Colonel William A. Phillips

Kimberly Daniels (born June 12, 1961)[1] is an American minister, religious author, politician, wife and mother of four from Jacksonville, Florida. She is a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing House District 14 (part of Duval County). She began her political career as an at-large member of the Jacksonville City Council. She served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing House District 14 (part of Duval County) as a member of the Democratic Party from 2016–2020 before losing her re-election campaign to Florida state House representative Angie Nixon. During the 2022 election, Nixon ran to represent House District 13, creating a vacant seat in House District 14. On the last day of qualifying for the 2022 election, Daniels entered the race for the House District 14 seat in 2022. On August 23, 2022, she easily took the Democratic Primary for House District 14, winning all of the district’s 41 precincts. Shortly thereafter, the write-in candidate withdrew from the race, securing Daniels’ return to the Florida House of Representatives, this time without ever having to win a general election campaign.[2]

Personal life

Daniels is a graduate of Florida State University where she obtained a bachelor's degree in criminology. Daniels has a master's degree in Christian education and a doctorate in Christian counseling from the not regionally accredited Jacksonville Theological Seminary.[1] Daniels' book Breaking the Power of Familiar Spirits is now a class textbook at JTS.[3]

Daniels has expressed thankfulness to God for slavery and for her time in a crackhouse (she is a self-described former sex worker and drug addict), which she saw as ultimately leading to her religious conversion: "If it wasn’t for slavery, I might be somewhere in Africa worshipping a tree."[4][5] Daniels also said, "You can talk about the Holocaust, but the Jews own everything."[6][7]

In 2011 Daniels was elected to the Jacksonville City Council as an at-large member.[8] On March 9, 2015, then-city councilwoman Daniels was involved in a profanity-laced squabble with council candidate Sirretta Williams, also a local minister.[9][10] She lost her bid for re-election in 2015, 55% to 45%. Her Republican opponent received support from LGBT groups and white liberals due to Daniels' controversial views and financial problems.

Daniels and her husband Ardell were divorced in 2015/6.[11]

Florida House of Representatives

Daniels was first nominated to the House in 2016 (incumbent Mia L. Jones could not run due to term limits), winning the Democratic nomination with 6781 votes (35.99% of the vote) in the primary election, defeating attorney Leslie Jean-Bart (31.32%) and three other candidates. In the general election she easily defeated Republican nominee Christian Whitfield, taking just over two-thirds of the vote.

Florida HD 14 map (2012 redistricting)

In March 2017, it was reported that Daniels was under investigation by the Florida Elections Commission after it found probable cause that she used campaign funds for personal expenses and later falsely reported information on finance reports.[12]

In early 2018, Daniels introduced HB 839, a bill that requires public schools to display the motto "In God We Trust" in a conspicuous place. On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, the bill received unanimous approval from the House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee.[13] Later, in a vote on February 21, 2018, the bill passed 97 to 10 in the House.[14][15] The measure was eventually adopted as law in March 2019 as part of an education bill.[16]

On August 28, 2018, Daniels defeated educator Paula Wright in the Democratic primary for her seat.[17] She did not have a Republican opponent, and conspicuously drew campaign support from Republican officeholders and donors.[18]

In early 2019, Daniels sponsored legislation to require schools to teach courses on the Bible. The Florida House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee approved the measure.[19][20]

Daniels championed a $1 million-dollar contract for SCLC World Wide, run by Gary Johnson. In the summer of 2019, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice sued SCLC World Wide for not delivering on its commitments. The following day, Daniels was sued by a former staffer, Karen Riggien, who claimed to have been wrongfully fired in February 2018 in connection with interactions with Gary Johnson, a man Riggien described as Daniels' boyfriend.[21][22][23][24]

On July 23, 2019, the Freedom from Religion Foundation wrote to Representative Daniels requesting that she stop blocking users on Facebook.[25]

On August 18, 2020, Daniels lost renomination in the Democratic primary election to Angie Nixon.[26]

False Disclosures & Ethical Investigations

The Jacksonville Democrat has repeatedly faced ethics and elections complaints during her eight years in politics.

