Speaking with Chuck Nadd, Candidate for Florida Agriculture Commissioner

U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Florida Agriculture Commissioner is a powerful position. The Commissioner oversees Florida’s concealed carry permits. Gov. Ron DeSantis vows to get Constitutional Carry to pass, but Republicans are reluctant to vote on it in the Florida Legislature.

Senate President Wilton Simpson has prevented the Constitutional Carry bill from coming up for a vote, even though he claims to support the measure. Simpson is also running for Agriculture Commissioner as a Republican. The NRA has endorsed Simpson, but that doesn’t mean he is pro-gun. The Florida Republican was the author of the anti-gun “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.” The bill banned all “enhanced” triggers and introduced a red flag law in the Sunshine state.

Chuck Nadd wants to rain on Simpson’s parade. Nadd is a son of an immigrant who escaped the crushing control of socialism. He attended West Point and flew Blackhawks during his two combat tours in Afghanistan. Nadd is also running for Agriculture Commissioner as a Republican.

Nadd used his GI bill to attend Harvard Business School, where he graduated with distinction. After getting his degree, he returned to Florida to open a small business. Nadd’s life is the American Dream. From a son of an immigrant fleeing an oppressive government to an Ivy League graduate, Nadd’s story is inspirational.

I had a chance to talk to Mr. Nadd about his service, his life, and why he wants to replace Nikki Fried as Agriculture Commissioner.

John Crump: I always start with the same question. Why are you running for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Service?

Chuck Nadd: I am running to preserve Florida’s freedoms. We need a true conservative, a veteran, and an outsider to stand beside Governor DeSantis on the Florida Cabinet and to defend our Constitutional rights.

John Crump: You are the son of immigrants that escape socialism. How did that shape your worldview?

Chuck Nadd: My parents raised me to never take anything we have for granted here in the United States. This is why I went to West Point and joined the US Army, it is why I volunteered to go to Afghanistan twice, and it is why I am standing up for Floridians’ freedoms in this race.

John Crump: Why did you decide to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point?

Chuck Nadd: I chose to attend West Point both because my parents raised me to love our country and because of September 11, 2001. Coming home from school that day, I could have told you that I would be joining the military. West Point was an incredible way to both get a college education and launch my military career.

John Crump: How was it flying Black Hawk helicopters and Guardrail spy planes?

Chuck Nadd: There is nothing quite like the vibration of a combat helicopter’s rotors or the hum of a plane’s engines. Becoming a pilot was a dream come true. Being able to fly both Black Hawks and Guardrail spy planes, particularly during my two tours to Afghanistan, was an honor. Serving as a pilot in combat was an incredibly powerful way to serve the country that had given my family so much opportunity.

John Crump: Why did you decide to attend Harvard Business School after your time in the service?

Chuck Nadd: I’m actually still serving in the US Army Reserve, but I decided to transition from active duty because my wife Shannon and I had two children. My goal in attending Harvard Business School on the GI Bill is to build and grow businesses that serve Americans without the leftward tilt we see from too many large corporations today.

John Crump: What makes you want to run against Wilton Simpson?

Chuck Nadd: Wilton Simpson does not have Floridians’ best interests at heart. He has consistently blocked constitutional carry, he was an author of the MSD Bill that brought red flag laws to Florida and raised the age of gun ownership to 21, and he has voted in favor of driver’s licenses and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. He is not a Conservative.

John Crump: Does Florida have an issue with anti-gun Republicans?

Chuck Nadd: Yes, I have been a Floridian my entire life, and promises have consistently been made by politicians that have not come true. We need representatives in government that understand that our Constitutional rights are not up for negotiation.

John Crump: Do you carry a gun?

Chuck Nadd: Yes, and I have since 2011 or 2012 after I moved from West Point to Alabama for US Army flight school.

John Crump: Do you believe in Constitutional Carry?

Chuck Nadd: Yes, full stop.

John Crump: Give us your best pitch as to why residents of Florida should vote for you.

Chuck Nadd: Florida Conservatives want someone who will defend their rights and who will stand up to the corrupt Tallahassee establishment. Ronald Reagan reminded us that “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” My opponent does not believe in our values and has shown time and time again that he will roadblock our priorities, particularly Constitutional Carry. We need a true Conservative, an Outsider, and a Veteran to serve as our next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

To find out more about Chuck Nadd’s campaign, visit https://naddforflorida.com/.

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About John Crump

John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.