Audubon’s Draper to run for state agriculture commissioner
by Michael C. Bender | May 28th, 2009
Eric Draper, first from left, said today he’ll run for state agriculture commissioner.
Eric Draper, lobbyist and policy director for Audubon of Florida , said he will file papers today to run for Florida agriculture commissioner.
“I’ve spent most of my life working to keep our water clean and the state green and to me this is a continuation of that effort,” said Draper, a third generation Floridian.
Other Democrats in the race include former state Rep. Rick Minton Jr. of Fort Pierce and former Suwannee County Commissioner Randy Hatch. Republicans running include U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow and state Sen. Carey Baker of Eustis.
Draper has been with Audubon since 1995. Before that, he was the staff director for the House Majority Office under Democratic Speaker Peter Wallace and Majority Leader Jim Davis. Draper also worked for The Nature Conservancy.
Draper said he would base his campaign on a platform that the agriculture commissioner, one of three members of the Florida Cabinet, should be the state’s “top environmental steward.”
“We’re facing new challenges and we need new leadership to face those challenges,” Draper said. “What the public will get with my candidacy is someone who is looking to keep Florida in agriculture and will make sure water and wildlife and coastal resources are protected, too.”
Tags: Adam Putman, agriculture commissioner race, Carey Baker, Eric Draper, Randy Hatch, Rick Minton
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May 28th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
The Democrats are bringing Change to Florida in 2010. They are developing a VERY interesting slate of statewide candiates.
June 8th, 2009 at 11:36 am
[...] addition to the AG race, Democrats also have no clear frontrunner in the race for agriculture commissioner, which right now includes three Democrats. Meanwhile, Florida Republicans are expecting contested [...]
June 10th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Eric will make a great Agriculture Commissioner. I first met him about 5 years ago and he is by far the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes to not only environmental issues but agriculture issues. Furthermore, Eric is an environmental advocate who seeks to find common ground with the business community when he can. He is pragmatic. smart, fair, and a very hard worker: all qualities needed in the next Agriculture Commissioner.