Florida Democrats are praising Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried for the leadership she has shown during the recent wildfire that has been raging in Northwest and Central Florida, making the case that this same leadership has not been shown by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (D).
Hundreds have been forced to evacuate, and Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Fried has been on the ground in Walton and Santa Rosa counties, working with local officials and the emergency responders.
Highlighting two appearances that Commissioner Fried made on the Weather Channel, Fried warned viewers, “please make sure you’re being very cautious.”
She added that “if I could tell you the stories I was hearing earlier today from our forestry officials and those here on the scene, they have not seen a fire like this in their entire careers, some of them with 30-plus years’ experience, with tears in their eyes of what our guys were able to do to prevent the expansion of this fire, and saving lives all throughout yesterday.”
In contrast, Gov.DeSantis has been updating following on social media, posting yesterday that he would be traveling to Santa Rose County in the morning “to receive a briefing from local officials on the 2,000-acre wildfire.” He added that “we’re closely monitoring this situation with FLSERT,” and he’s “requested FEMA to provide financial assistance to the county.”
I’m heading to Santa Rosa County this morning to receive a briefing from local officials on the 2,000-acre wildfire. We’re closely monitoring this situation with @FLSERT and I’ve requested @fema to provide financial assistance to the county.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 7, 2020
In an update later in the day, the Governor notified that he had received the briefing and that he had “received approval on our FEMA request for federal financial assistance,” thanking President Trump “for helping the good folks of Northwest Florida.”
Today I received a briefing on the #FiveMileSwampFire from @SRC_EM, @SRSheriffFL & @FLForestService. We have already received approval on our @FEMA request for federal financial assistance. Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for helping the good folks of Northwest Florida. pic.twitter.com/pVxBxLWYVu
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 7, 2020
Democrats are pointed to Fried's thanking of "front-line heroes," while Gov. DeSantis praised Trump for helping on the federal level, but not mentioning those first responders.
It's politics as usual, so Democrats are trying to score some point off of DeSantis, even if he appears to be on top of the wildfire situation in the panhandle.
