STATE

Melissa Howard reverses course, drops out of race after degree scandal

Zac Anderson
zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com
Melissa Howard is a candidate for the District 73 state House seat. She is facing questions about her time at Miami University in Ohio. The school's general counsel says she does not have a degree, as she has claimed, and that a diploma she is touting does not appear to be authentic. [PHOTO PROVIDED] (July 30, 2018)

A day after saying she planned to continue running for a state House seat despite revelations that she lied about having a degree from Miami University and went to great lengths to deceive people, Melissa Howard reversed course Tuesday and dropped out of a contest that has received national attention.

Howard said in a text message to the Herald-Tribune that “I have come to the realization that the right thing to do for my community is to withdraw from the race. I will do so today.”

“I made a terrible error in judgement,” Howard added. “I am thankful for everyone who gave so much toward my success, and I am deeply sorry.”

Howard’s announcement brings to an end one of the more bizarre chapters in Southwest Florida politics and brings relief to many local Republicans who worried her campaign was embarrassing the local party and making it a national laughingstock.

“I think she did the right thing for the community,” said Sarasota GOP Chair Joe Gruters. “I think it saved a lot of people a lot of grief and I hope that she finds whatever peace that she needs and moves forward and has a lot of success. But we’re glad she’s out of the race and we’re focused on winning in November.”

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The controversy over Howard’s academic credentials went national in recent days, with the Washington Post, Fox News, the New York Times, “Good Morning America”, CNN and other major media outlets covering the strange story.

Howard’s troubles began when a conservative news website published a report questioning whether she had graduated from Miami University, as she claimed.

Howard pushed back hard. She flew to Ohio to obtain her college transcripts and what she said is her diploma, displaying pictures of both online.

But the story unraveled when Miami University general counsel Robin Parker sent an email to the Herald-Tribune and other media outlets saying Howard never graduated and the diploma “does not appear to be an accurate Miami University diploma.”

Howard first responded to reports about Parker’s email with a statement from her campaign manager Saturday calling it “fake news.” After laying low Saturday and Sunday, Howard put out a statement Monday admitting she lied about having a degree, apologizing and declaring she planned to continue campaigning in the GOP primary against Sarasota attorney Tommy Gregory.

“It was not my intent to deceive or mislead anyone,” Howard said Monday. “I made a mistake in saying that I completed my degree. What I did was wrong and set a bad example for someone seeking public service. I am staying in the race and intend to win and lead by example from now on.”

Howard’s decision upset many GOP leaders, who felt she was tarnishing the party’s brand and making it harder for them to win the general election and hold onto a strongly GOP-leaning seat that covers eastern Manatee County and portion of eastern Sarasota County.

But Gruters, Manatee County GOP Chair Kathy King and incoming GOP House Speaker Jose Oliva resisted calls for the party to officially ask Howard to bow out of the race. All three said it should be up to the voters to decide.

Gruters said that even though he avoided publicly calling on Howard to drop out, there was a behind-the-scenes effort to “try and resolve this situation.”

“I just am glad this entire issue is resolved,” he said. “The party’s much better off, the community’s much better off and I hope that whatever she needs she gets but we’re focused on moving forward helping Tommy get elected in November.”

With Howard out, Gregory can now look ahead to the general election match up against Bradenton Democrat Liv Colemen.

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