Charlie Crist stops in Quincy on gubernatorial campaign trail

orida governor Charlie Crist, who held office from 2007-2011, is now running as a Democrat, hoping to oust incumbent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

But first he must beat out Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and State Senator Annette Taddeo, among others, in the Democratic Primary.

“We talked a lot about the internet and making sure we get internet expansion, particularly into rural communities around Florida, around the country,” Crist said about the small-group meet and greet that was held in Gadsden County last week. “The good news is we were able to get included in the infrastructure bill that President Biden recently signed, and a lot of that was because Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina kept pushing it and pushing it.”

Crist also discussed trying to keep Florida affordable.

“Get housing prices down, get rent prices down, get insurance prices down, and light bills down, and we need to have a governor who has a heart and cares about middle class folks,” Crist added.

Gadsden County Commissioner Brenda Holt said Crist called her and asked her if they could meet and talk.

The two met in downtown Quincy on Thursday, January 27 with a small group of constituents.

Holt brought up one of her biggest concerns for the county - infrastructure.

She emphasized that the county’s infrastructure needs include better access to broadband internet, which most areas of Gadsden County lack.

Holt said that Gadsden County’s children live in regions of the county that don’t have Wi-Fi access, and those children are vulnerable to failing in school because they’re not able to access the online tools that they need.

Several local teenagers attended the small-group meeting to hear Crist’s plans for rural counties, specifically Gadsden - if he reclaims the governor seat this fall.

After the meeting, Commissioner Holt’s granddaughter Kajhirah Holt said she attended the meeting to represent the children of Gadsden County who want access to high-speed Wi-Fi and better job opportunities.

Florida Governor Candidate, and former Republican Governor, Charlie Crist smiles for a photograph with local teens, Commissioner Brenda Holt (center) and Carter-Parramore Academy Office Manager Frances Harrell (far right) during Crist’s meeting with Gadsden County locals on January 27.

Commissioner Holt’s grandson, Jayveion Holt, explained the importance of having broadband internet.

He said attending school virtually during the pandemic was hard.

“It would keep kicking me out of my classes while I was struggling to do my work,” Jayveion said.

Kaela Blevins, another teen who attended the meet and greet, said if Crist is elected, she hopes he will help bring jobs to the area.

“There are not a lot of jobs for teenagers here,” Blevins said.

While meeting with Crist, Commissioner Holt expressed the need for other types of infrastructure in the county, such as water, sewer and electricity to attract major companies that will employ locals.

“We want to develop near I-10,” Holt said. “It’s difficult to attract industrial companies without infrastructure.”

Although she is a member of Gadsden County’s Democratic Party, Holt said she didn’t just meet with Crist because he is a Democratic candidate.

“It’s not political,” Holt said. “We need help.”

The meet and greet was held just days before a new poll was released by Suffolk University showing that Crist is DeSantis’ strongest challenger.

The margin between Charlie Crist and Ron DeSantis is six points, 43 percent – 49 percent, a margin that has the potential to turn the Florida Governor’s race into a single-digit competitive election.

Erin Hill - erin@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Charlie Crist stops in Quincy on gubernatorial campaign trail

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Exploring Gadsden County: Cypress Cove Nature Park

Women in Sports – Gadsden County spotlights

Women in Sports - Gadsden County spotlights

Recommended

Shaw Quarters celebrates 114 years of tight-knit community

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