‘Under this CEO they woke up, they abandoned their original Disney mission.’
None of the four Republican House candidates seeking to represent the Walt Disney World area oppose the bill repealing Disney’s special district — but they have offered varying degrees of displeasure toward Disney’s policy.
At a Tiger Bay, Central Florida forum, four Republicans—Carolina Amesty, Janet Frevola, Bruno Portigliatti and Mike Zhao—expressed strong faith in Governor Ron DeSantis’ promise that regardless of the Disney showdown, residents of Orange and Osceola counties would not be saddled with the public debts now held by Disney’s special government.
But his statements varied on the deeper issue, the political rhetorical struggle between the governor and the state’s largest employer, which led to unprecedented legislative action against a corporation last spring.
It all started in March, when Walt Disney Co. criticized DeSantis’s priority legislation known as the “Parental Rights in Education Bill” (HB 1557), which restricts classroom discussions about sexual preference and gender identity. Critics dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Disney, a California company with a long-standing reputation for supporting gay rights, expressed opposition.
This led DeSantis to convene the Special Session in April only to pull Disney World out of its special government agency, Reedy Creek Improvement District. SB 4C would do so on June 1, 2023, giving Disney and state officials one year to work out a new relationship. The remaining questions, which will be on the plate of whoever wins in HD 45, include what will happen to Reedy Creek’s billions of dollars of debt.
The quartet – and a fifth Republican who did not attend the Tiger Bay forum, Vennia Francois – want to represent the new House district designed primarily to cover Walt Disney World. HD 45 covers Disney World and the surrounding communities in southwest Orange and northwest Osceola, which are home to thousands of Disney employees.
HD 45 Democratic nominee Allie Braswell watched with muted interest in Tiger Bay as her potential November opponents tried to work out a complicated Republican relationship with the district’s dominant company, which previously showered Republicans with campaign money.
Frevola and Portigliatti chose their words carefully, seeking not to directly condemn the company for any political statements, but arguing that there are reasons to revisit the 54-year-old Reedy Creek Improvement District. They asked for balanced discussions.
Portigliatti said all corporations need to be on an equal footing. He used the term “adult conversations” – to resolve differences and not harm anyone.
Amesty and Zhao got the rhetorical underpinnings of SB 4C right, claiming that Disney needs to drop its political expressions.
Zhao promised to work with DeSantis to “fight the agreed-upon corporation that tries to prepare our young children.”
“I will fight and negotiate with Disney because under this CEO they woke up, abandoned their original Disney mission, which is family-oriented, pro-family entertainment,” Zhao said.
Amesty said Disney needs to abandon any “indoctrination” education and policy.
She compared Disney’s government special status to the exemptions churches have as nonprofits and suggested that it deserves to lose its special status if it participates in politics, just as churches can lose their nonprofit status.
Disney and its various subsidiaries and political committees have contributed millions of dollars to political campaigns in Florida, but have yet to contribute anyone to the HD 45 contest. Amesty was referring to their broader political statements.
“It depends on Disney. If they get involved in our education, in our politics, they lose their exemption,” Amesty said.
“Right now it’s in Disney’s hands; our governor made that very clear,” she said. “I love Disney. I love going to Disney. I live in the area. Disney Springs is great. Just don’t get involved in politics. Do not get involved in our children’s education. I am in favor of parents’ rights in education and will always protect our little ones. No indoctrination education. Stick to the theme parks.”
Later, Amesty, an executive at a private Christian university, sought to establish credentials as someone who supports Orlando’s theme parks and tourism industry, calling for workforce training for jobs in the industry and declaring, “I will always be in favor of our tourism industry. I will be an ally to bring more tourism, to bring more growth.”
On that topic – economic development – Frevola, a retired Florida Highway Patrol officer, has called for investment in infrastructure in the area, claiming that traffic is stifling economic opportunity.
“We’re going to and from work and we’re wasting time in our lives because of what’s going on, specifically on HB 45,” she said. “We also need to be able to bring public safety to this area and make sure people are safe when they come to visit Florida.”
Portigliatti, an executive, lawyer and entrepreneur at a private Christian university, pledged to support the four pillars of conservative economic growth: reduced regulations, lower taxes, workforce training and tort reform.
He also called for protection of funding for tourism marketing. In Orange County, Visit Orlando is funded by the county’s hefty tourist development tax, which has come under constant scrutiny by some suggesting that some of it could be redirected to other community needs.
“We have to ensure that DTT dollars are used for this purpose. We can continue to encourage people to come to the state of Florida to use our parks and enjoy what we have to offer here,” said Portigliatti.
Zhao, an engineer, called for diversification of the economy, seeking to bring in more high-tech, high-paying businesses and jobs.
All four gave strong endorsements of constitutional shipping.
