Why It Matters
A Collier County School Board member is pursuing legal action against U.S. Representative Byron Donalds over an alleged confrontation that occurred nearly four years ago, raising questions about harassment and intimidation within Florida’s education and political circles.
What Happened
Kelly Mason, a Collier County School Board member, filed a lawsuit in Collier County Circuit Court against Byron Donalds, alleging he threatened her at a grocery store in Naples in August 2022. According to Mason’s complaint, Donalds told her he could “crush” or “finish” her during the encounter at Seed to Table. Mason also alleges that Donalds’ senior adviser Larry Wilcoxson pursued her through the store while yelling.
Mason claims the confrontation caused her emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, anxiety, and fear for her personal safety. The encounter was captured on video and later broadcast by a Fort Myers news station several weeks after the incident occurred.
Mason is represented by Anthony Sabatini, a Lake County Commissioner and former Republican state House member. She was elected to the Collier County School Board in November 2022, months after the alleged grocery store confrontation.
A campaign spokesman for Donalds characterized the lawsuit as “a baseless, politically motivated attack and shameful publicity stunt designed to damage Byron Donalds in the 2026 election.”
By the Numbers
August 2022 — month of the alleged confrontation
November 2022 — when Mason was elected to the Collier County School Board
2020 — year Donalds began representing Southwest Florida in Congress
2016–2020 — Donalds’ service in the Florida House
Prior Legal History
Mason, who founded Mason Classical Academy in 2012, had previously filed a lawsuit against Donalds in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 2022. That earlier case arose from public disputes surrounding the management of Mason Classical Academy. The current lawsuit represents a renewed legal dispute between the two figures.
Donalds’ wife, Erika Donalds, served on the Collier County School Board from 2014 to 2018, preceding Mason’s election to the same body.
Zoom Out
The lawsuit reflects broader tensions in Florida over school governance and education policy. Southwest Florida’s education landscape has been marked by ongoing disputes involving school choice initiatives, charter school oversight, and the composition of school boards. Mason’s election to the board and subsequent legal action against a sitting congressman underscore how education politics can intersect with federal representation in the state.
What’s Next
The case will proceed through Collier County Circuit Court, where a judge will determine whether the allegations meet legal standards for harassment, intimidation, or other civil claims. Donalds’ campaign has signaled it will contest the lawsuit. The litigation is expected to continue through the 2026 election cycle.