Democrat challenger chooses teachers union head who backed school closures for running mate in Florida governor's race

Democratic Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist picked his running mate on Saturday and announced Karla Hernandez-Mats, the president of the Miami teachers union, as his choice for lieutenant governor.

Many on Twitter were quick to point out that Hernandez-Mats, who was head of the United Teachers of Dade, has a contentious record that includes the protection of a child sex predator, incendiary racial rhetoric, and an adamant supporting of masking and vaccinating school children.

Helen Aguirre Ferre wrote, "This is unconscionable. 'The United Teachers of Dade knew Nibbs was frequently in trouble.' Crist's running mate Karla Hernandez-Mats protected this child predator who also served to intimidate teachers who were critical of UTD leadership."

According to the Miami Herald, Florida middle school physical education teacher Wendell Nibbs was arrested in 2017 for sexually assaulting two students. Nibbs had stayed in the school system for years despite constant and pervasive accusations of sexual misconduct across eleven years.

As Christina Pushaw points out, Nibbs was a member of the United Teachers of Dade and had Hernandez-Mats to thank for his protection. Pushaw posted, "Here’s the Herald journalist who wrote about the now-convicted child rapist, who was protected by the teacher union/Karla Hernandez Mats for years. Journo asked Karla for comment; Karla’s assistant said it’s not our problem. It took 2 months for Karla to finally condemn the pedo."

As the Miami Herald reported, Nibbs had a reputation for years but was defended by Hernandez-Mats throughout 2016 and 2017, the year he was finally arrested for his sexual grooming and assault. Eventually Hernandez-Mats claimed she was unaware of the accusations but DeSantis War Room brought receipts in the form of screencaps. "Karla was elected president of the teacher union Feb 2016. Nibbs assaulted students in May/Jun 2016. His pics with Karla are from 2016-17."

Beyond her protection of child sex predators, Hernandez-Mats said via her union's Twitter, If you are against mask mandates in schools, you are not a parent. You are a 'soldier of faux rage, false narratives, and political interests' fired up with conspiracy theories."

As Will Witt points out, in 2020, she "set up a protest to keep schools closed. She brought hearses outside of a school board meeting, insinuating kids would die if schools were opened up." She also called concerning moms "reckless" and "irresponsible" for not agreeing with her.

Hernandez-Mats is also a proponent of CFT and Anti-Racism indoctrination, as illustrated by a 2020 tweet where she equates "Tucker Carlson," "Columbus Day," and a "Eurocentric Curriculum" with genocide and the KKK.