ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A well-known political activist is under fire for criticizing the work ethic of Orange County Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell.
The comments were made by Randy Ross, the marketing director for the Orlando Museum of Art.
About 15 minutes into the Tez Figaro online political talk show, Ross made statements that have jaws dropping, according to Channel 9's Lori Brown.
"You and I (are) at an impasse," Ross said.
"I'm still going to get the last word," said Figaro.
"Well, you know, the reality is most of the time Tiffany Moore Russell was in office she was having babies. You want to get to the real point? I mean, she hasn't really been that engaged," said Ross.
Instead of backpedaling from his remark when the host challenged him, Ross restated the issue two more times.
"I'm just saying that the most of the time she was in office she was actually having babies," he said.
Ross did not want to talk with Channel 9 on camera Thursday but sent Brown a text, saying he regrets that attention is being diverted from important issues.
"This is a perfect example of comments being taken out of context and seized upon as a political football," Ross said via text.
"It's very disturbing and sad," Moore Russell told Channel 9. "I didn't think we'd still be talking about this in 2014."
Russell is running against Eddie Fernandez for the job of Orange County clerk of courts.
Fernandez said after a listener told him about the show he immediately urged Ross to apologize to Moore Russell.
"It wasn't the right thing to say. It wasn't the right thing to do," said Fernandez. "He has nothing to do with my campaign. He is not a surrogate of my campaign."
While Fernandez was once photographed alongside Ross, he said he has now severed ties.
WFTV
