Sunday Afternoon Campaign Warm Up for Congressmen Chip Roy and Matt Gaetz

Congressman Chip Roy (R) TX joined Congressman Matt Gaetz (R) FL yesterday afternoon in downtown Pensacola for an early voting kickoff event/campaign rally.

Well attended, the event featured multiple speakers warming-up for the two Congressmen--including State Representative Michelle Salzman, Former Senate President Don Gaetz, and myself.

It was truly a fun, energy infused opportunity to tackle some fairly red-meat national Republican Issues--which I keep up on ----  so I was very pleased I got the invite to launch on some of the national stuff.

The congressmen both implored the audience to get out and vote early--they also challenged the audience to keep a close watch on some of the moves in other parts of the country to allow for illegal aliens to vote in our elections. They both also talked about their efforts to re-work the military to be lethal, survivable, capable, less-woke, and used sparingly--as they also warned about the "swampy" lobbyists and others that are driving military spending that isn't necessarily aligned with what is best for our military--or for our country.  All of these are real concerns, and these gentlemen drove the point home with emphasis--- much to the delight of the crowd!

You can see the warm ups and the comments from the Congressmen here.

Great, Energetic, and Positive Prayer Vigil Monday Evening at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church

Our Country would have been thrown into massive chaos if President Trump had not simply turned his head, at precisely the right time, Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania.

All weekend after the attempted assasination of Former President Trump--I kept thinking this.  I was so thankful he was not killed.  It could have very well happened....had he not simply turned his head right before the shot was fired at him.  How fortunate was that head turn?  Folks will look at that video and the pictures from here on out and always wonder--how was it he turned at just the exact moment he needed to in order to save his own life?  How?

It was borderline miraculous.  

It could have been a different story had this assasain's bullet hit it's intended target.

I believe it was Divine intervention.  

And a lot of other folks believe that as well.

Because love Trump or Hate him-------nobody deserved what he has been reciving.  NOBODY.  They tried to imprison him, they have prosecuted him, they are trying to bankrupt him, and now with the TOXIC rhetoric oozing out of certain media and certain special interests---they have tried to kill him.

So Saturday, Sunday, and Monday many of us were angry, upset, and then, eventually,  thankful.  I prayed to God and thanked him for sparing the former President.  I also prayed for the victims that were killed and seriously injured.  It was a horrible day in American History.  And many were processing what had happened and many turned to prayer.

And that is precisely what Congressman Gaetz facilitated Monday evening at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola, as about 600 citizens joined he and Pastor Gordon Godfrey for a prayer rally for President Trump and our Nation.

It was moving, it was energetic, and it was positive.

I was thankful to be there and hear from the Pastor and to pray together with my fellow citizens.  Thank GOD we live in a free country where we can do this.  Thank GOD.

And thank you to the folks at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church for facilitating this vigil.

A HUGE Endorsement of the Jeff Bergosh Campaign Just Came In.....Matt Gaetz Endorses BERGOSH!

I've known Congressman Matt Gaetz for over ten years.  When he was in the Florida legislature, I worked with he and his father, Don Gaetz, on some significant legislation related to public education.  In 2007 I went to Tallahassee to support the Teacher Merit Award Plan--signature legislation from then Senator Don Gaetz who was at that time serving his first term in the legislature.

In 2018 I called Rep. Gaetz to ask his opinion on opening a "back door" out of the burgeoning NFCU campus onto a federal roadway rest stop--to ease traffic congestion in Beulah.  He looked into the matter and was happy to assist.  Unfortunately--what we tried to do could not be accomplished.

In 2020--as COVID 19 was ravaging the nation, I spoke with now Congressman Gaetz on the implications on local governments of the shut downs, beach closures, etc.  

In 2021, Congressman Gaetz came onto my Coffee with the Commissioner program on Facebook and we talked about a lot of important issues.

And recently--the chairmen of the boards of all four panhandle counties worked with Congressman Matt Gaetz on supporting the increasing of the amount of housing allowances for our military men and women in the panhandle, and nationwide.

I've had Rep. Gaetz's phone number for years--but I've rarely called him.  But he has always been receptive when I have reached out.  

And he has been incredibly helpful many times.

So when I spoke with him recently about my campaign for re-election to the county commission and potentially earning his support and endorsement--he was receptive--which was humbling.

After all--he is one of the most influential Republican figures in the United States of America.  Period.

I'm pleased to announce that as of this evening, Matt Gaetz has now officially endorsed me in the August 20th Republican primary election for Escambia County Commissioner, District 1.  

He has also made a generous contribution to my campaign account.

Thank you very much Matt for the gracious words and support----keep up the great work in DC!

3 Important Area Visits over the Last Week

 We've had several high profile visits from important groups and individuals over the last week.