In 2017, Daniels was accused of illegally using campaign funds for personal expenses in 2015.[27] An investigation was launched after a complaint was filed that year about a $4,000 expenditure listed on her campaign finance report. Daniels agreed to pay a $1,500 fine related to the 2015 Election Commission complaint.

Once again, in 2019, Daniels agreed to admit she broke the law by filing inaccurate financial disclosures in 2012, 2013 and 2014.[28]

Authored works

  • Against All Odds. Spread the Word Publishing. 2000. ISBN 978-1929097050.
  • Clean House, Strong House: A Practical Guide to Understanding Spiritual Warfare, Demonic Strongholds and Deliverance. Charisma House. 2003. ISBN 978-0884199649.[29]
  • Delivered To Destiny: From Crack Addict to the Military's Fastest Female Sprinter to Pastoring a Diverse and Multicultural Church, Kim's Story of Hope is for Everyone. Charisma House. 2005. ISBN 9781591856146.[29]
  • Give It Back!: God's Weapons for Turning Evil to Good. Charisma House. 2006. ISBN 978-1599790572.
  • Inside Out: Dump the Baggage and Discover Hope through Inner Healing. Charisma House. 2008. ISBN 978-1599792798.
  • Prayers That Bring Change: Power-Filled Prayers that Give Hope, Heal Relationships, Bring Financial Freedom and More!. Charisma House. 2010. ISBN 978-1599797519.
  • Spiritual Housekeeping: Sweep Your Life Free from Demonic Strongholds and Satanic Oppression. Charisma House. 2011. ISBN 978-1616382384.
  • Spiritual Boot Camp: Basic Training and Supernatural Strategies for Combat Readiness. Charisma House. 2012. ISBN 978-1616387136.
  • The Demon Dictionary Volume One: Know Your Enemy. Learn His Strategies. Defeat Him! (Volume 1). Charisma House. 2013. ISBN 978-1621363002.[12]
  • The Demon Dictionary Volume Two: An Exposé on Cultural Practices, Symbols, Myths, and the Luciferian Doctrine (Volume 2). Charisma House. 2014. ISBN 978-1621365563.
  • From a Mess to a Miracle: Experiencing True Transformation in Christ. Charisma House. 2014. ISBN 978-1621369738.
  • Selah: Pause and Think on This: Daily Insights for Total Breakthrough. Charisma House. 2017. ISBN 978-1629989693.
  • Breaking the Power of Familiar Spirits: How to Deal with Demonic Conspiracies. Charisma House. 2018. ISBN 978-1629995298.

