Latest news with #JoeGruters
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Blaise Ingoglia takes office as state CFO, but Trump-fueled fight looms
The latest appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis, state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, was sworn into office amid questions about his prospects of winning next year's election because his selection was opposed by President Trump. Ingoglia, an ally of DeSantis, dismissed the idea that he would prove short-term in the $140,000-a-year Florida Cabinet post. The former state senator said he was confident that Republican primary voters would choose him next year over Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who Trump has endorsed for CFO. 'There's going to be plenty of time to campaign,' Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican, said after taking the oath of office July 21 in a ceremony in the Capitol's Cabinet meeting room. 'I know two things in politics: The voters will not reward you unless you do a good job, and the second thing is, usually, like 99% of the time, in the Republican primary, the more conservative candidate wins,' he added. Although Gruters is hardly a moderate, he did, like Trump, support the recreational marijuana measure on last year's ballot, which failed to win the backing of at least 60% of voters. DeSantis and Ingoglia were opposed and the governor spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money against it. GOP battle brewing for CFO Gruters has been a longtime Trump ally and campaign leader in Florida and recently brought on the president's co-campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, and Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, for his CFO campaign. LaCivita labeled Ingoglia a 'never Trumper.' Gruters and Ingoglia are both former Florida Republican Party chairs. But while Gruters was deeply in the Trump camp, Ingoglia backed DeSantis in his failed 2024 presidential bid, setting the stage for a divisive GOP primary next year. But for now, Ingoglia said he is setting his sights on filling the CFO post, vacated since the April election to Congress of Panama City's Jimmy Patronis, who had served since 2017. Ingoglia said that among his first tasks would be to get rolling audits of local governments, which were approved by the GOP-dominated Legislature in a state-level version of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He said it was important to 'make sure we're spending responsibly at the local level.' Ingoglia, who critics once dismissed as a 'lackey' of the insurance industry, pledged he would 'make sure that we're holding insurance companies accountable.' He said rate increases have been more modest lately in Florida but that when it comes to paying claims, 'if they're slow-rolling stuff, we're going to have conversations with them.' Ingoglia's critics don't expect a watchdog House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa doubts that Ingoglia will be much of a watchdog as CFO, a job that oversees the state's finances and regulates the insurance industry. 'Ron DeSantis is appointing a Tallahassee politician more loyal to him than to the people,' Driskell said. 'I believe Blaise Ingoglia will talk tough but continue the tradition of giving the insurance companies everything they ask for.' Ingoglia, 54, owns homebuilding company Hartland Homes, and lists his net worth at $28.3 million on his most recent financial disclosure. Ingoglia, a New York native, had been in the Legislature since 2014 and is a ranked poker player with more than $400,000 in winnings. Serving in both the House and Senate, he's been a DeSantis loyalist. How to get ahead in Florida government? Be a DeSantis loyalist Ingoglia sided with the governor on immigration and redistricting, breaking ranks with legislative Republican leadership. Ingoglia also spearheaded legislation that made it more difficult for public sector unions to operate and guided the governor's election law changes, imposing tighter restrictions on ballot drop boxes and absentee voting. 'He's been a fighter, every time there's been a fight he's run towards the fire and he's done what he told the voters he'd do,' DeSantis said of Ingoglia at the swearing-in. Is bond back? Once rivals, Trump and DeSantis deepen bond with shared targeting of undocumented migrants Trump-DeSantis' long strange trip DeSantis-Trump relationship? It's complicated DeSantis has now appointed two of the state's three Cabinet officers. Attorney General James Uthmeier, who had been the governor's chief of staff and presidential campaign manager, was picked to succeed fellow Republican Ashley Moody, who DeSantis named to the U.S. Senate. She replaced Marco Rubio, now Trump's secretary of state and national security adviser. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is the only member of the elected Florida Cabinet who was actually put there by voters. Another vacancy at the top of state government, the post of lieutenant governor, also played into the Ingoglia ceremony. Former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who DeSantis named president of Florida International University, was in attendance. And working the crowd of well-wishers and lobbyists for the insurance and banking industry at the event was Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, widely expected to soon be named lieutenant governor by DeSantis. Collins could be positioned as a DeSantis-backed candidate for governor next year – possibly setting up another GOP primary fight with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, who Trump has endorsed as Florida's next governor. 