Florida's commissioner of agriculture and consumer service is statewide elected office and member of the Florida Cabinet. Current Commissioner Adam Putnam is not running for re-election because of term limits.)
Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell won their party primaries in August and will face off in the November general election.
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READ: Candidates square off to replace Putnam
Matt Caldwell
Age: 37
Candidate's family: Wife and Daughter
Occupation: Real Estate Appraisal
Education: BA, History, FGCU
Political experience: State Representative, 2010-2018
Summarize your political platform in 10 words or less.
Christian Conservative Constitutioanlist
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
1. It will be my priority as Commissioner of Agriculture to ensure concealed weapon permits are overseen by a professional who fully understands and upholds our 2nd Amendment rights guaranteed by the Constitution. As a candidate for Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture, I am the principled conservative in the race and have received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) and Unified Sportsmen of Florida
During my time in the Florida Legislature, I helped the State improve the concealed weapon license program by partnering with the Tax Collectors and to expedite applications for active military and veterans. I will continue the legacy of protecting our 2nd Amendment rights because it's the right thing to do.
2. The economy is a top priority for all of us. We all know that jobs are created by innovators and risk takers…NOT the government! I'm committed to removing the burdens that hold us back, so that the free market can create the jobs we need. The No. 1 obstacle to successful small businesses? Government overreach and interference. I promise to get government out of the way so commerce rules, so businesses can be successful, and so we can thrive!
I will continue to advocate for the removal of barriers to economic growth, most particularly in non-sensical regulation and burdensome tax policy. Agriculture and our rural Florida are intertwined, and the Commissioner should advocate for well-rounded economic opportunities in our rural areas. For example, Florida loses out on manufacturing and processing facility jobs due to our tangible real estate tax structure. It is no coincidence that auto manufacturing locates across the border in Alabama and Georgia. Or take the recent boom in carrots in Suwannee Valley; yet the two major processors are in Thomasville and Lake Park.
I will work with my fellow Cabinet members & the Florida Legislature to ensure that we have a tax and business friendly community that will encourage investment in North and North Central Florida not just for farming land but for packaging, processing, and manufacturing-which will create thousands of jobs. We must make sure that our laws are business friendly and allow for investment in Florida versus our competing neighbors of Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.
3. Water is our most important resource. It ensures the success of our state and it keeps us alive! As we grow from 20 million to 30 million residents, it's more important than ever before to balance the demands of growing cities with the needs of our farmers and our environment. The Commissioner of Agriculture must be a responsible steward of our valuable natural resources.
During my time in the Florida House, water policy was an area where I championed legislation and led the State in pursuing long-term solutions. In 2016, I carried the statewide Water Bill, which laid out policy goals for every region in the State. But that vision cannot be achieved without a true financial commitment. I will lead the State to partner with the districts, counties, and cities to construct and operate regional water supply facilities, including reservoirs, desalination, and re-use facilities. Building regional water supply facilities for urban use will relieve the pressure on the aquifer and surface water supplies, which are more than adequate to meet the need of rural and natural Florida
All of these demands for water in our state are not mutually exclusive. Urban, rural, and natural Florida can only be successful if they work together, not against each other. Residents and urban users require water for their homes and businesses, farmers require a natural resource for production and represent a third of the State's GDP; and tourists visit Florida's parks, lakes, rivers, and beaches to enjoy our unique state. Our state government must prioritize our needs, while respecting constitutionally protected property rights.
My experience as the chair of subcommittees and committees related to agriculture and natural resources will be invaluable in the political process out of which these solutions must come. As Commissioner, I will continue this work with farmers, businesses, the Cabinet, Legislature, Congress, and the President towards common-sense solutions on water and natural resource policy, as I have done throughout my career.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I have always made a strong commitment to constituent services, understanding that in my role as State Representative, I was responsible for serving all 156,000 residents, not just the voters who supported me. I will carry this attitude forward in the role as Commissioner.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
My goal has always been to be remembered as a godly husband and father. If I fail in this mission, then everything else will have been for naught. In the role of Commissioner, I hope to look back and see a robust and responsive list of accomplishments that served the people of Florida well, including in the areas of jobs, water, and our 2nd Amendment rights.
Website: votecaldwell.org
Social media: Facebook / Twitter
Nicole "Nikki" Fried
Age: 40
Candidate's family: Father: Ronald Fried Mother: Lorraine Sister: Jenny Fried Shaffren
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Palmetto High School (Miami) c/o '95 University of Florida Bachelors c/o '99 University of Florida Master's & Law Degree c/o '03
Political experience: From my leadership in a Jewish youth organization in high school, to serving as President of the UF Student Government, to my time in the Alachua Public Defenders office, to my advocacy on behalf of access to medical marijuana, public schools, and foster kids in Tallahassee, I have been an active participant in politics and public service my whole life, despite never having previously held public office.
Summarize your political platform in 10 words or less.
New leadership, access to medical marijuana, independent voice on cabinet
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
1. Performing a wholesale audit of the entire department to ensure it is operating efficiently and effectively on behalf of the people of Florida. The recent revelations of Commissioner Putnam's failures to properly oversee the permitting of concealed carry and private security guard licenses are potentially indicative of a broader mismanagement of the department. We must find out if that is the case, and if so, take action. The people of Florida need to have faith in the integrity of the entire Department. I would also like to reorient the public face of the Department to focus more on the broad consumer advocacy and services powers of the office. This Department has numerous functions outside of agriculture, but Putnam (and Bronson before him) didn't place much emphasis on consumer services. I will.
2. Use the bully pulpit of the Department, and knowledge of the issues and policy, to continue to advocate for access to medical marijuana. Seventy-two percent of Floridians approved this law, but access continues to be impeded by an obstructionist legislature and governor. And regardless of who our next governor is, they won't have any policy expertise with respect to medical marijuana and I'd like to work with the next administration - Democrat or Republican- to make sure we don't repeat the mistakes of this one. I'll also ensure there is attention and oversight paid to the approval and disclosure of pesticides used in growing medical marijuana, so patients feel comfortable that the products they're purchasing are safe.
3. Ensure that the Department takes into full account the environmental and community impacts of its decision-making, rather than just acting as a rubber stamp for big corporate actors in the Ag industry. I'll employ more scientists, researchers and non-industry experts throughout the Department; and I'll make the office more transparent and accessible to input from the public.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
The department that is charge of our states consumer services, has never had a lawyer as it's leader. My legal work fighting the big banks for the consumers ability to stay in their homes during the recession, gives me a unique perspective of what it really means to be the arbiter of Florida's consumer services. I am also running to expand how our state does agriculture. The growing of medical marijuana and industrial hemp is the going to be the new cash crop and I want Florida's farmers to be able to be at the forefront of this industry. We have the fertile land to plant it, the climate to grow it and the water to sustain it. It is irresponsible what the Governor and his cabinet, Department of Health and the Republican Legislature have been doing to obstruct what 72% of Floridian's voted to allow. These two crucial issues position me to help the voters and residents of this state more successfully than my opponents.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I would hope to be remembered as the Commissioner who fought for her constituency and Florida consumers every day that I was in office. I want to be remembered as the Commissioner who was able to successfully get medical marijuana to our sick residents, especially our elderly and our brave veterans. And finally, I would hope to be remembered as the Commissioner who had the foresight and vision that forever changed, how we do agriculture in Florida.
Website: nikkifried.com
Social media: Facebook / Twitter