Veterans call for elections supervisor's resignation over survey

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A political survey is causing more controversy. Veterans protested outside the Osceola County supervisor of elections' office on Friday.

Last month, WFTV reported that the poll sent out by a firm hired by the elections supervisor in Osceola County seemed to have targeted her opponent.

The survey asked, "How likely are you to vote for a disabled veteran?" and "How likely are you to vote for someone born in the Dominican Republic?"

Peter Olivo is running against incumbent Mary Jane Arrington for Osceola supervisor of elections.

Olivo lost both of his legs in Vietnam, so when Arrington sent out a phone survey asking residents if they would support a disabled veteran, it outraged Olivo's fellow veterans who protested outside of Arrington's office on Friday. They're demanding Arrington's resignation.

"I was deeply offended. When you insult one of us, you insult all of us," said veteran Dan Dubay.

"It almost made me cry. Here I am, I lost half my body for this country, I love this country, and they want to use it against me?" said Olivo.

Although Arrington denied a request for an interview on Friday, but earlier this month, she explained the survey by telling WFTV, "When you're in a campaign, you need to know the positives and negatives of your opponent."

She said it's just politics.

"I mean, this is politics, and if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," said Arrington.

However, others disagree.

"She hasn't been under our fire. We were under fire. She needs to go to our kitchen. We will tell her what the heat is like," said Dubay.

"I am a disabled veteran, and I believe I am more capable than the current supervisor to hold any job in this county," said Vietnam veteran Mark Rosenbauer.

Olivo was born in the Dominican Republic. He became a U.S. citizen in 1969.

Arrington told WFTV, "Ethnicity is not important to me, but it could be to some people."

Olivo said he did not protest because he did not want to make it more political.

WFTV