About a year ago a cattle rancher in Central Florida informed me that Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, intended to run for governor in the next cycle. I have also heard people say the same thing in Tallahassee. In the 1970s, I made an effort to get a bill passed directing the state to complete the Florida Trail. Very powerful lobbyists representing the citrus commission and the cattlemen’s association took me out in minutes at the first public hearing on the bill. I thought it would be prudent to try and see Putnam before he made any announcement.
After a protracted effort I finally got an appointment. Paul Pritchard, Dave Bewley, Fred Mulholland and I met with Commissioner Putnam for a full hour. He was attentive and asked lots of good questions, and I am tempted to say he was cautiously positive.