Jason Delgado
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried took a jab at Gov. Ron DeSantis Wednesday after he canceled yet another Cabinet meeting.
The meeting was scheduled to take place on Aug. 11, the same month Florida public schools are ordered to reopen.
“So, it’s safe for schools to reopen, but it’s NOT safe to hold a Cabinet meeting?” Fried asked. “Makes sense.”
Since February, DeSantis has canceled all but one Cabinet meeting and has yet to hold a Clemency Board meeting. His alleged lack of communication with Cabinet members, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been criticized by Democrats and become a vulnerable spot in the Governor’s armor.
At the previous Cabinet meeting in May, which took place four months after its most recent previous meeting, Fried seized the moment as an opportunity to cut loose on DeSantis.
“There is no reason in the midst of a global pandemic that has seen over 2,300 Floridians perish, over 51,000 sickened and over 1 million Floridians unemployed that this cabinet should not have met since February to consider state business,” she said at the May meeting.
Florida, constitutionally, is uniquely situated in comparison to other states. The Florida Constitution calls for a Cabinet consisting of three elected officials including the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Agriculture.
In 1968, Floridians ratified the state constitution to remove the phrase “the Governor shall be assisted by” the Cabinet.
According to the state’s official website and as Fried pointed out, the ratification was not made without reason.
“This gave each member equal footing with the Governor on matters that come before the Governor and Cabinet so that Cabinet members were no longer expected, constitutionally, to capitulate to the Governor’s wishes,” the state website explains.
As the state’s highest elected Democrat, Fried serves alongside two Republicans in the Cabinet, CFO Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Florida Politics reached out to both officials for comment.
In a statement, Moody’s office reiterated that scheduling remains the Governor’s prerogative.
“The Executive Office of the Governor sets the Cabinet schedule, and the Attorney General looks forward to discussing Cabinet issues during the next open, public meeting,” said Public Affairs Director Lauren Cassedy.
Patronis’ office, meanwhile, maintained that the CFO is in constant dialogue with other Cabinet agencies.
“As Governor DeSantis is leading the state’s pandemic response with hope and optimism, CFO Patronis is in constant communication with Cabinet agencies to ensure any important questions or concerns are being raised and addressed,” said Communications Director Devin Galleta.
The next Cabinet meeting is scheduled for Sep. 22 and a Clemency Board meeting is set for the following day, according to the Cabinet’s calendar.
3 comments
Sonja Fitch
August 5, 2020 at 3:07 pm
Stfu. Duffus Desantis has not met with cabinet members or other boards! Why? Duffus Desantis has screwed up the trumpvirus response for Floridians! Wait let me guess his wife is his advisor!(she in a tv news report didn’t want to read just said “Yada Yada !). We are screwed!
Palmer Tom
August 5, 2020 at 9:33 pm
There are certainly important state issues pending before the Cabinet, based on the agendas before the governor decided to run the state by himself. Fried is right to call him out on this. It is dereliction of duty.
Just sayin'
August 6, 2020 at 8:51 am
You guys have no idea what the Cabinet actually does. Read the Florida Statutes – aside from hiring certain positions, it’s completely irrelevant. FFS, they spent Scott’s entire term literally giving away free puppies. That’s how ceremonial it is.
Fried’s just upset she can’t get a few more minutes of free advertising for her 2022 governor run.
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