As Florida begins the process of re-opening its economy, Gov. Ron DeSantis just stuck his finger into Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s other eye today when he announced the Re-Open Florida Task Force Industry Working Group on Agriculture, Finance, Government, Healthcare, Management, and Professional Services.
Commissioner Fried has been shunned from the Re-Open Florida Task Force for her apparent public insubordination and for her constant political jabbing at DeSantis in the media.
Being that she is the highest-ranking Democrat in the state, it is her job to tow her political party's line.
Because she has been excluded from the group, Fried has stepped up her social media efforts by offering both English and Spanish language updates on the spread of the virus.
In looking at the list of Task Force leaders, it appears as if the top agriculture official in DeSantis’ book is Senate President-Designate and egg farmer, Wilton Simpson (R), and not Fried.
Ouch.
Here is the list:
- Senator Wilton Simpson, Senate President-Designate, Florida Senate
- Senator Rob Bradley, Appropriations Chairman, Florida Senate
- Representative Travis Cummings, Appropriations Chairman, Florida House of Representatives
- Representative Tom Leek, Representative, Florida House of Representatives
- Representative Anika Omphroy, Representative, Florida House of Representatives
- Secretary Mary Mayhew, Secretary, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
- Secretary Richard Prudom, Secretary, Florida Department of Elder Affairs
- David Altmaier, Florida Insurance Commissioner
- Shannon Shepp, Executive Director, Florida Department of Citrus
- Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Sheriff, Brevard County
- Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Sheriff, Seminole County
- Commissioner Brian Hamman, Lee County Commission
- John Hoblick, Florida Farm Bureau
- Matt Joyner, Florida Citrus Mutual
- Alan Shelby, EVP, Florida Forestry Association
- Alvin Cowans, President, McCoy Federal Credit Union
- Alex Sanchez, President & CEO, Florida Bankers Association
- Amy Mercer, Executive Director, Florida Police Chiefs Association
- Carlos Migoya, CEO, Jackson Health System
- Aurelio Fernandez, President & CEO, Memorial Healthcare Systems
- John Couris, President & CEO, Tampa General Hospital
- Kevin Cairns, Florida Board of Medicine
- Maggie Hansen, Chief Nurse Executive, Memorial Healthcare Systems
- Wael Barsoum, President & CEO, Florida Cleveland Clinic
- David Strong, President & CEO, Orlando Health
- Sunil Desai, Senior Vice President, Orlando Health, President, Orlando Health Medical Group
- Patricia Couto, Infectious Disease, Orlando Health
- Rudy Liddell, Brandon Dental Care
- Steve Bahmer, President & CEO, LeadingAge Florida
- Melanie Brown-Woofter, President & CEO, Florida Behavioral Health Association
DeSantis also announced his Task Force’s Industry Working Group on Administrative, Education, Information & Technology, Manufacturing, Utilities and Wholesale
Here is the list of members:
- Commissioner Richard Corcoran, Commissioner of Education
- Chancellor Jacob Oliva, Chancellor of the Division of Public Schools
- Michael Grego, Pinellas County Superintendent of Schools
- Syd Kitson, Chairman, Board of Governors, State University System
- Mayor Dean Trantalis, Mayor, City of Ft. Lauderdale
- Jamal Sowell, President and CEO, Enterprise Florida, Inc.
- Frank DiBello, President and CEO, Space Florida
- Gregory Haile, President, Broward College
- John Hage, CEO, Charter Schools USA
- Mimi Jankovits, Executive Director, Teach FL
- Melissa Pappas, ESE Teacher, Orange County Schools
- Joe York, President, AT&T Florida and Caribbean
- Jim Taylor, CEO, Florida Technology Council
- Bob Swindell, President and CEO, Broward Alliance
- Sheriff Morris Young, Sheriff, Gadsden County
- John Davis, Executive Vice President, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Joey D'Isernia, President, Eastern Shipbuilding
- Rogan Donelly, President, Tervis
- Nancy Tower, President and CEO, Tampa Electric
- Eric Silagy, President and CEO, Florida Power & Light Company
- Catherine Stempien, State President, Florida, Duke Energy
- Marva Johnson, Group President, Charter Communications
- Tom Vice, CEO, Aerion Corp
