Escambia Commissioner Mike Kohler apologized for his “role in public conflict” with State Representative Michelle Salzman after he made a comment on her social media post that made light of her past sexual assault and tying it to funding he is pursuing for a road improvement project in his district.
Kohler addressed the incident during the county board meeting on March 5.
After taking a “moment to apologize,” Kohler went to explain why he was “motivated to make the statement,” saying that he was informed by multiple representatives in the Florida House that Salzman “had become angry after discovering the House had funded the South Navy Boulevard Improvement Project in its budget.”
Salzman has repeatedly said she has no problem with the road project and did not try to undercut funding for it but had merely asked for more information about it.
“I bear no ill will towards Representative Salzman and hope she can forgive me for my comment,” Kohler said. “While I have been assured by senators and representatives that we do not need her support or for her to like this project for it to be funded, my hope is that she will stop opposing it in Tallahassee and support what’s best for our county.”
Salzman supporters call out Kohler
Kohler’s remarks came on the heels of public forum where many people spoke to the board, both for and against the commissioner, in the wake of his comment controversy.
Many wore pink shirts to show their unity and support for sexual abuse and assault survivors.
Others called for an apology.
“Commissioner Kohler’s comment on Representative Salzman’s personal Facebook page regarding her sexual assault I found to be offensive, insulting, and there was absolutely no value added,” Neil Johnson said. “Commissioner Kohler, based upon your leadership position on this board, you are held to a higher standard.”
Brad Bishop, founder of the homeless and addiction outreach program Offentsive, has worked with Salzman on legislation to help combat drug abuse among other issues, like sexual abuse and assault, that impact people experiencing homelessness.
He spoke out against Kohler’s comment.
“It’s a deeply personal trauma,” Bishop said. “Here in Northwest Florida, organizations like Offensive and the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program, we work with survivors every day. Many of them are afraid to speak about what happened to them. A large number never pursue justice. Instead, they simply just try to escape. This is why the tone set by leaders matters.”
A representative with the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program did not directly address Kohler’s comment but shared information about the program, the people they help, and contact information for those who want to learn more or take advantage of services like the trauma therapy they offer.
Others wanted to see Kohler step down from office.
“Your response was to call her a professional victim,” Clover Lawson of Cantonment said. “That stopped being a mistake. That became a pattern. You are setting a precedent that every survivor brave enough to speak publicly can be attacked, again and again, for the rest of their lives. That will not stand. If you want to criticize her publicly, do it on her policy, but you don’t get to use someone’s trauma as a political weapon. You need to resign.”
Friends, family speak up for Kohler
Others spoke on Kohler’s behalf.
Friends, family, and coworkers said he was a caring person who ran for commissioner to help his community and the comment doesn’t reflect his true character.
Stephen O’Dell said he has known Kohler for 40 years and while he’s not perfect, he is committed to public service.
“He’s overcome a lot, and I have faith in his integrity and his honesty, and things will be made right,” O’Dell said.
Shannon Kohler, Mike Kohler’s wife, spoke to the board about the comment, saying he knows he should have worded it differently.
“It’s ridiculous that make accusations that he doesn’t care about sexual assault victims,” Shannon Kohler said. “I know this personally because I’ve seen how much he cares. Mike and I have prayed and truly have no revenge in our hearts. As believers, we recognize the true solution isn’t always something that can be explained with words, but is found through faith, hope and prayer.”
Retired U.S. Navy counselor, Senior Chief Scott Bollinger, and his wife, Ann, also said they’ve has known Kohler for a “very long time” as a man of service to his community and “impeccable leadership.”
“Regardless of who may be offended, anyone who knows Mike is wondering how his character could be brought into question,” Ann Bollinger said. “Abuse is a very real issue, and people should get assistance for it. But if you’re saying we need to separate the politics, Michelle Salzman has kind of based her political career on being raped. I’ve seen her speak twice and that was what she talked about.”
Salzman is a survivor of sexual assault and abuse who has talked publicly about her experiences, often at events with other survivors and victims of abuse, as an opportunity to empower and encourage them.
What started the controversy
Salzman shared a social media post on Feb. 21 that said, “A strong woman doesn’t seek revenge. She moves on and lets karma do her dirty work.”
Kohler commented on her post saying:
“That is so wrong! You claimed to be sexually assaulted in your military service. Men that abuse women should be prosecuted. Representative Salzman please let us support you in your fight. I will be the first to help.
OBTW
I will forgive you pushed to stop S Navy Blvd to beautify the veterans that served before they are buried. Shame politics should never become before what is right. President Lincoln should be your North Star.”
Salzman has said publicly that she was sexually abused as a child and was sexually assaulted while serving in the U.S. Army, which ultimately resulted in the incarceration of a lieutenant who was held responsible for abusing her and other women after she and others reported him.
Salzman said Kohler’s comment surprised and horrified her because she rarely associates with him outside of occasional events, and his remarks seemed to promise her help in getting justice in exchange for getting state funding for the S. Navy Boulevard Improvement Project.
Kohler is leading the project in his district to improve the last mile of South Navy Boulevard, from Gulf Beach Highway to NAS Pensacola. It aims to address blight and traffic problems as well as build up the Warrington community and support the mission of NAS Pensacola.
The U.S. Congress recently approved $3 million in funding for the project which is expected to cost between $10 and $12 million. The Florida House of Representatives has also funded it for $1.5 million with the goal of securing up to $3 million through Senate matching.
“She denied what she was doing and lied about her actions in Tallahassee,” Kohler said. “My hope was simply to hash out our differences so that we could work together towards the benefit of the county. I was frustrated when Representative Salzman indicated that she had no desire to focus on the best of our county. I let my frustrating frustration get the better of me.”
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Mike Kohler’s sex assault comment insulting Salzman fires up speakers
Reporting by Mollye Barrows, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
