Calling Florida’s economy “among the envy of the nation,” the Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsed Republican Rick DeSantis for governor on Thursday saying it’s more important than ever to maintain the economic momentum of the past eight years of Gov. Rick Scott’s administration and that DeSantis is the best qualified candidate for the job.
The momentum the Chamber refers to includes Florida surpassing a $1-trillion economy, which occurred earlier this year, as well as maintaining an unemployment rate below the national average and more than 16-million visitors to the state, a record number.
“As we focus on securing Florida’s future, local businesses will need to create 1.7 million net new jobs by 2030. Ron DeSantis has a plan to help make Florida more competitive, to help ensure families can prosper through job creation and a strong economy, and to help ensure Florida’s business climate remains strong and vibrant,” said Will Weatherford, chair of the Florida Chamber Political Council. “The Florida Chamber of Commerce is proud to endorse Ron DeSantis as Florida’s next Governor.”
The announcement was made during a press conference in Orlando that was held in conjunction with the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Future of Florida Forum.
“I’m proud to receive the endorsement of the Florida Chamber. I’m committed to building on our state’s success by keeping taxes low, reducing burdensome regulations, and diversifying our economy with industries such as manufacturing and financial services,” DeSantis said.
“As Governor, I will always work to create more high-paying jobs for Floridians and make Florida the best state in the country for business. I look forward to working with the Florida Chamber to accomplish these things and more,” DeSantis added..
DeSantis is a native Floridian. As a result, the Chamber says DeSantis understands the concerns of Florida business owners and families and will work to enact policies that allow more high-wage jobs, improve Florida’s education system and protect Florida’s main attraction: water.
His Democratic opponent in the governor’s race, Andrew Gillum, is also a native Floridian. But some of Gillum’s policy proposals don’t sit well with the business community. One of those proposals is a $1-billion increase in corporate taxes to raise revenue for public schools.
Attending Thursday’s announcement was DeSantis’ running mate, Jeanette Nuñez, the first Cuban-American woman to be chosen as a candidate for lieutenant governor. Nuñez, a member of the Florida House who is term-limited in November, has a lifetime average grade of 94 percent on the Florida Chamber of Commerce Legislative Report Card. She was awarded a Florida Chamber Distinguished Advocate Award recipient in 2013 for her work to increase access to affordable education made.
Democratic candidates across the Florida have come to know that the Chamber of Commerce will not support them. There is never a valid reason to support their candidacy even when it is clear that the Democratic candidate is the superior candidate. If the Chamber of Commerce in Florida wants have legitimacy in its endorsement process then it needs to be seem as supporting Democratic candidates at least occasionally. Mr. DeSantis has a horrible voting record on the environment. With Red Tide and Green Algae running rampant in South Florida we need a candidate that will be more supportive of environmental legislation and that will respect scientists and good technicians as they strive to rework the state’s entire approach to water monitoring and management. If we do not look at this seriously and soon there will be some dire consequences for the economy in Florida. Ron DeSantis clearly is not the right person and we need legislators such as myself, Catherine Price, that will provide insightful, brave and diligent leadership in Tallahassee. Vote Catherine Price for FL Senate District 26.