References

  1. ^ a b "Kimberly Daniels". News4JAX. March 12, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2019. Party: Democrat Age: 53 Family: 6 children Occupation: Pastor/Author/Public Servant Education: Bachelor's degree in Criminology, Florida State University; Master's Degree in Christian Education, Jacksonville Theological Seminary; Doctorate in Christian Counseling, Jacksonville Theological Seminary
  2. ^ Admin (August 26, 2022). "Election Night Yields Clear Winners, Losers and Surprises". The Jacksonville Free Press. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "STUDENT CATALOG 2019 - 2020" (PDF). p. 84. SG 5353 Breaking the Power of Familiar Spirits Textbook Dr. Kimberly Daniels / Dr. Fabienne M. Naomi When it comes to the supernatural, many in the church have the mental belief but lack the physical evidence because they are deficient in spiritual power. This course addresses this issue and answers questions regarding the Holy Spirit, the supernatural, revival, the Gifts of the Spirit, and more.
  4. ^ DAN MACGUILL (January 2, 2019). "Did Florida State Rep. Kimberly Daniels Once Say, 'I Thank God for Slavery'?". Snopes. Retrieved October 6, 2019. The quotation is authentic.{...}Daniels' reference to "the crack house" was an allusion to her own purported past as a drug addict and sex worker.
  5. ^ "Kimberly Daniels Thanks God For Slavery". March 9, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2019 – via YouTube. I thank God for slavery. I thank God for the crackhouse. If it wasn't for the crackhouse, come on somebody, God wouldn't have never been able to use me how He can use me now. And if it wasn't for slavery, I might be somewhere in Africa worshipping a tree.
  6. ^ Cerabino, Frank. "Dear God, we don't trust the people who want to put up signs". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "Kimberly 'Demon-Buster' Daniels Tries To Spin Bigoted and Bizarre Statements". April 20, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2019 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "About Kimberly Daniels - Apostle Kimberly Daniels". kimberlydaniels.net.
  9. ^ Hong, Christopher. "Councilwoman Kimberly Daniels, candidate Sirretta Williams in profanity-laced squabble at polls". Daniels has gained as much attention for her work on the council as her background as an ex-prostitute and a minister who performs exorcisms.
  10. ^ "Councilwoman's alleged attacker: "Your word against mine"". March 11, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  11. ^ A.G. Gancarski (August 13, 2016). "The church as a hustle: Inside the rise and fall of Kim Daniels' marriage". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 7, 2019. Her ex-husband, Ardell Daniels,
  12. ^ a b Mitchell, Tia. "State Rep. Kimberly Daniels accused of using campaign funds for personal expenses".
  13. ^ "Schools could be required to display 'In God we trust'". Associated Press. January 24, 2018.
  14. ^ Sterling, Joe (February 23, 2018). "Florida lawmakers advance a bill that requires 'In God We Trust' displayed on school grounds". cnn.com. CNN.
  15. ^ "Florida lawmakers advance bill that would require 'In God We Trust' to be visible on all school buildings". newsweek.com. February 23, 2018.
  16. ^ ALEXANDRA HUTZLER (August 14, 2018). "'IN GOD WE TRUST': FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST NOW DISPLAY RELIGIOUS MOTTO AND OTHER STATES COULD SOON FOLLOW". Newsweek. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  17. ^ David Bauerlein (August 28, 2019). "Rep. Daniels wins race against Paula Wright for District 14 - News - The Florida Times-Union - Jacksonville, FL". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  18. ^ Gancarski, A. G. (August 26, 2018). "GOP cash factors into HD 14 Dem primary war between Paula Wright, Kim Daniels". floridapolitics.com. Peter Schorsch/Extensive-Enterprises. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "House panel backs Bible courses for Florida public schools". Tallahassee Democrat. March 7, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019. "This is a public policy issue, not a worship issue," Daniels said before the House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee approved the measure (HB 195).
  20. ^ "Florida lawmaker files bill requiring schools to teach courses on Bible, religion". WWSB. January 14, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  21. ^ Steve Patterson (September 12, 2019). "State sues to get back cash from anti-violence program championed by Florida Rep. Kimberly Daniels". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved October 6, 2019. State Rep. Kimberly Daniels championed a $1 million contract for a group led by a man her ex-aide claims was Daniels' boyfriend. Florida is trying to recover $250,000 of that after ending the program. A nonprofit that a Jacksonville lawmaker helped land a $1 million state contract to run a youth program against gun violence is being sued for not delivering on its commitment.{...}The day after the state sued SCLC World Wide, Daniels was sued by a former staffer, Karen Riggien, who complained of "defendant's allowance of Gary Johnson to act as supervisor and demand tasks [by Daniels' staff], all while he was never employed by defendant." The suit, which argued Riggien was wrongfully fired, said Daniels told the aide to "respond to Gary Johnson as she would a supervisor" and do as he asked.
  22. ^ Tarik Minor (September 13, 2019). "Jacksonville lawmaker facing potential legal trouble". News4JAX. Retrieved October 5, 2019. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - There are potential legal problems for Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Florida, who is tied to two separate lawsuits, one of which was filed by a former aide and the other filed by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
  23. ^ "Daniels-complaint-1.pdf" (PDF). July 2, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  24. ^ A.G. Gancarski (July 8, 2019). "Kim Daniels sued by former legislative assistant for wrongful termination". Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  25. ^ JESSICA PALOMBO (August 1, 2019). "Group Warns Rep. Daniels: Stop Blocking People On Facebook Or Face Potential Suit". WJCT. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  26. ^ "Kimberly Daniels loses House District 14 seat to organizer Angie Nixon".
  27. ^ "State Rep. Kimberly Daniels accused of using campaign funds for personal expenses".
  28. ^ "Rep. Kim Daniels willing to say she filed false financial disclosures".
  29. ^ a b "| A Kim Daniels 'Demonbuster' Quote Base".

External links