These first few weeks in office have been quite the learning experience and I wanted to share some of it with you. Here's a snapshot of some of the interesting places I've been and some of the AMAZING folks I've met along the way...

First, on my way to Tallahassee the Florida National Guard show me around Camp Blanding in style!

On the way and in response to YOUR requests at Monday's virtual town hall, I made a no-notice visit inside Lowell Correctional Facility. I talked to dozens of inmates about the conditions, the COVID protocols that are costing them "rec time" outside, and the allegations of abuse from a recently released DOJ Inspector General report. We had a frank and productive conversations that was followed up a few days later with the Department of Corrections and I'm excited to continue this work in the months and years ahead.

The low point of the week was certainly the funeral and final radio call for Sgt. Brian LaVigne who died in the line of duty last week here in Brandon (it was to be his second to last shift before retiring after 30-years in service). His daughter, Erin, used to work for me at my tutoring center and it hit me, and the entire community hard. If you have the stomach for it, watch the video in the Facebook post below. The final radio call after the flyover, 21 gun salute, and bagpipes was quite the... well, there are simply no words. Watch:

We also made some good progress here at home. I reached out to every HOA and CDD in the district to inventory their needs and I'm pleased to report we got a quick turnaround on the bike lanes in Bloomingdale around Natures Way.

Additionally, we visited Volunteers of America's affordable housing units here in East Tampa for our Veterans. I'm also proud to announce that I'll be signing on to co-sponsor legislation to prevent the raiding of the Sadowski Trust Fund, heed the will of our state's voters, and protect affordable housing in our state.

I had great tours with Port Tampa Bay, CSX, and a behind the scenes look inside Tampa International and their NEW (first in the Nation) on-site COVID testing facility operated by BayCare.

Also... we got a new President!

In writing this, I literally didn't have room to mention MANY other local tours I did over the last week including at a local business on the front line of COVID sanitization, a drug rehab facility, our Clerk of Courts offices, and a budget workshop with Hillsborough County Public Schools. For that and more, follow along on Facebook!

Finally, from my family to yours (but especially to my Packers friends Jenna and Doug) GO BUCS!!!

Finally, I want to thank Amy in Valrico for being our first contributor of the 2022 re-election campaign! Amy's $10 is helping up keep fighting; if you'd like to join her and support our efforts, you can do so here.