'Let's not put the cart before the horse,' Collins said when asked if he'd run for governor. 'There's a lot of things that have to happen, none of those I have a say in right now.' John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Network's Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@ or on X at @JKennedyReport. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Blaise Ingoglia sworn-in as CFO, with Trump-fueled fight looming
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gruters CFO campaign bolstered by Trump advisors as DeSantis boosts his preferred choice
Even the race to see who will run Florida's lesser known Department of Financial Services isn't immune to wider political battles. Joe Gruters, the state senator from Sarasota, has been running to be Florida's Chief Financial Officer for over a year, riding high with an endorsement from President Donald Trump, a reward for years of loyalty to the president. Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his own reward for loyalty on July 16, announcing that he would appoint State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, to fill the vacant CFO job, at a press conference in Tampa, outside Ingoglia's district. But shortly before that announcement, Gruters' campaign sent a news release saying that top Trump political advisors Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio were joining his campaign. LaCivita is a former Marine who was awarded a Purple Heart in the the Gulf War. He's a long veteran of Republican political campaigns and is credited as one of the framers of the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" campaign against John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election, a series of brutal and deceptive advertisements attacking the then-senator's record as a Vietnam War veteran. 'The choice between a MAGA first patriot and a Never-Trumper is never really a choice,' La Civita said in a statement on Wednesday. "I've worked with Joe Gruters for years and can say that few have done more in Florida to advance the America First agenda. I fully support President Trump's endorsed candidate for CFO and will work to defeat any posers that stand in our way.' Fabrizio has also been in Republican politics for decades; he was a strategist for Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign against Bill Clinton. Gruters, a long-time Sarasota County GOP chairman, has been Sarasota County's state senator since 2018 and a state representative before that. After filing last year to run for Florida CFO he has raised over $348,000, according to the Florida Division of Elections. A certified public accountant, the state senator runs a local firm called Robinson, Gruters, & Roberts, which serves many of the establishment Republican political campaigns in Sarasota County. He was also the chairman of the Florida Republican Party from 2019 to 2023. Ingoglia not only supported DeSantis' failed 2024 presidential campaign, he was the fist Florida legislator to endorse the governor. DeSantis' challenge to Trump opened a wide rift between between the two, after Trump's backing boosted DeSantis' 2018 gubernatorial primary over then-Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Gruters has also been endorsed by Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, who left his CFO seat to campaign for Congress, creating the vacancy DeSantis is filling with Ingoglia's appointment. The race is something backstage version the the often open political conflict between Trump and DeSantis in Florida. The governor tried to take advantage of the president's briefly damaged status after the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 insurrection, but was ultimately shut down in 2024, when he earned just 1.6% of the popular vote from Republican primary voters. The two played nice publicly last week when they came together over a common cause: detaining immigrants. During a tour of Alligator Alcatraz, the president told DeSantis "You'll always be my friend." Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@ or christiancasale@ This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Trump, DeSantis political conflict flares in Florida CFO race
CBS News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Florida State Sen. Gruters discusses building and opening of Alligator Alcatraz
CBS News Miami's Jim DeFede talks to State Sen. Joe Gruters about the building and opening of Alligator Alcatraz. Gruters was among the Florida contingent who toured the facility with President Donald Trump earlier this week. Guest: State Sen. Joe Gruters/R-Sarasota
Arabian Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Florida Legislature Shelves Bitcoin Investment Proposals Amid Mounting Concerns
