When Will Bridget Ziegler Move On, So We Can Too?

In the calls for Bridget Ziegler to resign amid her three-way revelation, many speculate that Bridget is refusing to step down from the Sarasota County School Board for financial reasons. A recent oped from our local daily newspaper suggests its better for Bridget to remain on the School Board than risk what a DeSantis appointee would bring to the table. But is this version of “the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know” really true? If Bridget resigns, would DeSantis be appointing a permanent replacement for the remainder of her term? And what about the suggestion that Bridget is staying on because the Ziegler’s need the money? I took a look at both questions and here’s what I found.

Would a DeSantis appointee serve the rest of Bridget’s term?

No, not if Ziegler resigns or is removed on or before July 22, 2024.

Florida election law requires a special election to fill a vacancy in a state of local office that is required to be filled under the Florida Constitution, article IV section 1(f), which reads

….”the governor shall fill by appointment any vacancy in state or county office for the remainder of the term of an appointive office, and for the remainder of the term of an elective office if less than twenty-eight months, otherwise until the first Tuesday after the first Monday following the next general election.”

What does this mean? If there are more than 28 months left in Bridget’s term, a DeSantis appointee would serve until voters chose a replacement in the next general election cycle.

Bridget Ziegler was sworn in for her third term on November 22, 2022. If she resigns on January 16th, there will be 34 months left in the District 1 School Board member term. DeSantis would appoint a temporary replacement until voters selected a new District 1 representative in the November general election (or potentially the August primary if a candidate wins more than 50% of the primary vote).

Bottom line: If Ziegler is removed or resigns with more than 28 months in the District 1 term, a DeSantis appointee would be temporary and voters would choose a new District 1 School Board member in the 2024 General election cycle. A vacancy on or before July 22, 2024 meets the “28 months or longer” mark.

Sarasota citizens deserve that special election remedy.

DeSantis Can And Should Remove Ziegler

Governor DeSantis has the power to remove Bridget Ziegler. Bridget Ziegler has betrayed her constituents by using the School Board District 1 seat to sow division, to advance her personal interests (like securing a position with the Leadership Institute) and advancing a hypocritical culture war agenda. The Leadership Institute (which was paying Ziegler) was able to wrangle Ziegler’s resignation. Sarasota voters should be able to do the same. If not from a remorseful Ziegler, then from a Governor who recognizes that Ziegler no longer has the support and confidence of constituents who would not have supported her if they knew of her hypocrisy.

The Ziegler Finances – Does Bridget Need her School Board job?

In a word, NO.

Many believe Bridget refuses to resign because the Zieglers’ need the paycheck. Christian Ziegler was removed from his $124,000 per year position as Florida GOP Chair (that $124,000 includes salary and reimbursements).

But the Zieglers’ financial disclosures show they have the resources to weather the loss of Bridget’s school board compensation.

Bridget Ziegler began as a Sarasota School Board member in 2014 and declared her net worth to be about $17,000. Bridget’s 2022 financial disclosure puts her net worth at $540,000.

Christian Ziegler began serving as a County Commissioner in 2018, when he declared his net worth to be $206,000. Christian Ziegler’s 2022 financial disclosure (his last year on the Sarasota County Commission) put his net worth at just over $1.4 million dollars.

Both Ziegler’s list their shared home on their assets list, so there is some overlap here. But it’s clear that the Zieglers have experienced a huge lift in their finances since 2014. Much of it appears due to Christian Ziegler’s income from Microtargeted Media. (more specifics to come).

But there are other income sources as well. Since joining the Sarasota School board, Bridget Ziegler always listed income from work as an insurance agent. Bridget’s yearly income from insurance work ranged from $50,000/year to over $90,000 a year. According to her LinkedIN profile, Bridget Ziegler had risen to a VP position in the insurance industry, which she left in August 2022.

In comparison, Ziegler’s school board compensation in 2014 was about $20,000 and in 2022 was roughly $34,000.

Money? No. Power? Yes, but….

So – money doesn’t seem to be the reason Bridget Ziegler is refusing to resign. It’s got to be power.

Like her husband, Bridget Ziegler may have hard time letting go of power. But the truth is, like her husband’s, her power is already gone. Bridget would do well to accept this fact and move on.

Sarasota certainly would appreciate it.