An upcoming presentation on Islam is causing controversy in Charlotte County because the man giving it is an elected official.
Supervisor of Elections Paul Stamoulis will be presenting what he calls a “history of radical Islam” Thursday night.
NBC2 obtained an email that he sent to poll workers saying they may be interested in it.
Poll worker Lisa Trejo couldn’t believe what she was reading when she got the email.
“It was a little shocking to see it coming from the supervisor of elections himself,” Trejo said. “It just seems like something he shouldn’t dip his toe in during a public forum.”
Reached by phone, Stamoulis said his speech is an extension of something he calls voter education. He feels it’s an important issue for both voters and poll workers.
Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani of the Islamic Center for Peace in Fort Myers said he doesn’t see how this is a voting issue.
“That is nonsense, and in my opinion, against the Constitution,” Al-Darsani said.
The County Attorney’s office did not comment on the legality, saying the supervisor works separately from the county.
Trejo said she will be there to listen but is skeptical about it being a voter issue.
“I don’t understand how there is any connection to our elections systems or to the voters,” Trejo said.
Some groups are organizing protests. The presentation is Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at the Cultural Center of Port Charlotte.