Between the filing appearances of GOP gubernatorial candidates Rick Scott and Bill McCollum at the Division of Elections on Thursday, former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox filed his paperwork to run for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services -- and announced he was being backed by one of his chief rivals for the Democratic nomination.
Accompanying Maddox was former Suwannee County Commissioner Randy Hatch, who had been running for the nomination for the Democratic nomination for more than a year
Hatch announced that he was pulling out of the race and backing Maddox against Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam. Hatch said that he and Maddox both opposed offshore drilling, unlike Putnam.
Hatch said he has no regrets about leaving the race. At some point, you have to look at whats best for the people, he said, adding that he did not want to see a divided Democratic primary that would only help Putnams chances. The issue of offshore drilling is too important.
If Adam Putnam and the Republican leadership had its way, wed have offshore drilling here in Florida, said Maddox. That is the No. 1 issue in this campaign.
Hatch had harsh words for the Republican candidate.
I look at Adam Putnam as the most evil candidate in the race, said Hatch, who claimed the Republican candidate was too aligned with special interests, including the oil companies.
Im proud to endorse Scott Maddox and his campaign, said Hatch. He has not sold his soul to the devil.
Hatch, a long time advocate for Floridas farmers and the author of the Florida Right to Farm Act, waged a spirited campaign for the nomination but, as he said on Thursday, he was not able to compete with Putnam and Maddox in terms of fundraising. Hatch had logged over 1,800 miles during his Florida @ 20 MPH tour, driving his tractor across the state from Pensacola to the Keys.
Maddox is now facing a clearer path to the Democratic nomination with Hatch out of the race and Thad Hamilton, who serves on the Broward Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, jumping over to run as an independent. Former Rep. Rick Minton, who represented residents of Fort Pierce for eight years in the Legislature, is now the only Democrat still in the race against Maddox.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859
