DeSantis visits Lake City Nov 3

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at Gateway College last week. -Photo: Barbara Gill

By Barbara Gill

An enthusiastic audience packed the auditorium at Gateway College in Lake City on Thursday, November 3 in support of native Floridian Governor Ron DeSantis for re-election during his DON’T TREAD ON FLORIDA campaign trail. As a Navy veteran, DeSantis is focused and on a mission.  During the Covid crisis he fought to keep Florida schools and businesses open, keeping our economy strong

and as a result our FY 2021-2022 state surplus tops $21.8 billion, the highest in state history.  He believes in education not indoctrination, parental rights, civics education and worked to expand technical education and increased teacher pay. Governor DeSantis pledged to secure $2.5 billion over four years for Everglades restoration and protection of water resources, and he surpassed this goal by $800 million, for a total of $3.3 billion over four years. Under the DeSantis leadership, Florida has banned sanctuary cities; deployed state law enforcement to help secure our southern border; issued Executive Order 22-164 to drive transparency and provide cheaper drugs for Floridians; increased funding for veteran facilities and expanded career and workforce training for military veterans and spouses, and secured nearly $70 million to address the fatherless crisis in Florida.  His historic state law enforcement pay package included 15% average pay increase, $50,000 minimum salary and $15 million toward increased compensation for Sheriff Deputies and County Correctional officers in rural communities.   Speaking in support of DeSantis was Congressman Dr. Neal Dunn, Congresswoman Kat Cammick and State Representative Chuck Brannan.

Congresswoman Kat Cammick speaking at Gateway College last week. -Photo: Barbara Gill