DeSantis challenger Nikki Fried says she does not support statewide mask mandate in Florid

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

Nikki Fried, the Florida state agriculture commissioner and one of the Democrats challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) next year, on Monday said that she does not support a statewide mask mandate as the Florida emerges as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.

In an interview on CNN’s “New Day,” Fried ruled out any state-level directive requiring Floridians to wear masks but said that the governor should empower local governments and school boards to make such decisions on their own.

“Every county needs to make their own decisions,” Fried said when asked whether she would support a statewide mask mandate. “No statewide mask mandate, but I certainly would want every school board to have the power to make the right decisions for their own communities.”

Fried, the only Democratic statewide elected official in Florida, also criticized DeSantis and the Republican-controlled state Legislature, which passed a bill earlier this year limiting local leaders’ authority to impose coronavirus-related restrictions.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/565889-desantis-challenger-nikki-fried-says-she-does-not-support-statewide-mask

[dsweet]

1. It's a fine line

The restriction against mandates are to harm urban areas. It's Kushner's plan on a state level. It's all to kill democrats. I can't think of any other reason. Giving counties the right to implement restrictions will result in reduced deaths in urban areas.

[IronLionZion]

5. That's fine

Blue cities can do the right thing and red counties can own the libs by owning themselves

[moreland01]

2. Democrats opposing mask mandates.

Hmm. I have to think this one through. Caring more about the bottom line of businesses and governments over people's health. Perhaps if Ms. Fried and Gov DeathSantis were both on the ballot I'd . . um . . .uh . . .er . . um . . . . .NEVER EVER EVER vote for a Republican as long as I live! She could be the bride of Satan and I'd still vote for a Dem over Desantis.

[brooklynite]

3. You realize that Nikki Fried is a Democrat, right?

And a Statewide elected official?

[moreland01]

7. Yup.

That's why I'm pondering how I could support a Dem who doesn't support basic public health measures like mask mandates.

But, after pondering it, I would support any Dem, even one who doesn't support masks, over any freaking republican any day of the week.

[brooklynite]

9. I think you'll find a lot of Democrats who don't support mask mandates at this point.

[Ace Rothstein]

15. Let alone in November 2022.

Unless this thing mutates to be much more deadly, don't see anywhere with a mask mandate come mid-terms.

[BradAllison]

12. Maybe she thinks she can kill DethSentence's base first. n/m

[Probatim]

16. Her job is to appeal to all voters - not just Democrats.

If she comes out of the gate and says she's all for mask mandates, she'll get roasted by the media and 45% of voters in the state will be against her.

Stating she's for local control (states rights at the local level - wink wink), she's telling the rubes it's ok to drown in your own fluids as long as they don't have to wear a mask. And it gives progressive counties (or at least those that value science over whatever), the opportunity to protect their constituents.

It's a reasonable approach.

[Initech]

6. The sad thing is, at this point, it's a losing issue.

Because some (*COUGH* Fox *COUGH*) are whining about their freedumbs. So it's causing the unruly among us to become resistant to change.

[Warpy]

8. She knows they're not going to work

State public buildings, maybe, and get out of the way of local leaders and businesses who mandate them, definitely.

That would be workable and a refreshing change from the dogmatically insane De Satan.

[Turbineguy]

10. Otherwise she has no chance

the stupid runs strong in Florida.

[bahboo]

11. gotta win the election first....

then do the good stuff...

[GulfCoast66]

13. She's correct. Don't create a mandate you can't enforce.

And in places like Liberty and Dixie counties no government official will ever enforce it.

But if Dade, Orange, Broward and other blue counties were allowed to have their own mandates a majority would support them and the government would enforce them.

[RustyWheels]

14. This !!

Exactly

[Python boot]

17. Local control

Decisions regarding Public health emergencies should be in the hands of local health directors . Nikki Fried is not against mask usage. She is against governors overriding mayors who institute mask mandates. Nikki Fried wants to take decision making away from the republican-led legislature and let decisions be made by public health professionals. Emergency response should not be politicized by authoritarian dictates.