a smaller female alongside a busload of domestic violence victims?   

Look, this is not Sen. Wright’s first trip to the Twilight Zone. 

Anyone remember in 2020 when he resigned his elected office after being told he did not have carte blanche to hire and fire state employees assigned as the senator’s staff? 

I do. 

In a butthurt email to then Senate President Bill Galvano, Wright took things to the extreme:

“In the past you have expressed that our staff is our responsibility and our decision as to who works for us as Senators,” Wright wrote. “Today, I am told that I am wrong and that the (staffers) work at the pleasure of the President of the Senate.

“I cannot and will not work for anyone this way. Please accept my resignation as Senator District 14.”

After members of the Senate President’s office were directed to kiss Wright’s sizeable ass and smooth his ruffled feathers, the Senator decided he was “rescinding” the resignation and asked Galvano to disregard his impetuous email… 

Yeah.  I know.  

How long are residents of Wright’s district – which covers most of Volusia and northern Brevard – expected to suffer this walking personality disorder? 

In my view, Sen. Wright should be held accountable for his abhorrent conduct. 

Using his considerable political influence to bring false accusations to a state agency is one thing; however, putting his hand on a female employee of a domestic violence center, screaming in her face, and belligerently backing her down – in the presence of already traumatized women and children seeking shelter from physical and emotional abuse – is unconscionable.

Look, I have nothing but contempt for so-called “men” who bully and intimidate others – especially those with “Senator” in front of their name – and it is clear from this incriminating video that Sen. Wright is comfortable menacing a woman when he explodes in a fury…

In my view, after the despicable actions caught on camera at The Beacon Center, Sen. Tom Wright has lost the moral authority to govern – and anyone holding public office who does not immediately condemn this creep’s repugnant conduct is an obsequious coward.  

Sen. Wright should do the right thing and resign. For good this time.

He won’t.  But he should.    

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A petition to have Chair Carmen Ruiz removed from the Beacon Center board can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/3hj5f9yt