According to the Tampa Bay Times, no other Florida candidate has received this much backing from the Polk County-based grocer, which is where Putnam is also from. Last April, Publix gave $100,000 to Putnam, its largest single donation amount ever.
“As the hometown candidate, Publix has had a long-standing relationship with Commissioner Putnam,” said spokesman Brian West to the Times. “We support pro-business candidates, and believe Commissioner Putnam will make a great governor.”
As Commissioner of Agriculture, Putnam once removed failed Publix health inspections from the public website, and then changed the labeling from a failing grade to “re-inspection required,” reports the Times.
Putnam, who has backtracked on his infamous “I’m a proud NRA sellout” tagline, recently released his Florida Family First agenda, which includes things like removing pro-choice judges, bolstering schools of choice programs, and creating an “Office of Faith-based Initiatives.”
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This article appears in May 9-15, 2018.
