DeSantis faces the true test of any Florida governor

Yes, Ron DeSantis is in the crosshairs. Again.

Christina Pushaw, the governor’s energetic spokeswoman, responded as you’d expect, tweeting about Florida’s world-class emergency management personnel, touting the readiness of her boss and his team, and taking a shot at “liberal media activists … constantly cheering for the destruction of Florida.”

A few hours later, everyone seemed to be getting all knotted up over President Biden’s failure to ring up the governor even as he was having phone opportunities with assorted Tampa Bay area mayors (including at least one known Republican, Clearwater’s Frank Hibbard).

Well before that perceived snub became public fodder, DeSantis praised the Biden White House for declaring a state of emergency for Florida on Saturday, when Ian was still aspiring to achieve tropical organization. Said DeSantis, “We appreciate that quick action.”

DeSantis’ grace note notwithstanding, all this Cat 5 howling from rival camps — seriously, Rachel Vindman? — cannot disguise the truth tucked within Dixon’s post: With just six weeks remaining before Florida counts ballots (and less than a month before early voters begin weighing in), Floridians’ minds will be fresh with their state’s response to Ian’s wrath — and DeSantis will personify that response.

Dixon also is correct that savvy hurricane responses were the making of DeSantis predecessors Jeb Bush and Rick Scott. As I type here Tuesday afternoon on the north side of Tampa, watching a gentle southerly breeze rustle the last blossoms of the summer’s crape myrtle season — the literal calm before the expected storm — I have every confidence that the man will meet his moment.

My last job before I became a semi-retired freelance writer (in support of my golf addiction) was as the communications officer for the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller. When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, one of my assignments became monitoring the live streams for each of the governor’s media conferences, roundtable discussions, and other public appearances, then reporting the highlights to the agency’s administration.

Full disclosure: I had not been a DeSantis supporter during the 2018 GOP primary. I knew, liked, and respected his rival, then-agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam (codename: Opie). And even though DeSantis got my vote in the general election, I remained skeptical of his governing skills as Florida, and the nation, faced a generational crisis.

The governor I observed over those early weeks and months completely eliminated my doubts. Ron DeSantis didn’t simply take command, he ruled the facts and the details, understood the science (despite what you may have read/heard), and fully grasped the consequences of each action he took.

We needn’t rehash the details here. I note only that he was sure-footed, well-briefed, and confident of his decisions. DeSantis got the state mobilized early on, ordering a breathtaking response that involved the national guard, visiting medical professionals, and the establishment of temporary overflow hospitals.

Just as important, DeSantis also recognized when to wind down (which sometimes made for amusingly weird political theater).

So, yes, obviously, how Florida weathers Hurricane Ian will land squarely in Ron DeSantis’ lap. As it should.

This time next week, I fully expect we will be mourning the loss of some who failed to heed warnings or took unnecessary chances or simply were at the wrong place at the wrong time. And there are sure to be pockets where the lights still aren’t back on.

But, if at that point we’re pointing fingers at Ron DeSantis, it’s entirely likely going to be accompanied by the phrase, “That guy’s  got my vote.”