Adam Putnam

Below is a press release sent out from Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture campaign.  Looks like Adam is getting the support of local farmers and ranchers even though he was responsible for imposing more regulation on them with his support of HR 2749 which will impose serious regulation & fees on Farmers and Ranchers. ——

BARTOW – Fifteen of Florida’s county Farm Bureaus have offered their official endorsement of Congressman Adam Putnam for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture in 2010. Dade, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hillsborough, Jackson, Madison, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk and Western Palm Beach Counties all joined together in supporting the candidate they believe will best represent Florida agriculture, Congressman Adam Putnam.

“Adam Putnam is the clear choice for Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture,” said Dale McClellan, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau President. “His experience and dedication to the farmers, ranchers and consumers of this state are unmatched.”

“Palm Beach County Farm Bureau, the state’s largest agricultural county, is proud to endorse Congressman Putnam, a true agriculturalist, for Commissioner of Agriculture,” said Cary Braswell, Palm Beach County Farm Bureau President. “He understands the need for quality agriculture production, the importance of ensuring food safety, private property rights and stewardship of the land.”

Adam has previously received endorsements from the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association, Southeast Milk Producers, Indian River Citrus League and Florida Citrus Mutual.

“While I know that Florida Farm Bureau does not endorse candidates, the early support of these county Farm Bureau organizations mean a great deal to me and my campaign. I look forward to earning the support of other counties, as well,” said Congressman Putnam. “Our campaign is continuing to gain momentum and with the agriculture community by my side we will continue to run a new kind of campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. I am committed to bringing new energy and modernization to this department and renewed emphasis on transparency and ethics.”

As the state’s largest agriculture organization, Florida Farm Bureau represents more than 138,000 members, farms and ranches. For more than 68 years, Farm Bureau has been a leading voice in promoting the food, fiber and natural resources of Florida, which contributes more than $7.8 billion to our state economy. The Florida Farm Bureau organization has a policy that it does not endorse candidates; however, many of its county organizations are willing to do so.

Adam Putnam is a Polk County citrus grower and cattleman who has represented the Twelfth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives since January 2001. He also served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Adam resides in his hometown of Bartow with his wife Melissa and their four children.

Legisation introduced by U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, designed to make it easier for schools to teach children how to protect themselves from the potential dangers on the Internet passed 416-0 in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The Internet Safety Act now heads for the Senate.

“We teach our kids to look both ways before crossing the street,” Putnam said in a news release. “We should also make sure they know the safety rules before they get on the ‘Information Superhighway.’ “

Putnam’s measure would allow schools that receive federal funding from two programs to promote technology and school safety to be able to use those funds for Internet safety educational programs. Those programs would include educating students about social networking, protecting them from online predators and cyber-bullies and ways to involve parents in the use of the Internet by their children.

“The digital world is a remarkable resource for our young people, but it can also open the door to dangers,” said Putnam. He noted a 2007 study by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which has endorsed his measure.

WebWiseKids has been pushing for the legislation for a number of years.  WebWiseKids sent out a press release applauding the passage.

County commissioners voted 4-1 todayto commit $1 million to help build a visitor center at Florida Southern College for its collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings.

The funding will still depend, however, on developing an agreement between Polk County and the private Lakeland college to ensure the money is spent for a public purpose.

State Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, told commissioners he supports the project, whose plans have been circulated in recent months for support, and he pledged to get marketing money from state tourism funds.

Commission Chairman Sam Johnson, who had to step down from the chair to second the motion, said he had struggled with the request before realizing the historic significance of the Wright buildings and their potential to attract more tourism.

Commissioner Bob English, who moved to approve the money, said the complex will make Polk County more attractive culturally to the faculty that is expected to move to Lakeland in connection with the planned development of the USF Polytechnic campus east of town.

Commissioner Ed Smith, who said he was uncomfortable committing $1 million in tax money when it was still unclear how commissioners are going to deal with the expected $49 million deficit in next year’s county budget, though he says he thinks the visitor center is a worthwhile project.

County Manager Michael Herr has asked county employees to take pay cuts, furloughs and other cost saving measures.  However it seems the county still has money to spend even though they are facing a budget shortfall. If they keep spending like this we are going to have problems similar to California.

County Commissioners just gave the approval on May 20th to buy 200 acres of land to create an Off Road park.  Even though a private off road park was just opened in Lake Wales SEE LINK

Seems as if the county just likes spending tax payers money needlessly.  It is yet another example of ever expanding government.

Portions of this article came from The Ledger

It has started again, as it does every few weeks. The questions: “What’s Randy going to run for?” “Hey, do you know what Randy is going to run for?”

Paula Dockery could be a contender for Governors mansion.  Already the Draft Campaign site (http://www.dockery2010.com) has received more traffic in one week than most sites in Central Florida see in a month.  This has to say something for the Senator.

People are hungry for a real change.  It seems they voted for change last November but we haven’t really seen any yet.  Senator Dockery seems to be a zephyr in a stale world.  If the GOP was smart they would make her the poster child of the NEW REPUBLICAN PARTY.

Paula is not only Smart and Beautiful, she is a fighter.  She single handily fought of a HUGE corporation and was outnumbered by lobbyist about 4-1 in Tallahassee.  However she still came out victorious.  This is a modern day David and Goliath story.

Paula’s record of service in the House and Senate speak for themselves.  She has always put citizens first and we need to make sure that we elect Representatives that embody that.  To often it seems special interest control our elected officials.

For this reason alone.  I can say I see why the new popular phrase is “I’m a Paula-Tician”