DeSantis excludes Commissioner Fried, who oversees Florida’s 2nd largest industry

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis named the Reopen Florida Task Force to study reopening the economy amidst the coronavirus pandemic — the list was an expected cadre of donors and DeSantis loyalists, it also had a notable absence. Commissioner Nikki Fried oversees policy for the 2nd largest economy in the state and is the only Democratic statewide elected official — and the governor omitted her from participating in the task force.

Statement from Terrie Rizzo, chair of the Florida Democratic Party:

“Governor DeSantis included the usual suspects of campaign donors and DeSantis loyalists on his task force, but he deliberately overlooked the only statewide Democratic elected official and cabinet member. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried oversees the second largest economic driver in the state and she should have a seat at the table on any task force that has a role in shoring up our economy and re-opening the state.”

During COVID-19, Commissioner Fried has supported farmers and growers by helping to connect consumers with them through “Keep Florida Growing”, pushed to speed up delivery of stimulus funds, assisting food banks with food supply, and called for a statewide shutdown two weeks before it was implemented by the governor.