RON DESANTIS: THE BOLD GOVERNOR
Monday Column
Think Right w/ Jake Gant
3/18/19
Ron DeSantis has been a conservative like no other from the get-go. After winning the GOP primaries in the 2018 Florida Governor’s race, he scored endorsements from Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, President Trump, and many more conservatives who have made names for themselves in the world of American politics.
Winning by 0.4%, DeSantis has come a long way as Governor. His current approval rating is soaring according to Quinnipiac University’s most recent poll which raises DeSantis to a 59% approval rate and 19% disapproval rate. This is a massive change from the election, but how did a solid conservative like DeSantis steal the hearts of Floridians?
As soon as he took office, he pardoned the Groveland Four, four black men who were falsely accused of rape in 1949 and still hadn’t been released. In the same day he suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, who has been held responsible for many hiccups within the Sheriff’s Department that led to a poorly handled school shooting in Parkland, Florida that became the most deadly school shooting in American history.
Shortly after, he quickly shifted his focus to the Everglades, clean water and solving the red tide crisis. After signing off on massive environmental reforms, we have seen red tide vanish on the west coast of Florida. DeSantis has been a fearless environmental advocate, he has taken a stand against the big sugar industry in Florida as well as calling for the resignation of all members from the South Florida Water Management District.
"One of the recommendations that Congressman Mast has provided to me was that we really need a fresh start at the South Florida Water Management District, and so today I have sent correspondence to all of the board members thanking them for their service but requesting their resignation,” the Governor said in a prepared statement.
DeSantis isn’t like other Governors. As soon as he took office, he hit the ground running. He has been prompt, he has been impressionable, and Florida is loving it. His actions are already reaping positive benefits for the people of Florida, with red-tide essentially gone and businesses moving to the Sunshine State at a record-setting pace, he is going to be a popular Governor.
However, there is more to this than just the Governorship. DeSantis is shaping a new image for Republicans in the United States. He has not been afraid to work across the aisle, even appointing Democrats to top cabinet positions, proving that he cares more about individuals rather than their political party as a whole.
DeSantis is not like the “Trump Republicans” from a public relations standpoint. He has handled his critics with grace, humor, and most importantly, proven facts. He isn’t on the offensive. He isn’t divisive, and it’s exactly what is propping up what could easily be a new legacy.
One thing is for sure, the Republican Party could learn a lot from Governor DeSantis, and his bipartisan approaches to help the people of Florida. He is winning, his people are winning, everybody wins when you have a caring, swift conservative, like Ron DeSantis in office.
Jake Gant is a weekly columnist for As a Matter of Fact.
You can connect with him on Facebook here.