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The 2024 election was a historic Presidential race but in Monroe County Florida they experienced another kind of historic election for the position of Supervisor of Elections. The controversy began in early 2024 when the Republican Party had two candidates running for the same office during the primary election, Margaret Romero and Sherri Hodies.

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Between February and March 2024 the Monroe County Republican Executive Committee (MCREC) entertained the idea of providing Sherri Hodies an endorsement and bringing a vote to the committee members to provide a requested campaign contribution. The request for a campaign contribution was made using a standard application process to which a majority vote was needed to pass. Sherri was also the MCREC treasurer and a member of the executive board. Margaret Romero was not a member of the committee, declined to become a member on more than one occasion and never requested a campaign contribution or an endorsement.

On April 20, 2024 the MCREC held a vote to endorse and contribute $20,000 to Sherri Hodies campaign during the primary election. The act of endorsing one Republican candidate over another in the primary election was unprecedented within the MCREC but the rule existed and was exercised. The committee members were properly notified ahead of the meeting, the process and FL GOP Rule 8-B were to be followed. The rule was also presented on a television screen to the members prior to the vote and read out loud. It wasn’t until AFTER the vote that a few of the members contested the interpretation of the rule and therefore the results.

What happened next was abhorrent. Suddenly media hits began ensuing and as a result a resident of Key West, Phyllis May, filed a complaint citing the Key West Citizen newspaper as her source and alleging voter fraud and misappropriation of funds. A third degree felony if found guilty.

The complaint was filed with the local State Attorney Dennis Ward’s office, however because Mr. Ward was a voting member of the committee he recused himself. This process includes notifying Governor Ron DeSantis of his recusal and in turn the Governor issued Executive Order 24-203 honoring the recusal and assigning the case to the Lee County Florida State Attorney’s office.

All of the sudden the democrat candidate Ron Saunders starts using the executive order to campaign against Sherri Hodies, keep in mind this is still in the primary election. How did the democrat candidate obtain a copy of this executive order prior to the defendants Sherri Hodies and Rhonda Rebman-Lopez ever being notified of the filings? One can only wonder about the line of succession here, did the democrat Ron Saunders obtain this directly from the State Attorney Dennis Ward? During this time State Attorney Dennis Ward had a radio show called Good Morning Islamorada where Mr. Saunders was a frequent guest discussing this very matter.

Several members of the MCREC were subpoenaed including former Secretary Jessica Prescott. She worked together with MCREC Attorney Robert Fernandez to provide all pertinent documents and met with prosecutors to provide recorded sworn testimony along with the Vice Chairwoman Antonia Shusta. Sherri Hodies and Rhonda Rebman-Lopez were never interviewed.

Fast forward one year to September 2025. The deadline has passed for the Lee County State Attorneys office to release their report but the two accused have not received any update so former MCREC Secretary Jessica Prescott requested the report through a public records request and low and behold the accused have been VINDICATED!

The cover letter to Governor Ron DeSantis is dated August 14, 2025 and cc’s State Attorney Dennis Ward however Mr. Ward never notified Ms. Hodies or Ms. Lopez yet he knew the results for over a month.

The report concludes with the following statement:

“Based on the totality of the evidence, the conflicts in the evidence and circumstances pertaining to this complaint, the state attorney’s office cannot prove a violation of criminal law beyond a reasonable doubt. …There is no basis for further action by this office. This matter is closed.”

Sherri Hodies won her election and is now the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections. Rhonda Rebman-Lopez won her re-election as the Chairwoman for the MCRECand both remain in their positions today thanks to the educated voters of Monroe County, FL.

Chairwoman Lopez released the following statement:

“Today comes vindication. On September 20, 2025, the Office of the Lee County State Attorney officially cleared Republican Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies and Monroe County Republican Chairman Rhonda Rebman-Lopez of all allegations associated with the politically charged complaint under Executive Order 24-203.

This complaint, pushed by State Attorney Dennis Ward and his political operatives, was a transparent attempt to confuse voters and give a boost to Democrat Ron Saunders. Ward abused his office to launch a smear — but after a thorough review, prosecutors concluded:

No wrongdoing

No charges

Complaint dismissed

We are especially grateful to Governor Ron DeSantis, whose decision to endorse Sherri Hodies and support a fair, transparent process underscored his commitment to election integrity.

“This was a political attack from the start,” said Chairwoman Rhonda Rebman- Lopez. “Ward’s efforts to slander loyal Republicans failed. Thanks to Governor DeSantis, whose leadership and endorsement affirmed our cause, and thanks to Monroe County voters for standing strong.”

Despite Ward’s interference, the people of Monroe County chose Sherri Hodies as their Supervisor of Elections—favoring accountability over chaos.

The record is now crystal clear: Dennis Ward’s smear campaign collapsed, Ron Saunders lost, and the truth prevailed.”

See Lee County report documents below.