Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds will join Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith on Monday for a campaign stop in Keystone Heights.
This visit is part of Donalds’ ongoing “Defending The Florida Dream” tour, which highlights his plans to make life more affordable. Previous stops have covered topics like healthcare, insurance rates, and education.
Donalds has touted law enforcement support as he runs to be Florida’s next Governor. Some 37 county sheriffs have already endorsed his campaign. Smith was among the earlier ones to announce their support.
The event will take place on Monday morning at 9 a.m. at the Keystone Heights RV Resort.
Donalds is leading in polls among Republican candidates for Governor. He currently serves in the U.S. House, having first been elected in 2020, and has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
With Donalds appearing alongside Bradford County’s top law enforcement official, the event will likely focus on public safety. Donalds has already held similar events with Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Other topics may also come up, as Smith has a history of supporting changes to Florida’s laws. He was a prominent supporter of a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana, a measure also backed by Trump.
The ballot measure did not reach the 60% needed to pass, but nearly 56% of voters supported it. A recent attempt to put it back on the ballot was unsuccessful.
Smith was first elected Bradford County Sheriff in 2008 and has worked in law enforcement since 1986. Before joining the Sheriff’s Office, he worked for the Florida Department of Corrections and the Starke Police Department, where he became Police Chief.