Florida's legislative session concluded on May 2 without advancing two significant cryptocurrency investment bills, HB 487 and SB 550, effectively halting the state's consideration of allocating public funds into Bitcoin. Both measures were indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from further deliberation, marking a notable pause in Florida's exploration of digital asset integration into state financial strategies. The proposed legislation aimed to authorize the state's Chief Financial Officer to invest up to 10% of select public funds, including the General Revenue Fund and the Florida Retirement System, into Bitcoin and other digital assets. Proponents, such as Senator Joe Gruters and Representative Webster Barnaby, argued that such investments could serve as a hedge against inflation and diversify the state's portfolio. They cited the growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin by firms like BlackRock and Fidelity as indicative of its potential stability and value. However, the bills faced substantial opposition from financial experts and lawmakers concerned about the volatility and regulatory uncertainties surrounding cryptocurrencies. Critics highlighted the risks of exposing public funds to an asset class known for significant price fluctuations and potential security vulnerabilities. They emphasized the responsibility of safeguarding taxpayer money through more traditional and proven investment avenues. The failure of HB 487 and SB 550 reflects a broader hesitancy among U.S. states to embrace cryptocurrency investments for public funds. While some states have explored similar proposals, many have encountered resistance due to the inherent risks and lack of comprehensive regulatory frameworks governing digital assets. Florida's decision underscores the challenges policymakers face in balancing innovation with fiscal responsibility. See also Mastercard Advances Stablecoin Payments with New Global System Arabian Post – Crypto News Network
CBS News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Florida Senate to take up bill that prevents development of golf courses, pickleball courts in state parks
A proposal designed to prevent golf courses, pickleball courts and luxury resorts in state parks is ready to go to the full Senate. The Senate Fiscal Policy on Tuesday backed the bill (SB 80) after rejecting a proposed change by Republican Chairman Sen. Joe Gruters that some parks supporters and lawmakers said would have kept the door open for sports facilities. Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell filed the bill after a controversy last year about the state Department of Environmental Protection's "Great Outdoors Initiative," a plan that called for adding golf courses, resort-style lodges and pickleball courts at state parks. Original plan pulled back after a public outcry. "This last summer was really a lesson in civics. It says the public does have a voice that counts," Harrell said. "The overwhelming rejection of the attempt to do what was being done was across the state of Florida." A focus of last year's plan was adding golf courses in the 11,500-acre Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County. It also included building lodges with up to 350 rooms at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County. Pickleball courts and disc golf were outlined for other parks. Proposal to create loophole shut down Under the bill, construction in parks could not harm natural resources, native habitats or historical sites. Gruters' proposed change might have allowed facilities such as golf courses, tennis courts, ball fields and pickleball courts if they were found not to cause "substantial harm" to natural resources or native habitats. Gruters said the proposed change would have required public hearings, and his goal was to provide more recreational activities for people who can't afford theme parks. "The question is, do we trust ourselves, do we?" Gruters asked. "Do we trust the state government to make the right decisions?" he continued, which drew immediate responses of "no" from several lawmakers. Travis Moore, a lobbyist for Friends of the Everglades, said the Gruters proposal addressed lodging issues, but the "substantial harm" provision remained subject to interpretation. "I don't think the public this (past) summer was interested in setting a high hurdle, I think they were interested, as it came to golf courses, slamming the door," Moore said. Beth Alvi, Audubon Florida's senior director of policy, said Harrel's bill would draw a clear line between allowed and prohibited uses of state parks. "The (Gruters) amendment, however, makes it muddy, leaving an ambiguous standard for what's allowed and of course creates loopholes for bad ideas to be exploited," Alvi said. Republican Sen. Don Gaetz encouraged Gruters to recraft the proposed change to allow "soft" maintenance needs at state parks, but to eliminate any "commercialization." After the amendment was rejected, Republican Sen. Keith Truenow said more work is needed on the parks issue. "I think there are some lands that we own today that probably shouldn't be state parks, they don't lend a real point to the mission," Truenow said. "And there's lands out in the state of Florida that need to be in the state parks." The House unanimously supported its version of the bill (HB 209) last Wednesday. The House and Senate would have to work out any differences before the scheduled May 2 end of the legislative session.
