Rudy Ferguson, a candidate for Tallahassee City Commission, filed a complaint with the Florida Democratic Party accusing Ryan Ray, chairman of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee, of taking sides against him in the commission race.

Ferguson, a pastor, is challenging City Commissioner Jack Porter in a three-person race for Seat 1. Ray, a longtime Porter friend and adviser who also serves as aide to City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, was elected in late 2022 as chair of the DEC. He denied Ferguson’s allegation.

On Wednesday, Ferguson emailed a 13-page complaint on campaign letterhead to Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried and several others, including state Reps. Allison Tant and Gallop Franklin, D-Tallahassee.

“My purpose in writing is to express deep concerns regarding discriminatory practices targeting our campaign by local Democratic Party officials in Tallahassee,” Ferguson said. “We have noted specific public statements, consulting activities and financial contributions that raise questions about the fairness and impartiality of the Leon County Democratic Party’s conduct.”

Ray told the Tallahassee Democrat that he called Ferguson Wednesday to discuss his concerns but that he didn’t get a response.

“That’s in keeping with his pattern of never attending Democratic Party meetings or participating meaningfully in the party in any way,” Ray said in a text, adding, “His behavior is deeply uncivil and only redounds to the benefit of Donald Trump and his local enablers.”

The complaint was another sign of a big divide among local Democrats that roughly mirrors the same one on the City Commission, with more progressive, anti-establishment forces on one side and more moderate, pro-status quo forces on the other.

The state party has received the letter and is awaiting a formal complaint from Ferguson. Matt Dailey, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, said Thursday that no formal appeal had yet been received. Party rules require a Judicial Council investigation of any appeal of disputes between party members.

Ferguson complained he faced fallout after sending out a campaign email saying he didn’t agree with a comment on X/Twitter, retweeted by the local Democratic Party, that said “the U.S. is a fascist police state.” After the email went out, Ray texted Ferguson asking whether he or someone else had written it.

“I would ask you to leave the Democratic Party if you’re going to criticize us,” Ray wrote. “If someone else wrote it, I would caution you not to allow others to use your campaign as a tool to attack the Democratic Party.”

Ray, whose father is a retired Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy, also told Ferguson he took “great personal offense at your campaign’s insinuation that I am anti-law enforcement. My father is a hero to me.”

The complaint included a tweet by Porter showing her and Ray calling voters together to encourage them to request mail ballots and other X posts by Ray in support of Porter. Ferguson also complained that the local party “manipulated” voter data, making it harder for other campaigns to use it.

City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, part of the 3-2 voting majority on the commission, along with Mayor John Dailey and Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, was asked about Ferguson’s allegations Thursday during a candidate forum sponsored by the Democrat, WFSU and the League of Women Voters.

“It’s absolutely wrong for the Democratic Party chair to choose sides in Democratic races,” said Richardson, who voted against Ray in the DEC election.

Ray said he had no conflict of interest in his role as DEC chair and aide to Matlow, who vocally supports Porter as well as Richardson’s chief opponent, Dot Inman-Johnson.

“I take pride in balancing my obligations and responsibilities fairly and effectively,” Ray said.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Rudy Ferguson accuses Democratic Party chair Ryan Ray of taking sides