JJ Grow has that legislator look

Ask me anything about JJ Grow’s politics. Anything at all.

I have the same answer: No clue.

We spent a recent Cattle Dog chat going over numerous topics, but his views on the state budget were not among them.

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If you know JJ you know him pretty well. If you’re unfamiliar with him, stick around this summer and learn.

JJ is a Republican in the race for House District 23 to follow Rep. Ralph Massullo, whose term-limited eight years are up.

At the moment he’s in the Republican primary with our old friend Tod Cloud, who ran for the same spot two years ago and finished second to Massullo in a three-candidate race.

Waiting after the primary is Democrat Judith Vowels. 

JJ’s trek to the ballot started two years ago when Massullo had planned to leave the House for a Senate run. JJ announced for the House seat, along with Rebecca Bays, Cloud, and another candidate or two.

Well, we all know what happened there. Gov. Ron DeSantis threw water on everyone’s plans by backing Blaise Ingoglia for Senate, which pushed Massullo back to another House run, which pushed both Grow and Bays off the ballot. Bays ended up with a successful County Commission run in 2022 and Grow returns for the 2024 ballot.

Grow has never served a day in elected office, but he has that lawmaker look about him. People are attracted to JJ. He’s a smart, successful businessman.

He raises incumbent-type money as well. Combined with the ‘22 campaign, JJ has $136,358 in contributions, plus he loaned the campaign $100,000. That’s compared to Cloud’s $8,820 in contributions, plus a $3,000 loan.

JJ’s friends include Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who is hosting Grow's campaign kickoff fundraiser Thursday night for Grow at M&B Dairy in Lecanto. (Check Grow's website for details.)

I first met JJ in 2018 when he and his wife, Jennifer, built a hunting bunkhouse for wounded military veterans near Holder. The Grows are generous providers in the community particularly in the areas of agriculture, outdoors, and hunting/fishing.

During our Cattle Dog chat, JJ impressed me with his humility and eagerness to learn.

I suggested he get a better understanding of the relationship between county and state governments, so he knows, as a legislator, how his decisions affect the folks back home. He made a point of telling me last week he’s had discussions with County Administrator Steve Howard to do just that.

Like I said, I haven’t a clue about JJ’s politics. He’s shown his heart for Citrus County, and that counts plenty.

— I found somewhat humorous this week the angst from county commissioners that Sheriff Mike Prendergast did not see fit to attend a budget workshop on Monday.

There was some question as to what was so important that the sheriff couldn’t sit with fellow policy-makers to help figure things out. The Chronicle story states Prendergast said had a “prior out-of-state commitment.”

Of course, we all want to know what that commitment was. So, I asked.

I requested on Monday the sheriff’s calendar for this week. His Monday schedule makes no mention of any out-of-state travel. Here’s what it says:

• 8:30 to 1:30: En route to Tallahassee. (Five hours? He must take the back roads.)
• 1:30 to 3 p.m.: Attend Florida Sheriff’s Association Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.
• 3 to 4 p.m.: En route to another Tallahassee location.
• 4 to 5 p.m.: Attend building dedication of the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund. (That musta been a hootenanny.) 
• 5 to 6 p.m.: Private appointment.

(There was an “FYI” on his calendar for the county budget meeting. In case anyone wanted to attend, I guess. Just wondering…the sheriff has a conflict, OK, but NO ONE from the agency could make the budget meeting? Did Prendergast load up his entire executive staff for the Tallahassee trip? No wonder it took five hours.)

He clearly attended the memorial ceremony, as the sheriff’s Facebook page shows him in photos and video at that location.

By the way, Tuesday’s calendar included the FSA Commanders Academy "ethics presentation" in Tallahassee. Can’t tell from the calendar if Prendergast attended the ethics presentation or gave one. Sheriff’s Col. Elena Vitt is a 2023 graduate of the Commanders Academy.

And his Wednesday calendar is loaded with private appointments sandwiched around three radio interviews.

Look. I’m just having some fun, OK? Next week I’ll let you look at my calendar.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends.

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