Agriculture commissioner candidates speak on water, consumer protection

The News-Press editorial board
Matt Caldwell

Florida's agricultural community faces many challenges with the spread of citrus greening and other diseases. There are issues with how groves, farm land and ranches impact water quality efforts and how to stop consumer fraud. The Commissioner of Agriculture oversees all of that from this Florida cabinet position.

There are seven candidates seeking the seat held by Adam Putnam, who terms out after eight years and is running for Florida governor.

Among those are two local candidates - state Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, and state Sen. Denise Grimsley, R- Sebring. The others are Democrat Nicole Fried, an attorney from Broward County; Republican Mike McCalister, a palm tree farmer from Plant City; Democrat Jeff Porter, mayor of Homestead; Democrat Roy David Walker, an environmental scientist from Broward; and Republican Baxter Griffin Troutman, a citrus grower, cattle farmer and former state representative.  

Denise Grimsley

Their views on the main issues:

Troutman could not be reached. His comments are from his campaign website.

Water quality

Caldwell: "Our goal should be zero discharges. The modified waters project has languished since the 1980s and that is the only real obstacle to sending the water south. That is what we should be working toward. We have had the most productive Everglades funding that we have had for the last 40 years."

Fried: "We have to quit blaming each other and work together and come up with game plan. The CERP plan has not been funded the way it should have been. There is not one solution and not one cause. We have to make sure everyone knows the true facts causing algae. We have to make sure regulation is in place. We have to make sure we give the agriculture community the resources they need." 

Nicole Fried

Grimsley:  "The projects we put in north of the lake, for whatever reason, they would get started and they would stop. No one would stay in office long enough (because of term limits, to make sure they stayed on schedule). Part of the responsibility of the commissioner is to travel around the state and talk about the issue. There are still opportunities above the lake. Yes on storage wells.” 

McCalister: "We have to identify performance measures (for agriculture community). We are not paying close enough attention to the proliferation of chemicals. When (a farmer) does fertilize, run soil tests on the farm (so they can ask): ‘what fertilizers do I really need.' Mix in the right amounts and in the right order.”

Porter: "You have to go back to north of the lake. For years, the Corps drained the wetland and the natural filtration system. It's in our best interest to have the different departments weigh in on the water policy issue. We have to make sure everybody adheres to best management practices."

Baxter Troutman

Troutman: “Smart approaches to land management need to be encouraged statewide as we work together to make certain we have abundant, clean drinking water to meet the needs of generations to come.”

Walker:  "I believe the Commissioner of Agriculture can work with the corporations and the Army Corps of Engineers on controlling the flow of water. We have to hold corporations accountable for polluting waterways. Ag should be responsible for having inspectors (to make sure companies) follow best management practices. There needs to be more of a guideline. We need septic regulation."  

Canker and citrus greening

Caldwell: "People should be paid (people not receiving money vouchers for trees removed because of canker). On disease, it is about research and development. That is the role the government plays in the system. I am going to commit to that responsibility."

Fried: “We have to give the agriculture community the resources they need. The commissioner can not only be the regulator but also needs to be the spokesperson for the agency to make sure everyone is working together."

Jeff Porter

Grimsley: "It’s learning how to manage groves in current conditions. We are seeing new growth on trees we haven’t seen in 10 years … and a decent yield. We have funded millions of dollars to the University of Florida and IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and looking forward (to eliminating disease) through root stock resistance. There needs to be constant dialogue between the commissioner and the university. We have to make sure we are not wasting taxpayer dollars and that there is expedited research. The people promised payment need to be paid. A four-year budget strategy would be paying those individuals."

Mike McCalister

McCalister: "As a palm tree farmer, my biggest issue is Texas Palm disease. There are bacteria concerns along with citrus greening. I don’t know why exactly we have not received funding from the federal government, but we need to see if there is a way to expedite that. For citrus greening, canker and Texas Palm disease, we need to work with IFAS and get more grants, come up with cures … and get checks written (for people who lost trees because of canker).”

Porter: "I can't tell you what the answer is. I have not done enough research to figure it out. There were lots of problems with pulling trees out of peoples' yards. It's not legal what they did."

Roy David Walker

Walker: “We have to require the government give money to these individuals (who lost canker trees). We have to make sure the commission is obeying the law. We need to work with the industry to try and find a cure (for citrus greening). We need to clean the soil and improve it. But the growers face a huge hardship (land next to groves) are becoming parking lots and shopping centers.”

Troutman: “Production is down 70 percent and input costs have tripled. We must provide confidence to industry and external stakeholders that Florida’s leaders will wake up each day understanding the struggle our agriculture community is going through with greening.”
 

Consumer protections

Caldwell: "The role of the commissioner is to pursue and prevent fraud on the public. We have to be committed and robust in prosecution of scammers. (On scams and identity theft at gas pumps) it's a tale of two gas stations. All the modern stations have updated equipment. The older, independent operator may not have the resources. We will have address that in the near future."

Fried: "It’s not a priority in the department. The Consumer Protection Act has been neglected for over 20 years. The No. 1 (issue) is credit card fraud at the pump. We have to work with law enforcement and figure out who the culprits are." 

Grimsley: “There are ever-changing technologies and we have to make sure staff is trained. There is constant turnover within the department. Pay is low. We have to chip away and make that better. You have to walk in with a budget strategy. We have to make business improvements for customer service.”

McCalister: "The job oversees vehicle repair stations. I know we have great shops and great owners, but what has particularly made me suspicious are (shops) that are not trained in vehicle repairs and people are getting ripped off. We need to take a closer look at that. We have also got to protect against frauds and scams at the gas pump.”

Porter: "The department is not getting the job done. We have a lack of funds. We need to do an audit of the department."

Walker: "I would appoint a third deputy commissioner to oversee consumer services for non-profits, fraud. The 'do not call' list is not working. We have to protect the consumer."

Candidates' views

Today: Commissioner of Agriculture candidates.
Friday: 19th Congressional District Democratic candidates. 
Wednesday, Aug. 8: State representative candidates in Districts 76 and 79.

Tuesday, Aug. 7: Views from state attorney candidates.
Sunday, Aug. 5: Views of school board, Fort Myers Ward 4 candidates.

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