Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried had an exchange of words with Governor DeSantis' office after controversy arose regarding a Pride lighting display on the Acosta bridge being shut down. It’s reported that the Department of Transportation disregarded plans to light a bridge in Sarasota with rainbow colors. In response, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D), who is also challenging Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for his office, directed a statement at the Governor, arguing that this wasn’t an isolated incident.
“Now it has been reported that your Department of Transportation has denied requests to. Light bridges around the state in acknowledgment of Pride Month, a national celebration and recognition in Florida of our state’s large, proud LGBTQ+ community,” Fried commented. “This includes your administration denying the City of Sarasota’s request to rainbow light the Ringling Causeway Bridge, and ordering the City of Jacksonville to remove LGBTQ-themed lighting from the Acosta Bridge, the latter leading to organized protests of your administration’s actions,” Fried added.
However, a spokesperson for the DeSantis' Executive Office fired back, arguing that DeSantis had no involvement with the decision made by Florida’s Department of Transportation.
Christina Pushaw, the spokeswoman, told The Floridian that the governor had nothing to do with this. "I want to reiterate that the Governor’s office had nothing to do with turning off the bridge lighting," said Pushaw.
Pushaw also warned that “to suggest otherwise is absurd and baseless,” adding that “Governor DeSantis isn’t going to respond to Commissioner Fried’s allegations.”
Disregarding Fried’s allegations, Pushaw expressed that Fried’s accusations “is just the latest example of her playing politics for ‘Resistance’ retweets and MSNBC hits, instead of focusing on the responsibilities of the important job she was elected to do for the people of Florida.”
Since announcing her gubernatorial candidacy, Fried and DeSantis have been on the offensive in terms of exchanging verbal jabs. Most recently, Fried argued that she is confident in her chances of winning the Democratic primary and being elected Governor of the Sunshine State.
