Wilton Simpson Announces Coalition of Veterans Chaired By DeSantis Supporting His Campaign for Agriculture Commissioner
June 10, 2022 Updated 2:25 P.M. ET
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Senate President Wilton Simpson announced Friday that a coalition of veterans supports his campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, will serve as honorary chair of the coalition. Colonel Michael Waltz, the first Green Beret elected to Congress, and Major Danny Burgess, a State Senator and former Veterans Affairs Director, will serve as co-chairs.
“Here at home and across the country, our Veterans and service members know that Florida values their service and is the most Veteran friendly state,” said Simpson.
“I am humbled by the support of these great servant leaders and look forward to continuing to connect with Veterans across the state.”
Simpson owns an egg-laying operation that supplies eggs to supermarkets across Florida.
“Now more than ever, Floridians need an Agriculture Commissioner who fully understands how our food supply chain works to provide safe and abundant food to the American people,'” said Waltz.
“At the height of the pandemic, Florida farmers like Wilton Simpson worked overtime to fill the gaps created by the crisis and ensure grocery store shelves were stocked. Governor DeSantis leaned on that expertise and tapped Wilton to serve on his Reopen Florida Task Force to help get Floridians back to work.”
Florida has more than 1.4 million Veterans, tens of thousands of active duty service members and hosts 21 military bases.
“The rich contributions of Florida’s Veterans to the fabric of what makes our state so special is not lost on Wilton Simpson,” said Burgess. “From the Florida GI Bill to the Military Protection Act, Wilton has always worked to ensure we honor those who serve with the resources they need to thrive in our communities.”
Wilton Simpson Rises as ‘Conservative Leader’ After Latest Rounds of Legislation and GOP Electoral Victories
Simpson has played a large role in passing monumental conservative legislation through the Florida Legislature including the Parental Rights in Education Act, the Stop WOKE Act, and the 15-week abortion ban.
Simpson will face two other Republicans in the August 23, 2022 primary including James Shaw and Richard Earl Olle Jr. If Simpson wins the Agriculture Commissioner seat, he will replace Nikki Fried who is vying for the Democrat nominee as the next Florida governor.
