KEY WEST, Fla. — Thousands of Key West voters received a political text message Thursday attacking City Commissioner and Mayoral challenger Sam Kaufman over a speeding stop earlier this year, as an outside political committee intensified the increasingly contentious race for mayor.
The message, accompanied by a black-and-yellow graphic reading “Kaufman’s Disregard for Public Safety,” accused Kaufman of driving 52 mph in a 20 mph zone and urged voters to reject what it characterized as reckless leadership — despite no official record of the speed at the time. Kaufman was issued a verbal warning and the officer that stopped him recieved a reprimand from KWPD Chief Sean Brandenburg for not having his bodycam activated.
“Our kids. Our neighborhoods. Our streets. They deserve better than 52 MPH in a 20 MPH zone,” the text states. “Key West families deserve leadership that takes public safety seriously every single day.”
The message identifies its sponsor as Families & Friends for the Keys, a political action committee tied to prominent Key West businessman Jack Niles, an outspoken supporter of Mayor Danise Henriquez and a longtime booster of her husband, Ralph Henriquez, the head baseball coach at Key West High School.
Niles is listed as the chair of the organization, with its original date of incorporation showing as June 8, 2026.
The committee’s latest campaign finance report shows it raised $10,500 during the most recent two-week reporting period. The next series of filings should show how much was spent on the effort, which came from numbers in the Miami area.
Campaign finance records also show the committee lists its address as 527 E. Park Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32301 — an address that serves as the registered mailing location for more than 20 other political committees with conservative political ties under PAC Management LLC and a Noreen Fenner.
While it is not uncommon for political consultants and compliance firms to manage multiple committees from a single address, the practice can make it difficult for voters to identify the people and organizations behind local independent expenditure campaigns.
Although the text repeatedly states Kaufman “was stopped driving 52 MPH in a 20 MPH zone,” no official speed was recorded during the traffic stop because the officer did not have his radar unit activated. Instead, the citation relied on the officer’s visual estimate and Kaufman’s own admission that he had been traveling too fast.
Kaufman accepted responsibility immediately after the stop.
“I should not have been going that fast, and I accept responsibility for my actions,” Kaufman said shortly after receiving the citation.
The political text also quotes Kaufman telling the officer, “I shouldn’t have been driving so fast.”
Kaufman has not disputed the circumstances of the stop and immediately addressed the issue by taking responsibility for his actions publicly.
Florida law allows political committees operating independently of candidates to raise and spend unlimited amounts advocating for or against candidates, provided they do not coordinate their activities with a campaign.
It was not immediately known Thursday how many Key West voters received the text message or whether additional mail, digital or television advertising is planned by the committee.
The text campaign marks one of the first major independent expenditures aimed directly at Kaufman in the mayoral contest and signals that outside political organizations are expected to play an increasingly prominent role as the Aug. 18 primary approaches.
Great article… Good research.
It looks like Desperation to me… and Dirty tricks. Is that why she’s called DD?
Thank you for shedding light on this.