Rep. Caldwell shores up GOP base for bid to become FL ag commissioner

Alexandra Glorioso
Naples

After campaigning in small cities across Florida, Southwest Florida state Rep. Matt Caldwell is returning home to shore up his Republican base in his bid for agricultural commissioner.

Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres, on Naples Daily NewsMakers (May 6, 2012).

And it’s not a bad base to have. While Southwest Florida makes up slightly less than 10 percent of the state’s population, it contributed 14.5 percent of the vote in the last Republican Senate primary and 14.1 percent in the last presidential primary, according to Florida's Division of Elections data.

Caldwell plans to announce Thursday his unanimous support from the region’s House Republicans, including Collier County’s Byron Donalds and Bob Rommel, both from Naples, as well as Lee County’s Dane Eagle of Cape Coral, Heather Fitzenhagen of Fort Myers, and Ray Rodrigues of Estero.

“I am proud to have unanimous support from House members in Southwest Florida, a tight-knit and dynamic group who share conservative principles and have been effective in shaping policy and ensuring prosperity for the Sunshine State,” Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, said.

More:Troutman launches bid for agriculture commissioner

Caldwell has traveled 12,232 miles since May 1 for what he is referring to as a #2LaneTravels Work Day Tour, focusing on the industries he would oversee as the commissioner of agriculture.

“Our next commissioner of agriculture has the opportunity to get their boots dirty and highlight the diverse and complex challenges that Florida’s businesses and families face day in and day out,” Caldwell said.

The agriculture commissioner is one of four statewide posts, along with the governor, chief financial officer and attorney general. By statute, the commissioner can make recommendations to the governor and advocate for positions as a statewide officer.

The office oversees 18 departments that touch most aspects of farming, such as protecting crops from pesticides, regulating best practices and deciding which foods end up in stores and schools. It’s also the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints.

The Department of Agriculture also oversees the issuance of concealed-weapons permits in Florida, which has the most in the country: 1.3 million. During his tenure, Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam lowered fees for the permits, allowed them to be renewed online and pushed a bill that made them available at county tax collectors' offices.

Putnam is the frontrunner for the 2018 GOP gubernatorial primary.

Caldwell faces GOP opponents Sen. Denise Grimsley of Sebring, Paul Paulson of Orlando and Baxter Griffin Troutman of Winter Haven in the 2018 primary.