Diego Pfeiffer
By: Sharon Aron Baron
A candidate who traveled around the country encouraging young people to vote did not heed his own advice when during the primary elections – even though two Parkland parents, who lost their children on February 14, were on the ballot.
Diego Pfeiffer, 18, a senior who was in the drama room during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting, helped found March For Our Lives, and spent the spring and summer championing for safer schools.
He decided to run for Parkland city commission during the summer, but after his freshman year began at the University of Miami, he chose not to actively campaign, yet he would not withdraw his name from the ballot. This left his opponent, Rich Walker, to raise money and campaign through November.
In August, two Parkland parents: Lori Alhadeff and Ryan Petty who decided to run for school board after their daughters were killed by a school shooter, never received a vote from Pfeiffer because Pfeiffer did not vote.
According to Andrew Ladanowski, a Coral Springs data analyst, Pfeiffer did not request a mail-in ballot, vote early, nor did he vote on August 28 – a day where one Parkland parent would win a school board seat, and another wouldn’t.
We contacted Pfeiffer by phone however, he would only accept written questions. We wrote questions out for him, but have not heard back.
When we did last speak to Pfeiffer in September, he urged everyone else to vote.
“I am not withdrawing my name, as I still consider myself a candidate for the position; however, it is Parkland’s decision on that matter not mine,” he said. “I also believe that the community should have a decision to make. The beauty of choice is the foundation of America and Parkland; I absolutely urge everyone to vote in the upcoming election.”