Baugh, Servia Trade Jabs On Celebratory MLK Day Social Media Post

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A flurry of comments traded between Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh and a former commissioner on a Facebook post celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became personal after Baugh brought conservative politics into the back-and-forth conversation.

On Monday, which was the federal holiday honoring Dr. King’s birthday, former Commissioner Misty Servia shared an image of the late civil rights activist with a quote by him — “We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools.” — on her public Facebook page.

Servia lost to first-time candidate Mike Rahn in August’s contentious Republican primary after serving in District 4. Rahn went on to win the seat in the Nov. 8 general election.

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During the primary race, Rahn made public claims that Servia called Gov. Ron DeSantis a racist over Baugh’s February 2021 pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic that served only those living in the county’s two wealthiest ZIP codes, according to the Bradenton Times. Servia sent Rahn and Baugh cease-and-desist letters on the matter.

Eighteen ethics complaints were filed against Baugh, who represents District 5, following the elite vaccination event, which bypassed the county’s lottery system in place at the time. Since then, she has agreed to settle the case with the Florida Commission on Ethics; the terms of their settlement agreement will be outlined at the agency’s Jan. 27 meeting.

Baugh was quick to comment on Servia’s MLK Day post, referring to Dr. King as “a great Republican who believed in the Constitution.”

Servia responded, “And fought tirelessly for civil rights for all. DO you think he would be happy with the current state of the country? I think he would be sad to see some of the same challenges persist in 2023.”

In response, Baugh said, “I think he would be appalled at some of the actions coming forward. MLK stood for all people, no lies, no excuses, no lying, to be who you are, etc., no pretending to be something your (sic) not.”

Servia then called Dr. King “a man of character and vision,” saying she didn’t “believe he would be standing with the MAGA Republicans” if he were alive today.

Baugh told her, “Then leave our party! You are fake.”

The commissioner added, “The people spoke, you are not respected or believed, leave the Republican Conservative Party you are fake.”

About a day after the exchange, some of the comments appeared to be deleted.

When asked to comment on her exchange with Servia, Baugh told Patch, “This is not Manatee County Government business and should not be discussed on this email. However, I deleted nothing.”

Servia called Baugh “a liar” and told Patch the commissioner “went back thru (sic) and deleted some.”

During their comment conversation, Servia told Baugh, at one point, “God bless you.”

Baugh responded, “He does but not you.”

Another Facebook user told the commissioner, “This really isn’t a good look for you.”

Servia was quick to defend Baugh, saying, “She is hurting, which is why she has so much hate in her heart.”

Baugh’s response: “Wrong again. I am not hurt I find you disgusting.”