We are endorsing Byron Donalds for Governor of Florida.
I don’t make endorsements because somebody sends us a campaign press release, shakes my hand at an event or gives a good speech. After more than 60 years of my family publishing community newspapers in Miami-Dade, I’ve learned that you have to watch people. You have to listen to them. You have to ask questions. Most importantly, you have to see how they handle themselves when the cameras are gone. My family has built this business in the communities we cover. We are a locally owned, second-generation family business with 11 newspapers and about 35 shows a week. We host candidates, business owners, community leaders and residents because we believe people should be able to sit across the table from the people asking for their vote.
Over the past year, I’ve attended about 10 Byron Donalds events in Miami-Dade. We also hosted him three times ourselves — one breakfast and two lunches — and the rooms were full every time. But a full room doesn’t make an endorsement. What matters is what happens when people start asking questions. I watched Donalds with business owners, community leaders and residents. I watched how he answered questions he didn’t choose. I watched whether he listened and whether he gave people real answers. After seeing him again and again, I believe he earned our endorsement…