Jacob Ogles
Former Senate President Don Gaetz brought in a massive haul for his bid to return to Tallahassee.
The Crestview Republican collected more than $910,000 from October through December, between donations to his Senate District 1 campaign and his political committee, The Partnership for an Affordable Florida.
“I am deeply grateful to the people of Northwest Florida for their incredible support and generosity,” Gaetz said.
“Every day, I hear the same challenges from families across Northwest Florida who are being hurt by Joe Biden’s inflation and failed economic policies — housing costs, property insurance rates, utility rates, and the cost of living are all too high. In the State Senate, I will work every day on the kitchen table issues that are crushing our families and seniors so Florida remains affordable to the people who call our state home.”
While candidate reports were not immediately available, the committee reported $431,000 raised over the quarter. Much of that came from influential political committees including $25,000 donations from Associated Industries of Florida, OD-EyePAC, Building a Better Florida and the Florida Medical Association.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson’s committee gave Gaetz $10,000. The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s committees gave a collective $50,000.
Gaetz announced at the start of the quarter that he planned a return to the Chamber where he once presided. Term limits in Florida prohibit lawmakers from seeking re-election after serving eight consecutive years, but allow for officials to later return to the Legislature.
Later that month, he held a rally alongside his famous son, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican.
Don Gaetz last served in the Senate in 2016, wrapping up a 10-year stint that included two years as Senate President. During that time, he successfully fought a medical marijuana initiative from passing. During his final two years in the Chamber, he helped facilitate a key compromise between the Legislature and then Gov. Rick Scott to increase education funding.
Regionally, he also served on the Okaloosa County School Board and later as Superintendent of Schools before turning his attention to Tallahassee.
After his legislative career, Gaetz served on the Constitution Revision Commission and chairs Triumph Gulf Coast.
He remains unopposed in his run for the seat.
11 comments
Dont Say FLA
January 8, 2024 at 10:02 pm
Aww, Widdle Matt with the widdle D that less than half of high school girls incorrectly think is decently sized and lasts long enough, hence his history of kiddie stuff, is a nepo baby,
Who ever would have guessed Matt’s a nepo baby? I mean, really old people obviously knew, but otherwise who ever would have guessed? (/sarcasm, tic)
LOL @ MG aka Midgie, beat up every day as a child by bullies yelling “why do you keep hitting yourself in the face, Midgie?”
Ron Forrest Ron
January 8, 2024 at 10:04 pm
This here must be Don’s admission that his son is a worhtless c*nt.
“Do I have to do EVERY thing myself, even at my age?” asked Don.
Answer, YES, when the alternative is your greasy loser of a son Matt.
Florida politicians are corrupt
January 8, 2024 at 10:17 pm
Bo to father and son are criminals and. Corrupt …. It’s because of Don that Matt is such a schmuck
The Dude
January 9, 2024 at 4:13 pm
Father and son criminals? Why does the “Biden” crime family keep popping in my head? No fan of Matt Gaetz by the way. Don’t like the Biden’s as well.
MH/Duuuval
January 9, 2024 at 9:13 pm
The Biden “crime” family keeps popping up in your mind, but not the Trump family syndicate?
One of the telling aspects of DJT’s criminality is the string of former contractors that Trump stiffed. (That leaves aside the family’s International dealings and its unusual banking arrangements with Deutsche Bank and others, continuous lawsuits, and serial bankruptcies.)
Dont Say FLA
January 10, 2024 at 8:36 am
The “Biden crime family” keeps popping in your head due to the box on the wall that keeps repeating that phrase same as they repeated Crooked Hillary and Lock Her Up and Build That Wall for however many years to no avail because it’s a bunch of hooey and you keep falling for it every. single. time.
Charlotte Greenbarg
January 9, 2024 at 8:42 am
The far left mouth frothers are at it again. Doesn’t anybody who administers this site care about the garbage these people post complete with obscenities?
Dont Say FLA
January 9, 2024 at 11:57 am
What obscenities, Charlotte?
Oh! “GAETZ”
Figured that was okay to say since “Gaetz” is in the story. Apologies for putting that naughty word here on the internets.
MH/Duuuval
January 9, 2024 at 9:05 pm
He’s baaaaaaack: the Mack Daddy of west Florida politics. And Li’l Matt going to run for Gov. in 2026.
Born January 22, 1948 = 76yo.
Don can raise a million bucks from friends in the twinkling of an eye. Or, he could self-finance — if he weren’t cheap.
The Dude
January 10, 2024 at 12:38 pm
How old is “Dementia” Joe? Guy belongs in a senior care facility.
Dancing Outlaw
January 11, 2024 at 4:27 pm
I keep thinking Joe Biden should have nearly infinite accomplishment he could be bragging about.
That must be true. It has to be true.
All the Right has is, “but he’s old.”
He IS old, but considering health and lifespan rather than chronology, Biden is a spring chicken compared with Donald Trump, effectively a chicken running around with its head cut off.
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