Lake County Republican Party activists claimed last week they had needed signatures to force a meeting to install new members. But Lake County Republican Party Chair Taylor Yarkosky now says many names wrongly appeared on a petition, and no meeting will occur before April.

“Over the past week multiple LCREC (Lake County Republican Executive Committee) members reached out stating their names were fraudulently added to a petition calling for a special meeting in March without their consent,” Yarkosky wrote in an email blast. “Let me be absolutely clear — this is a serious violation of election integrity and it will not be tolerated.”

But Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, a former Lake County Republican Party Chair, said that’s a mischaracterization.

“66 members asked to have their names listed; 2 later rescinded after they had travel plans,” Sabatini said. On social media, he said it did not matter if individuals later wanted their names taken off a petition after the fact.

“Although a member is at liberty to later remove their names, the decision to remove their names does not cancel a duly called REC meeting, according to RPOF rules or the county model constitution,” Sabatini posted on Facebook.

Yarkosky, though, said this wasn’t just a matter of people wanting names off a petition they signed, but of names appearing on the petition without permission in the first place. He told Florida Politics that at least 10 people whose names were listed on the petition have reached out to him and said they did not sign it.

“Some members reported not even being contacted before their signatures were added,” Yarkosky wrote. “Fraudulent misrepresentation of member signatures is a direct attack on the integrity of our organization, and we will pursue every available remedy to ensure accountability.”

He referred the issue to the party’s attorneys, and wants law enforcement to take further action. Yarkosky encouraged anyone who believes their name was fraudulently added to the petition to contact the party.

“We are not backing down on this,” he told Florida Politics. “He (Sabatini) is out of control and unhinged, bullying and hurting people at all costs.”

Yarkosky also encouraged party members to report any emails received by Sabatini or ally Tom Vail to the REC.

“Your voice matters and we will not stand by while deceptive tactics are used to undermine the LCREC,” he wrote in his email blast. “We will not allow fraudulent activity to go unchecked. Integrity, transparency, and accountability are not negotiable in our party.”

Sabatini, meanwhile, said the email blast from Yarkosky was a “false and defamatory email.”

Yarkosky said no meeting of the REC will take place until April 21, when the county party will host Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a former Republican Party of Florida Chair.

Importantly, Yarkosky serves in the House, and the Legislature is currently in Session. The Clermont Republican is a member of the House Student Academic Success Subcommittee, which is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon in Tallahassee.

Sabatini opposed Yarkosky’s election as county REC Chair, and argued the lawmaker’s victory only came because new members had recently been qualified for precinct committee spots ahead of the vote. Sabatini said on Facebook he expects a meeting to take place Wednesday regardless, with the purpose of admitting new members into vacancies.

“The current chairman, 3x arrestee Yarkosky, and several board members have been BLOCKING new members, and so a special meeting had to be called in order to accept the 35+ new applicants,” Sabatini wrote on Facebook.

Yarkosky said any new members will be sworn in at the April meeting, and that holding a meeting in March is neither required nor productive.

Sabatini has criticized Yarkosky over bounced checks allegedly written by his Advanced Plumbing Technology business. The business sent money to cover the checks after a recent Action 9 investigation. Yarkosky said the issue with the bounced checks involved the closing of a bank account for a business, and the matter was quickly resolved when it came to his attention.

“Over the last 20 years, I have serviced upwards of tens of thousands of residential customers whether in sinkhole stabilization, different contracting work done as well as a robust piping rehabilitation business we have built,” he said.

“This had to do with a company that no longer does residential work. The operating account was shut down. When I learned about this, I contacted someone on the administrative side and the customer was wired the money within a couple days.”

Yarkosky said the disparagement of his business and character at this point is typical from Sabatini, and said the party needs to drive the far-right figure from local politics.

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Deloitte is teaming up with Cell Phones for Soldiers and the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) to host Deloitte Device Day at the Florida Capitol on Thursday, March 20.

This one-day event invites Florida legislators and staff, state agency employees and community members to donate electronic devices, working or broken, to help provide free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans.

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit organization committed to bridging the communication gap for military members and families.

What started as an idea by two young siblings — Rob and Brittany Bergquist — has transformed into a successful nonprofit that has touched the lives of millions. At just 12 and 13 years old, the Bergquists were shocked when they heard about a soldier returning home from Iraq with an $8,000 phone bill. The idea that a military member serving their country couldn’t connect with their loved ones for free seemed unimaginable. With just $21 dollars, they started Cell Phones for Soldiers.

Since then, their grassroots effort has provided more than 400 million minutes of free airtime to military members worldwide, recycled more than 25 million phones and assisted thousands of service members in need with emergency funding. From small idea to global impact, Cell Phones for Soldiers continues to bring military families closer to their loved ones, one call at a time.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Deloitte to bring this program to the state capitol,” said Rob Bergquist, founder and director of Cell Phones for Soldiers. “Through the generosity of Florida residents, we can help active-duty service members stay connected with their families and assist veterans as they transition to civilian life. It’s a small way to show our appreciation for the sacrifices they’ve made.”

Donated devices will be refurbished for sale or responsibly recycled by Cell Phones for Soldiers. The proceeds from refurbished and recycled devices will help fund the organization’s mission to deliver cost-free communication services — including a free cell phone with 12 months of talk and text service — for military members and veterans.

“This event is a great example of how the public, private and nonprofit sectors can come together to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who have given so much for our country,” said David Friedman, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and leader of Deloitte’s work with the State of Florida. “We are honored to support this cause and help make an impact for soldiers, veterans and their families.”

The event will be held in the Plaza Level Rotunda of the Florida Capitol from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and provide a collection point for donated cell phones, tablets and accessories like chargers and headsets. Every donation supports the mission of Cell Phones for Soldiers and will help provide essential communication resources for those who have served. Cell Phones for Soldiers provides a donation receipt for tax deduction purposes. However, it is the donor’s responsibility to determine the value of each device.

“When I was a brand-new deployed Navy Corpsman, my dad was rushed to the hospital. It was only through the generosity of a Navy Chaplain giving me his own money that I was able to afford the long-distance charges to call home,” said Bob Asztalos, Deputy Executive Director of the FDVA. “The Department and I are so proud to join with Deloitte and Cell Phones for Soldiers to bring attention to this important cause and give back to those who have served.”

To learn more about how the donation process works or to find additional ways to support Cell Phones for Soldiers, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/how-it-works.

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