A.G. Gancarski
One of the most interesting primaries in Florida is the Congressional District 6 GOP scrum to replace Ron DeSantis. There are a few viable candidates in it, and one of them is Brandon Patty, a 34-year-old dynamo who has gone from success to success.
Patty, an Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and a graduate of the London School of Economics, is uniquely positioned as one of the “children of the Reagan Revolution” that his old boss Marco Rubio talks about. In a conversation with FloridaPolitics.com on Thursday afternoon, Patty discussed what drives him to run, what he would change in Washington, what he learned from Rubio and Jeb Bush, who his role models for leadership are, and his opponents’ charges that he’s not “local enough” for his district.
Patty, typical of many Republicans, believes that the past seven years of Barack Obama have been seven years of bad luck for America’s image globally. American leadership in the world goes hand in hand with a strong military, which, said Patty, serves as the “guarantor of a stable economic system.”
America’s declining role in the world in recent years has, said Patty, given “space” to adversaries such as Iran, Russia, and China to “undermine [geopolitical] stability and national security.”
The first priority of the federal government, said Patty, is to “provide for the common defense.” However, defense spending is now just 15 percent of the national budget, down from almost half of the budget in the era immediately after World War II, when American power was at its global zenith.
“This president doesn’t believe that the United States should lead,” said Patty, and that abnegation of America’s historic role has “dangerous ramifications,” creating an impression of “perceived and actual” weakness.
One real world example: the rollback of missile defense from Eastern Europe, which Patty says “strengthened” Vladimir Putin and the Russian sphere of influence.
Similar rollbacks of American influence can be seen in the South China Sea, and with regard to Iran, Patty said.
The results are dire, Patty contends. Russia is back in the Middle East, and Iran is making its presence felt as a regional power also.
In the “vacuum” that the Obama posture has created, “These actors have strength,” Patty said.
Much has been made of the anger voters feel this cycle, an anger that has infused the presidential race with a populist and nationalist flavor. Patty’s noticing anger among voters in his race as well.
He contends there’s justification for it. Politicians, Patty said, “overpromise and underdeliver,” and “unfulfilled promises” become their legacy.
Patty promises he will not be one of those candidates. His aims jibe with mainstream conservatism. He opposes Common Core and backs returning powers to local and state governments.
He also takes issue with the Department of Veterans Affairs, its shortcomings all too routine in the news cycle these days.
“The VA cannot take care of veterans,” Patty said, and he’d like to see increased accountability, as well as the exploration of other options, such as the use of private medical providers.
Patty also contends “Congress has ceded its responsibility to the Executive Branch.”
The conversation turned to leaders that inspired Patty, who looked to historical figures. Ronald Reagan was one, for his handling of the Iran hostage crisis and his successful promulgation of “peace through strength” with an “optimistic, positive tone.”
A second one: George Washington, a “true citizen leader” who restrained himself to two terms when he could have been president for life.
Patty, who has worked for Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, learned lessons from each.
He told a story about then-governor Bush’s visit to Jacksonville. Bush was speaking to an AP class at a local high school, and he put his email address on the board, encouraging correspondence.
Ask and ye shall receive.
Bush was contacted a few months later, and told that the class was trying to raise money for a trip to New York. Bush was asked to help … and he “absolutely” did, Patty said, raising the money and seeking no publicity for it.
He got publicity anyway; the teacher told the media.
Patty, a former policy director for Rubio, lauded the Senator for his commitment to principle and for being “deep on policy,” both things that Rubio’s myriad Florida supporters would credit the Senator for also.
Patty’s path to the nomination goes through two state Reps: Fred Costello and David Santiago, both of whom have strong Volusia ties with a history of elected office Patty lacks. Patty, however, believes that his “values, experience, and vision” will stand out, as well as his willingness to provide voters with access.
Patty believes that his grassroots presence and the strength of his finance team will be strong, even in other candidates’ backyards. He also believes that support from other state leaders, such as early endorsing state Sens. Travis Hutson, Aaron Bean, and Rob Bradley, speaks to the unique value add in his vision.
“We are a large, significant area … an economic powerhouse,” Patty said of the “integrated region” of Northeast Florida.
Patty notes that Volusia County is “strategically positioned” in that integration, at once a gateway to South Florida, North Florida, and the I-4 Corridor, and that the entire region does better when all parts succeed.
“It’s not a zero sum game,” Patty said.
Toward the end of our conversation, Patty talked about his first job: working at Publix, which started less than a week after his 16th birthday.
He internalized the commitment to customer service that Publix imparts on all of its employees, and he has a plan to apply that to his time in office, should he get there.
“I’m taking my marching orders from the district,” Patty said.
