A.G. Gancarski
Former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham was in Jacksonville Monday, and while she was in town she snagged a couple of pivotal endorsements.
One of those endorsements: from the most powerful Democrat on the Jacksonville City Council, Finance Chair Garrett Dennis.
And the second endorsement: from the most popular Democratic Mayor in Jacksonville history, Jake Godbold.
Dennis, on hand for an endorsement event on Jacksonville’s Eastside, lauded Graham for her commitment to rights restoration for reformed felons.
“Gwen Graham believes every Floridian deserves a seat at the table throughout our state government and institutions. That’s why she’s fighting to make sure every child has a great public education, no matter where they live or where they come from. She’s fought to protect the vote and supports rights restoration,” Dennis asserted.
Godbold, who was not able to attend the event, said via statement that Graham would “invest in infrastructure to build on our city’s success and help Jacksonville grow in the 21st Century.”
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Though the endorsement event did not go as planned, Graham made up for it with a freewheeling q&a with local media.
The greatest pyrotechnics came when she discussed medical marijuana, and the State Legislature’s lack of fidelity to the Constitutional Amendment passed in 2016.
“I am so sick and tired of the Florida Legislature not doing what the people of Florida have overwhelmingly said they want done,” Graham said regarding the smoking prohibition, putting MMJ in the same bucket with lottery money and Amendment 1 funds, which did not go to Forever Florida this year.
Graham noted the palliative effects of cannabis, and said that it is a “good replacement for opioids.”
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Graham was also blunt in her appraisal of the “horrific” health care bill in the United States Senate, saying that “block granting was particularly bad for Florida.”
Graham did shy away from specific criticism of one of her primary opponents, scandal-plagued Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.
When asked if he should get out of the race, Graham said simply that “Andrew is a friend and will make those decisions.”
Her answer did not vary appreciably on the followup.
