Mayor meets with candidate for Ag Commissioner

While on a bus tour through the Florida Panhandle this past Thursday, August 5, Scott Maddox, Democratic nominee for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services stopped in historic Apalachicola for a meet and greet at the Gibson Inn.

Earlier in the day, Maddox along with his family and campaign manager took a boat excursion up the Apalachicola River with members of the Riverkeeper. Afterwards the candidate and his sons experienced the hard work of tonguing oysters from Apalachicola Bay.

Mayor Van Johnson caught up with Maddox at the meet and greet where the two talked about the plight of the local seafood industry, and discussed the role of the Commissioner of Agriculture as it relates to farming the sea.

The Agriculture post is one of four Cabinet posts, and Maddox promised that if elected he would be a strong advocate for Florida farmers, consumers, and for those who make their living working the waters of the state.

Maddox’s served as the first elected mayor of the City of Tallahassee, followed by a term as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party and a run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006. On July 9, 2009, he announced that he would run for the Democratic nomination for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The primary function of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of food and other consumer products through inspection and testing programs, and to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices and to assist Florida's farmers and agricultural industries with the production and promotion of agricultural products.

Maddox who is unopposed as the Democratic nominee will face off in the November general election against tea party candidate Ira Chester, Republican Party candidate and former U.S. Congressman Adam Putman and Thad Hamilton who is not affiliated with any party.