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ORLANDO - On the heels of contradictory statements by a Department of Children and Families spokeswoman and the governor's office regarding a guardianship for a pregnant disabled woman, the spokeswoman was told Monday her job was being eliminated.
Yvonne Vassel, who was spokeswoman for DCF agencies in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Brevard counties for 41/2 years, acknowledged last week that she "didn't understand what we could and couldn't do" when she told the Orlando Sentinel the agency would seek the appointment of two guardians, one for the pregnant disabled rape victim and another for her fetus.
Vassel tried to clarify the situation a day later, saying DCF would only try to have a guardian named for the disabled woman. A ruling by the Florida Supreme Court in a 1989 abortion rights case said appointment of a legal guardian for a fetus was "clearly improper." She said the information she relayed to the Sentinel was based on information from an agency lawyer.
But her clarified remarks directly contradicted ones made later by Gov. Jeb Bush, who wants guardians named for both the woman and the fetus.
Vassel would not say if she was told the fallout over her remarks was directly linked to her job being eliminated. "It is extremely important that the public is informed and informed accurately," Vassel said Monday. Vassel added, however, that she stood by her statements.
DCF officials, in an e-mail circulated to employees, said the decision to eliminate Vassel's job was part of a "mission to realign, refocus and reduce."