By Jesse Mendoza, Florida Politics
(Source: The Miami Times)
More than two dozen pastors from historically Black congregations across Florida are throwing their support behind former U.S. Rep. David Jolly’s campaign for Governor, forming a new coalition called Faith Leaders for Florida’s Future.
The group, chaired by the Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr. of Tallahassee’s Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, announced its formation Monday, calling Jolly “a fresh vision, a fresh voice, and fresh energy” in a state hungry for change.
A Democrat and former Republican, Jolly represented Pinellas County in Congress from 2014 to 2017. Since declaring his bid for Governor in June, he has centered his campaign on reducing housing and insurance costs, expanding access to health care and education, and moving Florida past years of culture war politics.
The son of a pastor, Jolly has made faith and inclusion a central theme of his campaign, but said he rejects the weaponization of religion in government.
“In a state where faith has been used to launch culture wars for the last eight years, I have no problem saying to the state that yes, as a person of faith, I understand that my personal faith stops at the steps of the statehouse,” Jolly said Wednesday. “That’s what the Constitution has ordained, and I don’t think it weakens our faith to take that constitutional approach. I think it emboldens and strengthens our faith as a faith community.”
Jolly said the endorsements reflect growing frustration among faith leaders over Florida’s affordability crisis and the divisions created by state politics. His platform includes expanding access to health care, strengthening public education, keeping vaccines available for children, supporting food security programs, and increasing services for veterans and seniors.
Although running statewide as a Democrat remains an uphill climb, Jolly said he believes voters are ready for change.
“I think the cycle is showing us that Florida’s voters are screaming for change,” Jolly said. “The voter delta between Republican and Democrat is just one metric, but we’ve seen in recent Special Elections that Democratic candidates are outperforming expectations by double digits. That’s not because Florida voters are registering as Democrats, it’s because Florida’s voters are voting for Democrats.”
He added that his campaign is taking a grassroots approach similar to Lawton Chiles’ 1970 “Walkin’ Lawton” campaign.
“We’re going to every corner of this state,” he said. “Last night was our 115th community meeting. We’re a year out in African American churches, not six weeks out. We’re building our coalition now, because we’re building a movement more than a campaign.”
Jolly said the values guiding his campaign represent a return to fundamental government principles abandoned during the culture-war climate that pervades politics today.
“Government has a responsibility to deliver quality health care, ensure access to excellence in public education, and provide basic services in our communities,” Jolly said. “Everyone should be welcome, empowered and lifted up regardless of the color of their skin, where they were born, who they love or who they worship,” he said. “Those are fundamental Democratic values, but they’re bigger than our party. Republicans and independents are voting for Democrats because they’re desperate for change, for a return to the fundamentals of who we are. That’s how we win this cycle.”
The initial Faith Leaders for Florida’s Future committee includes pastors from Tallahassee, Pensacola, Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and other cities, with plans to expand to additional denominations and faiths in the coming weeks. Members include Holmes; the Rev. Marcel Davis of Adoration Ministries for a New Beginning in Pensacola; the Rev. G. Gregg Murray of Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church in St. Petersburg; and the Rev. Patrick A. Miller of Bethlehem Bible Church in Sarasota, among others.
Holmes said Jolly’s platform aligns with key community priorities, such as expanding health care, strengthening schools, supporting food security programs for children and families, and protecting seniors.
“We live in a time when too many forces are dividing; lines are drawn, and not just maps, between hearts and minds,” Holmes said. “I believe that there is far more that unites us than divides or separates us. Our strength and hope, found in communities throughout our state, stand on a powerful truth that we are stronger together. This is why I stand here today joyfully endorsing (former) Congressman David Jolly for the next Governor of the State of Florida.”
