Statements
STATEMENTS: Commissioner Fried and Jared West on Pence’s Visit to Lakeland, Florida
One day after a report that the White House Coronavirus Task Force warned Florida is in the “orange zone” for increased COVID cases, Vice President Mike Pence is returning to Florida to host more potential super spreader rallies. Yesterday, the United States reported the largest single-day increase of new coronavirus cases, surpassing the previous record from July. In response to this visit, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Jared West, candidate for HD-41 in Polk County, released the following statements about Pence’s rally in Lakeland:
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried
“Polk County has some of the highest unemployment rates in the state, but Mike Pence probably won’t be mentioning that when he’s in town today. Florida’s economic crisis has been fueled by the Trump administration’s inability to manage the coronavirus pandemic, and Florida’s workers have paid the price. Vice President Pence, the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is once again flouting his own expert’s recommendations to host more potential super spreader rallies in Florida. Pence’s visit is only reminding voters that this administration has no interest or ability to control the pandemic. We deserve better and that’s exactly what we’re going to get if Floridians turn out to cast their ballots for Joe Biden by November 3rd.”
Jared West, candidate for Florida House District 41, Polk County
“A visit from Mike Pence to give a speech full of empty campaign promises isn’t going to mean anything to Polk County residents after the Trump-Pence administration has already proven they can’t deliver for us. Trump promised us he had the virus under control — more than 16,300 Floridians have died. Trump promised us he would come up with a ‘much better’ health care plan than the Affordable Care Act — that plan is still nonexistent. Trump promised he’d create jobs — 26,050 workers in Polk County are out of work. The only way we can end this cycle of promises made, promises broken is to vote for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Democrats all the way down the ticket. We need real solutions on health care, the coronavirus pandemic, and the unemployment crisis in Florida, and that’s exactly what we’re going to get if we make a plan, and vote.”