A.G. Gancarski
Florida Senate leaders are endorsing state Rep. Jason Fischer to be Duval Countys next Property Appraiser.
These endorsements dropped just over a month after the leadership of the Florida House offered its own support.
“I am proud to endorse Jason Fischer for Duval County Property Appraiser because he is a proven champion for Florida’s taxpayers,” Senate President Wilton Simpson said. “First Coast families deserve someone with Jason’s strong work ethic who is committed to Northeast Florida’s shared conservative values.”
Senate President-Designate Kathleen Passidomo also offered strong words of support.
“Jason Fischer is a principled leader and a steady defender of Florida taxpayers. I have confidence that he will lead the Duval County Property Appraiser’s office with diligence and integrity. He has my full support,” Passidomo asserted.
Sen. Ben Albritton added his praise for Fischer as well.
“Jason Fischer is a great and trusted friend of mine. I’m super excited about supporting him to become the next Duval County Property Appraiser,” Albritton said. “He is one of the most thoughtful and hard working folks I’ve ever met. I’m supportive of Jason all the way. Duval taxpayers will get a huge win with him!”
Fischer originally intended to run for the Senate in 2022. Senate leadership indicated a preference for Rep. Clay Yarborough among the field of potential candidates, but they clearly like Fischer in the local role.
Fischer is the second candidate in the still nascent race for Property Appraiser. Second-term City Council member Danny Becton — who, like Fischer, is a Republican from Jacksonville’s Southside — is also running.
Fischer is ahead in fundraising thus far, buoyed by resources accrued when the Senate was in his sights.
As of this writing, Fischer has raised $155,828 for his campaign and he has roughly $131,000 of that sum on hand still.
The candidate’s primary political committee, Friends of Jason Fischer, has roughly $800,000 on hand. Fischer also has $60,000 in his secondary political committee, Conservative Solutions for Jacksonville.
Becton has raised more than $112,000 in the five months he has been in the race and has only spent about $600 of it.
Other names continue to circulate regarding this seat, and given that it’s a 2023 election, there is plenty of time for chatter. Qualifying doesn’t begin until January of 2023, ending Jan. 13 at noon.
The so-called First Election in March pits all competitors against each other, and all voters get to vote for anyone in the field. Unless one candidate gets a clear majority, the top two candidates advance to the May General Election, regardless of party identification.
