Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to make a “major” announcement in The Villages on Monday – a community he clearly holds in high regard.
For the third time in nine months, the governor is scheduled to be in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown, this time at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25 at the Fenney Recreation Center to make an announcement that’s remained hush-hush for the past several days.
DeSantis, who was endorsed by President Trump in last year’s election, recently proposed a $91.4 billion state budget for the coming year and it stands to reason that his visit to the mega-retirement community probably will have something positive to do with seniors.
DeSantis has enjoyed immense support from many area residents, including members of Villagers for Trump, a grassroots organization that boasts more than 2,000 members and clearly has become the choice of area Republicans looking to get involved in local politics. The group endorsed his gubernatorial campaign and many of its members are expected to attend the announcement.
Villagers for Trump emerged as early supporters of DeSantis in 2018 when many high-level leaders in the Republican Party – including The Villages Developer – were supporting his GOP rival, Adam Putnam. But the former congressman and Naval officer made multiple appearances in the community and quickly found support among area voters – to the point that in the August primary election he carried every Villages precinct.
Visits to the community by the governor and/or his wife, Casey, in the past four years have included:
- Last month, DeSantis and the first lady of Florida were onstage with Trump when he spoke at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center.
- In June, DeSantis was at the Eisenhower Recreation Center to sign a Trump-supported prescription drug bill that eventually could allow Floridians to save money by purchasing those drugs from Canada.
- In February, the governor was at the Savannah Center in front of a packed-house crowd to announce his plan to pursue the prescription drug bill.
- In December 2018, DeSantis came to La Hacienda Recreation Center as part of his “thank you” tour after he defeated Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in November’s General Election.
- In October 2018, DeSantis campaigned at La Hacienda Recreation Center and told the audience that the main difference between him and Gillum was that he stood for free enterprise versus socialism. Earlier that same month, actress Megan Boone – granddaughter of the late Gary Morse and daughter of Villages Vice President of Sales Jennifer Parr – had broken rank with her largely conservative family and tweeted her support for Gillum.
- In September 2018, Casey DeSantis joined then-Attorney General hopeful Ashley Moody to speak to the Republican Federated Women of The Villages.
- In July 2018, DeSantis received huge support at a Villagers for Trump rally at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center. That visit came on the eve of a rally in Tampa with President Trump that many saw as a huge turning point in the Sunshine State’s gubernatorial race.
- In September 2016 when Trump was running for president, DeSantis was onstage at the Savannah Center with then-vice-presidential hopeful Mike Pence.
- In November 2015, DeSantis shared the stage at the Savannah Center with Congressman Trey Gowdy, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on Benghazi. At the time, DeSantis was a candidate for U.S. Senate but he gave up that bid when U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio opted to seek a second term.
