Raise your hand if you've heard this one: "The country's moving in the wrong direction." Unfortunately, after 30 years of one-party rule, the same can be said for Florida. Whether it's money wasted on Alligator Alcatraz, the possibly illegal Hope Foundation scandal, laws trampling the principle of "home rule" or the outsized deference to President Trump, any hope for change will come in next month's elections. What follows is the Post Editorial Board's picks for the next Florida Cabinet
David Jolly for Governor
Florida's next governor should be a refreshing break from Gov. Ron DeSantis, who at times ran Florida more like an old-time Chicago mayor than a modern-day governor. The next governor must work more collaboratively to address problems rather than seek power. For
that reason, the Post urges voters to elect Democrat David Jolly.
Jolly offers the best hope to give state government a new start. It's the governor who has the final say on state budgets, who appoints key department heads, state judges and the Board of Governors. Republican Byron Donalds may have the advantage of money, higher Republican voter registration, even the endorsement of President Trump, but he isn't the break from the heavy-handed politics that has dogged Florida for so long. Voters would be better off opting for change ― Jolly.
Wilton Simpson for Agriculture Commissioner:
Republican Wilton Simpson knows agriculture. He leads a large family-owned farm operation in Trilby. He also knows state politics, having served as president of the Florida Senate before winning election as agriculture commissioner in 2023. The Post recommends voters re-elect him to a second term. He has kept his nose to the grindstone looking out for the state's farming community, investing in agricultural infrastructure, expanding the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and protecting Florida's waterways.
Democrat Joey Mendoza Atkins, 40, is a trial attorney who wants to upgrade farming regulatory requirements and resurrect the department's consumer protection role. His problem, though, is that he's up against a far more experienced and better connected opponent. For those reasons, Simpson remains the better pick.
Jose Javier Rodriguez for Attorney General
James Uthmeier, a DeSantis appointee, faces a credible opponent in Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez, who is no stranger to law or state politics. The Post recommends voters choose Rodriguez for his potential in reviving state efforts to go after corruption and protect consumers. A Miami native and graduate of Harvard Law School, Rodriguez served in both the Florida House and Florida Senate. If elected, he would fight crime and support public safety, but he'd also curb overcharges by utilities, insurance companies and other corporate interests. He would also stop the sell-off of public lands, root out corruption, particularly the Hope Foundation scandal that has plagued both Uthmeier and the governor.
Uthmeier has had a checkered tenure. While he has gone after criminal networks, increased efforts to locate missing children and launched the first state-led lawsuit against OpenAI, Uthmeier's also had a habit of diverting resources to cultural issues, like suing the National Football League and Target over allegations stemming from diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Florida needs an attorney general who puts priorities on Floridians and not red-meat issues. That's more likely to occur with Rodriguez as attorney general.
Annette Taddeo for Chief Financial Officer
The CFO is Florida's top money-person. Unfortunately, the Republican appointee, Blaise Ingoglia, seems to be running the job on auto-pilot, spending more time accusing local governments of excessive spending while the state wasted millions on Alligator Alcatraz and spent even more on Florida's universal school choice and voucher programs.
The Post believes the state can do better by voting for Democrat Annette Taddeo, 59, a businesswoman and longtime Miami Democrat who served in the Florida Senate. Affordability and corruption would be her priorities. Her ideas include developing an insurance company report card, detailing each firm's financial soundness and their responses to claims, posting all state contracts and auditing all no-bid contracts. The next CFO should be more frugal about state spending. We think Taddeo is up to that task.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Post backs Jolly, Rodriguez, Taddeo and Simpson | Endorsement
