The permanent campaign

There was only one elected Floridian who officially plunged into a statewide campaign last week: Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican who said she will run for agriculture commissioner in 2018.

A hospital administrator and registered nurse, Grimsley said in a campaign announcement that she is a fifth-generation Floridian who has long been involved in the citrus and ranching industries.

“We will continue to fight for a smart statewide water policy, we will protect our environment and blessed Florida resources, and we will pursue expansion of the over 2 million jobs Florida agriculture provides our state,” Grimsley said. “I offer my broad life experience and an optimistic vision to achieve so much for our state.”

Putnam, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election, is rumored to be angling for Scott’s job, which also will open up because of the state’s twoterms rule. But both Putnam and Scott, who’s expected to run against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., stayed away from too much overtly political discussion this week.

“We’ve got a lot to do and there will be plenty of time to focus on ’18 after the session,” Putnam said Tuesday.

Trial attorney John Morgan suggested he won’t make a decision on whether to run for governor until next year.

No term limits would be needed to pry Morgan out of office, he said during a visit to Tallahassee’s Capital Tiger Bay Club, part of a “talking tour” that the attorney is undertaking to gauge his potential support.

“Why do we need two terms of governors? Isn’t one term enough of these guys?” Morgan said.

Morgan suggested he would push to increase the minimum wage, after he waged a successful fight to broadly legalize medical marijuana through a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016.

Morgan would join a Democratic primary that could also be shaped by the decision of former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, the daughter of former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham. The younger Graham is also considering a bid.

The GOP also got another potential candidate for governor: Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater.

“I’ve been involved in Florida government and politics for a long time. I think I understand it as well or better than anybody else who’s been interested in becoming a candidate,” said Latvala, a political veteran considered by many as one of the state’s savviest tacticians.