When Frank Johnston and Jeffrey Stuck confronted Volusia County presidential candidate Deb Denys last week, they knew themselves as members of the press.
But the questions they asked Denys when he told them to leave her alone did little to fear county politics.
Johnston continually asked Denys why he had not denounced the Ku Klux Klan (Denys, to be clear, never expressed himself in favor of the Ku Klux Klan).
Johnston is also a supporter of Jeff Brower, who opposes Denys. Johnson and Brower filed separate court ethics cases and overlapced one day apart from Denys’ before this month. The Florida Ethics Commission temporarily derailed both court cases.
Johnston’s beyond also includes a misdemeanor assault rate and 3 counts of violent harassment since 2016 in Broward County, according to records. He was not convicted of any of the fees and records of 3 of the cases were sealed.
Johnston withdrew from the Hollywood City Commission offer after the Sun Sentinel newspaper in Fort Lauderdale reported that he had indexed a missing golf course as the address of his home.
More than anything, the confrontation interview with Denys is an indication of the poisonous nature of this year’s local political season and how supporters have tried to play the role of hounds, adding on social media, to earn political points.
A meeting
The confrontation with Denys took place outdoors at the Center in Deltona when he entered a show. Johnston, who is 40 and now living in Port Orange, knew himself as a member of the American Patriot Channel and promptly began asking Denys questions, adding why he did not repudiate the Ku Klux Klan. Behind Johnston glued, with a camera. Deltona city commissioner Chris Nabicht, a Dionysus supporter who also filmed the scene, also on site.
Denys did not respond to the men in the video, to continually tell them to leave her alone. When she entered the Center, Johnston and Stuck followed her and continued to ask Denys questions until she arrived at the room where the personal service took place. .
In a phone interview this week, Denys said he didn’t know why Johnston was asking questions about the Ku Klux Klan and that he wouldn’t give an answer to that question. She added that she refused to be “intimidated or harassed. “
More: Many Disagreements Among Volusia County Presidential Candidates
More: 2020 Election: Attack Pass Around the Race for the Volusia Chair
Johnston contacted The News-Journal earlier this week with a posted YouTube video that includes parts of him with Denys.
In an initial interview, Johnston said he was only an answer-seeking citizen and that, as Denys has not denounced white supremacy or KKK in the last 7 years, he will have them.
“Well, if she refuses to answer, she makes us do it, ” said Johnston.