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Florida Senate Leaders Endorse Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco in SD 21 Race

Senate President-Designate Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Sen. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) announced their endorsement of Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco for Florida's Senate District 21 seat.

"Sheriff Chris Nocco knows firsthand that in order to build a thriving economy that works for Florida families and to provide access to quality education opportunities for our children, we must first ensure our communities are safe," Boyd and Trumbull said in a statement this week.

"For more than 15 years, Sheriff Nocco has admirably led the Pasco Sheriff's Department with integrity, innovation, and transparency. A first responder to the attacks of 9/11 and sheriff to one of our nation's fastest-growing cities through a global pandemic, Chris Nocco is a leader for the fights ahead," Boyd and Trumpbull highlighted. "His proven ability to problem-solve and seek justice has made him an integral voice as Florida combated the national movement to defund the police and efforts to weaken law enforcement capabilities. He has been a tremendous partner for the Florida Legislature, and we are proud to endorse him for Florida Senate District 21 because we know that Chris Nocco will put Floridians first."

‘The house is on fire’: Sam Garrison intensifies behavioral health focus ahead of Speakership

Rep. Sam Garrison is no longer hinting that mental and behavioral health will be just a priority during his Speakership — it looks like it could be a ground-up rebuild.

Speaking at the Florida Chamber Leadership Conference on Safety, Health + Sustainability, the Fleming Island Republican repeatedly connected shortcomings in the behavioral health system as more than a healthcare issue, but as a public safety, workforce and infrastructure problem.

“We don’t have enough providers, we don’t have enough beds, we don’t have a system,” he said. “Our system was created 50 years ago. … It was designed for a world that no longer exists.”

Garrison, who will become Speaker after the November elections, added that Florida’s current system is being held together with “duct tape and chicken wire.”

Add another to the column: Randy Maggard endorses Byron Donalds for Governor

Another Florida House Republican has signed on to Byron Donalds’ campaign for Governor.

Rep. Randy Maggard of Dade City — Deputy Majority Leader, Republican Chief Whip, and Chair of the State Administration Budget Subcommittee in Speaker Daniel Perez’s House — endorsed Donalds, joining what the campaign’s release accurately describes as “the overwhelming majority” of the House GOP caucus.

“I’m honored to endorse Byron Donalds for Governor,” Maggard said in a statement. “Byron is a proven conservative fighter who understands what it means to lead. During our time serving together in the Florida House, I watched as he stood strong for our values, fought for economic freedom, supported law enforcement, and never backed down from fighting the radical left.”

Their time together in the chamber was brief. Donalds left the Florida House in 2020 to win the Collier-anchored seat in Florida’s 19th Congressional District. Maggard came in the other direction — taking the East Pasco seat now numbered House District 54 in a June 2019 Special Election, after Danny Burgess decamped to lead the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Byron Donalds Throws Support Behind Nuclear Power if Elected Governor

Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) advocated support for nuclear power to increase Florida's energy production if elected governor in an exclusive interview with The Floridian this week.

"I think the future of our energy grid is based on nuclear power, small modular reactors, micro reactors," Donalds said.

Rep. Donalds also implied support for hydrogen power as a clean energy source, noting it could help lower electric costs for Florida residents. Notably, Florida does not have oil and gas drilling in state waters.

"We'll see about the viability of hydrogen, hearing some initial good things about the ability of hydrogen, being able to scale hydrogen power in our state. I think that's going to be the future of not just generating electricity, but actually lowering electric costs in our state, having them be more stable for our residents," Donalds said.

However, for now, Rep. Donalds indicated he would push nuclear power if elected.