Just to make sure we’re touching all the bases here, it’s still practically a matter of public record that the stock of former NXT head trainer Bill DeMott had hit an all-time low in early 2015. After multiple allegations of physically and verbally bullying NXT recruits, DeMott finally stepped away from WWE in March of last year. He’s been keeping a pretty low profile since then, but he’s recently resurfaced. The opinions of the wrestling world are still largely and justifiably set against him, but away from the ring, he’s looking to motivate some positive change.
DeMott gave a statement to Pro Wrestling Sheet yesterday that revealed he’s been considering running for public office in the state of Florida, specifically for the purpose of tightening DUI laws. In October 2015, his daughter Keri Anne was killed in a DUI accident, and he’s been disappointed with the state of the legal system regarding DUI penalties in the ensuing months.
“I’m no politician. I’ve never claimed to be. I don’t aspire to be one. But I will become a politician, I will run for office, if that’s what’s needed…My voice needs to be heard because my daughter’s life meant more than a 15 year sentence in prison for multiple offender of DUIs.
…I’m not sure how it will turn out, but I’m gonna stir the pot and I’m gonna bring attention to the state of Florida. The DUI laws need to be changed and Keri Anne DeMott matters! My family needs to be protected, my daughter needs to be more than a statistic, and something has to change.”
Speaking as someone who has lost a friend in a DUI accident, this is absolutely an important crusade. A sentence of 15 years for a repeat offender sounds ridiculous, so here’s hoping DeMott can influence some major changes to Florida laws. As for public office, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a future opponent of DeMott’s would bring up his NXT departure as a negative, but we’re not talking about wrestling here, and I like to think that anyone trying to keep drunk drivers off the road is on the right side of reason.
