A.G. Gancarski
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott‘s campaign is touting endorsements from prominent members of the Puerto Rican community, while also assigning a familiar name from Florida Politics to galvanize support from voters from that demographic.
“I’m proud to announce the ‘Puerto Ricans for Rick Scott’ coalition and am excited it will be chaired by my good friend, former Florida state Representative Bob Cortes. Bob works hard every day to support Puerto Rican families in Florida and I am so excited to have him on our team to help us have a big win in November,” said Scott.
“It’s also an honor to receive endorsements from so many Puerto Rican leaders today, many of whom I worked closely with during my time as Governor to welcome Puerto Ricans to the Sunshine State. As Senator, I’m fighting every day to ensure Puerto Rican families here in Florida have good paying jobs, live in safe communities, and have every opportunity to live the American dream. I will continue to work alongside these leaders to advocate for Florida’s growing Puerto Rican community,” Scott added.
Cortes described Scott as “a good friend and staunch supporter to Puerto Rico.”
“During the hardest times in Puerto Rico’s history, when Hurricane Maria devastated the Island, then-Governor Rick Scott showed his compassion and leadership to helping those on the island and the ones who made Florida their new home. He had been a good friend and advocate. For these reasons he has my unconditional support and endorsement for his re-election campaign. I will work with the Puerto Rican community to make sure Senator Rick Scott is re-elected to another term,” Cortez promised.
Leaders from the island also affirmed the case for six more years for the Senator.
“Senator Rick Scott has always been there during the most critical times that Puerto Rico endured. His decisive support for federal aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, as well as on health issues, among others, has demonstrated his commitment to the needs of our people. That’s why I strongly and wholeheartedly support Senator Rick Scott in his campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Both the Hispanic community in Florida and Puerto Ricans on the island should follow a friend like Senator Scott for another term,” asserted former Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño.
“Rick Scott is a friend of Puerto Rico; he was one of the first elected officials in the nation to visit our island in those very difficult first days after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Senator Scott was instrumental in the recovery efforts, as well as caring for those Puerto Ricans who moved to Florida in the aftermath of Maria. As a Senator he pushed for full Medicaid reimbursement, as well as credits for affordable housing in Puerto Rico. I have no doubt he will continue to help the U.S. citizens living on the Island in a new term in the Senate,” said Senator Keren Riquelme.
8 comments
Ocean Joe
April 27, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Who can forget the 50 worn out cop cars.
MH/Duuuval
April 27, 2024 at 7:50 pm
More on the cop cars, please.
Meanwhile, when did Rick do this for US residents: “As a Senator he pushed for full Medicaid reimbursement, as well as credits for affordable housing in Puerto Rico.”
Ocean Joe
April 28, 2024 at 5:59 am
After Hurricane Maria, and during a campaign, he donated 50 state vehicles, likely high mileage FHP Ford Crown Vics. Because much of what they had was damaged or ruined by flooding this was actually a good thing, better than Trump tossing paper towels. But anything Ricky touches comes with the stench.
These panther platform cars are well known to commonly get 300k miles so with reluctance, he gets credit for his political stunt.
MH/Duuuval
April 28, 2024 at 11:59 am
Learn something new every day.
woke
April 28, 2024 at 8:25 am
If Rick were a real ally, he’d help Texas split from the union and make PR the 50th state. We would not have to change the flag. It would also solve the so-called border crisis!
MH/Duuuval
April 29, 2024 at 9:56 pm
And, we’d have some real salsa from our Boricua neighbors and not that stuff from Texas — by the same name but made in NYC.
Jose Antonio Rodriguez Menendez
April 29, 2024 at 11:10 pm
As I have shared with Senator Rick Scott in the past , there is a very deep and important tie between Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans, and the early history of La Florida.
Taken from: The fleet of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and the foundation of St. Augustine – Fundación Nao Victoria | Tickets El Galeón & Nao Victoria (fundacionnaovictoria.org)
“The fleet met with another two squadrons which proceeded from Asturias and Biscay to join the expedition, with a total of 5 vessels and 500 men. A heavy thunderstorm in the Atlantic Ocean scattered some boats of the fleet. The remaining ones, along with el galeón San Pelayo, reached Puerto Rico and then sailed to La Florida. On August 26th they made it through the Bahamas channel under a major storm and finally, on August 28th, 1565, -the feast of St. Augustine- they caught sight of La Florida.”
The first “heavy thunderstorm” was actually very damaging to the expedition and required the Governor and grandson of former Puerto Rican Governor, Juan Ponce de Leon, to replace Pedro’s ships, sailors, soldiers, and even a 1/2 dozen priests who had traveled on the damaged ships. The refurbished expediton was only then able to succeed in St. Augustine.
Thus, without Puerto Rican assistance, the Menendez de Aviles Expedition to “pacify” and “settle” La Florida would have failed.
But how do I know this you ask?
I am a Federal court certified collateral descendant of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Alonso de la Campa–First Adelantado and First Governor of La Florida.
Respectfully,
Jose Antonio Rodriguez Menendez
MH/Duuuval
April 30, 2024 at 9:18 am
Is this the same Menendez who slaughtered Huguenots at Matanzas in St. Johns County?