Ron DeSantis blasts Florida sugar industry that's indirectly funding his campaign
Ron DeSantis, Republican candidate for Florida governor, calls sugar price supports "corporate welfare" and says the industry has too much influence.
Ron DeSantis blasts Florida sugar industry that's indirectly funding his campaign Ron DeSantis, Republican candidate for Florida governor, calls sugar price supports "corporate welfare" and says the industry has too much influence. Check out this story on pnj.com: https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/14/ron-desantis-blasts-sugar-but-now-theyre-indirectly-funding-him/1304918002/
Ali Schmitz, Treasure Coast Newspapers Published 1:54 p.m. CT Sept. 14, 2018
Gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis speaks during a debate Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, in Jacksonville.(Photo: John Raoux/Associated Press)
On the campaign trail, Ron DeSantis has railed against Florida's sugar industry, blasting its two largest corporations for having too much influence in Tallahassee and D.C.
Even before running for Florida governor, the former congressman — who resigned this week to focus on his campaign — opposed U.S. sugar policy in the Farm Bill.
As business interests continue to support DeSantis, it's likely the industry will continue to indirectly fund the Republican who's used sugar as a punching bag throughout his campaign.
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Jobs for Florida, a PAC affiliated with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, gave DeSantis' PAC $100,000 at the end of last month. U.S. Sugar Corp. of Clewiston and Florida Crystals of West Palm Beach have contributed more than $280,000 to Jobs for Florida since 2013.
Neither company has reported any political contributions since the Aug. 28 GOP primary, but each has donated to both Republicans and Democrats running for office within the past two years.
U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals did not respond to TCPalm's questions for this story.
Sugar stopped direct donations
The relationship between DeSantis and the sugar industry wasn't always volatile.
DeSantis received at least $4,500 in direct contributions from the sugar industry when he first ran for Congress in 2012, and thousands more within his first year in office.
Such contributions stopped after 2014, when he voted to eliminate sugar price supports and foreign import tariffs, calling them and a $300 million U.S. Department of Agriculture bailout "corporate welfare." He voted for similar reforms in May.
More:DeSantis blasts Putnam for Big Sugar ties
During the GOP primary, the sugar industry backed his opponent, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. The same goes for the state's largest business and industry groups, whose PACs are partially funded by sugar industry money.
U.S. Reps. Ron DeSantis and Brian Mast tour St. Lucie River and talk algae
U.S. Reps. Ron DeSantis (left) and Brian Mast (center) speak with environmental advocate Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, during a boat tour to see and discuss the algae crisis in the St. Lucie River. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis (center) speaks to news media gathered on the Riverwalk Stage in downtown Stuart on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, after a boat ride with fellow Rep. Brian Mast (right) Florida Sen. Joe Negron (left), and other stakeholders, on the St. Lucie River. DeSantis is facing Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam — and others — in the Republican primary. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
Alex Gillen (right of center), of Stuart, with Bullsugar.org, talks about algal blooms on the St. Lucie River with U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis (far right) during a boat ride out of downtown Stuart on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, on the St. Lucie River. DeSantis is campaigning for the Republican nomination for governor. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
Algae floats on the surface of the St. Lucie River on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, along the riverwalk in downtown Stuart. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
U.S. Reps. Ron DeSantis (left of center) and Brian Mast (right) pass under the Roosevelt Bridge during a boat ride out of downtown Stuart — accompanied by Florida Sen. Joe Negron, environmental advocate Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and other stakeholders — on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, to see and discuss the algae crisis in the St. Lucie River. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
U.S. Reps. Ron DeSantis and Brian Mast take a boat ride out of Stuart, accompanied by Florida Sen. Joe Negron and other stakeholders, on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, to see and discuss the algae crisis in the St. Lucie River. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis (right) talks with Chris Hope, who owns Outboards Only along with business partner Phil Norman, both of Stuart, about algal blooms while in the marina the business uses during a boat tour on the St. Lucie River on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, out of downtown Stuart. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
U.S. Reps. Ron DeSantis and Brian Mast (right) look out over the waters of the St. Lucie River during a boat ride out of Stuart on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, to see and discuss the algae crisis. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM
DeSantis wouldn't reject sugar money
DeSantis accused the sugar industry of funding "dark money" attack ads against him in the primary and called Putnam "U.S. Sugar's errand boy" during a debate.
DeSantis' campaign, however, never has said he would shun sugar contributions.
More:Dark money funds attack ads against Putnam
A spokesman did not respond when TCPalm asked if DeSantis would accept them.
"It's not that Ron is against their issues," campaign manager Brad Herold told TCPalm in May. "It's that they know they can't control him."
DeSantis' Democratic opponent in the Nov. 6 election, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, has not accepted any money from the sugar industry, but has been less critical of Florida's largest sugar companies.
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