A prominent donor for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was found dead last week in a post office parking lot.
According to Orlando Weekly, Jacksonville defense contractor Kent Stermon took his own life last Thursday outside the Mayport post office after a sexual misconduct investigation was launched against him.
“This investigation remains ongoing at this time and will continue until its completion. As with all active investigations, there is limited information available to release at this time,” said Jacksonville sheriff T.K. Waters. “However, as soon as this investigation has been completed, all applicable information will be available for release to the public.”
Stermon, who had donated more than $60,000 to DeSantis’ election campaigns, had been appointed by the governor to serve on the board of governors that oversees state universities.
DeSantis moved into a condominium owned by Stermon in a newly drawn congressional district after he was pushed out of his own district in 2016 by redistricting.
“Kent was very influential,” said FloridaPolitics writer A.G. Gancarski. “You wouldn’t have Ron DeSantis as governor without Kent Stermon.”
