Florida House Candidate Misrepresentations (Stokes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the notes on the Florida House candidate misrepresentation allegations.

Misrepresentation

A false or misleading statement about credentials or background intended to deceive the public.

Auburn University claim

The campaign claim that Stokes graduated from Auburn University; later shown to be untrue.

Auburn attendance timeline

Stokes attended Auburn University from August 2009 to April 2014 but did not earn a degree.

DegreeVerify certificate

A verification document indicating that a degree was not earned and that the person was enrolled only.

National Student Clearinghouse

A nonprofit organization that maintains education records and issues degree verifications used to confirm credentials.

Enrollment status (Enrollment only)

A status indicating a student was enrolled but did not complete a degree.

Active arrest warrant (Maricopa County, 2011)

A court order for arrest issued by Maricopa County, Arizona, for not appearing at two arraignments.

Minor in possession

A charge related to possessing alcohol as a minor, connected to the arrest warrant.

On the record vs off the record

A distinction about whether a statement is part of an official record; 'not on the record' means it is not official.

Scrubbed biography

Removing or editing a candidate’s biography from official sites to change the stated background.

RealChetStokes

A site claiming Stokes limited his Facebook presence or deleted posts to deceive the public.

Action News Jax confrontation

Local TV reporters questioning Stokes about his education, with coverage noting his responses and behavior.

Citizens for Accountable Government

A watchdog group that pointed out the inaccuracy of Stokes’ degree claim.

Fraternal Order of Police endorsement

The police union (FOP) endorsed Lake Ray over Stokes, citing concerns about trust and the arrest warrant.

Lake Ray

Former state representative and Republican candidate who received the FOP endorsement.

House District 16 (Northeast Florida)

The electoral district in Northeast Florida where the Republican primary race occurred.