Mr. Ryan Newman--the General Counsel to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis--is introduced to the Federalist Society of the Emerald Coast on Friday, June 24th in Pensacola at the Artel Gallery

First off, we had the General Counsel to the Governor of Florida, Ryan Newman, at the Federalist Society of the Emerald Coast Meeting on Friday.  More than 80 attendees--including dozens of current and former Judges from the 4-county area, locally elected officials, state representatives, judicial candidates, former Mayor Ashton Hayward, State Attorney Ginger Madden, and many others--had an informative question and answer session with this important and powerful attorney.  After introductory remarks, where Mr. Newman discussed how he went from the U.S. Army as a Tank Platoon Commander, to Law School at the University of Texas, to interning for then Solicitor General of Texas Ted Cruz, to private practice, then back to work for now Senator Cruz, to working as Ron DeSantis' lawyer.  An interesting tidbit that elicited some chuckles from the crowd was when Newman recounted being offered the job by DeSantis with the caveat that before he come down he just needed to go ahead and take and pass the Florida Bar  😀.....The discussion was heavy on legal theory, the importance of textualists and originalists on the bench, the chevron deference issue, and how Newman came to the position of being DeSantis' attorney.  He went in depth on the important work he does in assisting in the process of appointing judges statewide.  It was a very compelling conversation that folks in the audience genuinely enjoyed. (Interesting that very few questions came from the audience about the Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court which had been handed down earlier that day.)

Mr. Ryan Newman--the General Counsel to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis--speaks to the Federalist Society of the Emerald Coast on Friday, June 24th in Pensacola at the Artel Gallery

Mr. Ryan Newman--the General Counsel to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis--speaks with Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh and to the Federalist Society of the Emerald Coast members on Friday, June 24th in Pensacola at the Artel Gallery

On Tuesday the 28th-- the Triumph Gulf Coast Board of directors held their regular meeting here in Pensacola at the Pensacola International Airport.  It was a rather short meeting--with two Bay County projects discussed as well as one $1.5 Million Dollar project for Escambia County that was pitched to the board by Florida West Executive Director Scott Luth.  Two members who will be rolling off the board, former Senate President Don Gaetz and Mr. Matt Terry-an appointee of the Senate President Wilton Simpson--were given warm send-offs by the board, staff, and members of the audience.  Notably, Pensacola member David Bear will be taking over the chairmanship of this important board that is overseeing the disbursement of $1.5 Billion in Oil Spill penalty funds earmarked by the Florida Legislature for the 8 westernmost Florida counties that received the most profound impacts from the BP oil spill of 2010.  So we will likely see more of these important meetings here in Pensacola--rather than Okaloosa, Walton, or other counties further to our East.

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors met Tuesday in Pensacola at the Pensacola International Airport.

Florida West CEO Scott Luth describes Project Arbor to the Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors--who met Tuesday in Pensacola at the Pensacola International Airport.

And then on Wednesday Congressman Matt Gaetz came to town and joined Senator Doug Broxson, NAS Pensacola CO Terrance Shashaty, former NAS Pensacola Skipper Tim Kinsella, and a room full of dignitaries, elected officials, business owners, and others to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with attempting to once again permit base access to civilians at NAS Pensacola--chiefly to allow for visitors to the museum.  It was a very informative meeting with lots of ideas presented and some good information disseminated about the current ways in which civilians can access the base to play golf and also the process by which folks with relatives buried at Barrancas National Cemetery can access gain access to the base to visit the graves of their loved ones.  Additionally, CAPT Shashaty gave the group updates on his efforts to get two different waivers approved by higher Navy command--one which would allow for the vetting of museum visitors off base, with subsequent transportation to the museum via buses.  This idea appears to have broad support and a high likelihood of approval.  The other waiver in the works would once again allow for civilians to drive their privately-owned vehicles (POV's) on the base--much like the way things were before the terrorist attack and COVID.  On that particular waiver--no definitive timeline for approval was given nor was there any assurance from anyone that it would be approved.  So the takeaway from the meeting was that there are lots of folks interested in getting the base opened up again---but there are numerous challenges as well.  More to come on this topic I am sure.

County Responds to Congressional Inquiry about The Escambia County Jail

 About a week ago or so, Congressman Matt Gaetz sent a letter to Interim Administrator Wes Moreno regarding some significant concerns he was hearing about the conditions within our jail.

This comes on the heels of several media outlets picking up the stories coming out of the jail.

This morning, Interim Administrator Moreno sent the below response to the Congressman.

Regional Leadership Panel Discussion With Congressman Gaetz Happens Today at 1:00PM

Today beginning at 1:00 PM Congressman Matt Gaetz will convene a Western Hemisphere field hearing at the National Museum of Naval Aviation.  The Board of County Commissioners Chairmen from each of the Panhandle Counties are all invited to participate, as are several law enforcement and legal professionals from the region and also from around the nation.  From Congressman Gaetz's office:

"The purpose of this event is to engage in meaningful discussion relating to drug trafficking and terrorism in the Western Hemisphere. Congressman Gaetz would like to specifically examine some of the following topics during the panel discussions:

• Effective implementation of policy and proper allocation of resources to support drug interdiction efforts and combat terrorism in the Western Hemisphere
• Collaboration of Venezuelan officials with Hezbollah and Venezuela’s support of terrorism
• Hezbollah integration with criminal networks in South America
• Hezbollah fundraising in the South American region
• The role and resources of Northwest Florida and capabilities to support
• Operations in the Gulf of Mexico related to transnational organized crime
• Identifying and targeting major trafficking organizations and corridors for illicit drug exports to the United States

Congressman Gaetz’s goals are to identify main threats, receive recommendations to target those threats, and to develop and execute a plan on how Congress can assist in combating and eliminating those threats."