On a recent date, March 23, 2026, Pastor Justin Strickland spoke out against John Labriola at the Library Advisory Board meeting in Citrus County. For years, many in the community, including the author of a letter to the editor in the Citrus County Chronicle, have viewed Labriola as divisive and needlessly combative.
The author of the letter expressed feeling vindicated by Pastor Strickland’s public challenge to Labriola’s tone, which they felt was long overdue. Labriola and his followers often claim to stand for conservative Christians in Citrus County, but the author argues that conservatives and Christians are not a monolith. They pointed out that Citrus County has a large number of registered Republicans, but not all of them embrace Labriola’s conservative beliefs.
The author shared that their neighbor, a registered Republican, is pro-choice, believes in compassionate immigration enforcement, and values faith deeply but also believes Christianity requires compassion. The author emphasized that conservatives come in many forms and that reducing all conservative Christians to one voice is inaccurate and unfair.
When Pastor Strickland publicly challenged Labriola, it suggested that at least some Christian conservatives are growing uncomfortable with the anger and hostility that have characterized parts of the local political culture, particularly concerning the library and Labriola. This development raises questions about the future of Labriola’s influence in the community and the growing divide among conservatives.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
