Ending more than a year’s speculation, Democratic state Rep. Katie Edwards of Plantation said this week she would not run for Commissioner of Agriculture next year.
Edwards appeared to be positioning for a statewide run when Commissioner Adam Putnam left office next year because of term limits. Instead, she will run for a fourth term in the Florida House and continue to pursue legislation like ending sales tax on menstrual products.
Her embrace of agriculture has deep roots which gave Democrats hopes the party could field a winning Cabinet candidate for the first time in more than a decade. Despite representing one of the most urban counties in Florida, Edwards’ resume is stocked with solid agriculture credentials.
Before winning office in 2012, Edwards was executive director of the Miami Dade Farm Bureau.
She is currently the top Democratic on the House Agriculture and Property Rights Subcommittee. As a lawyer, she represents ranchers, farmers and nurseries. On her office wall are awards from all parts of the sprawling Florida Ag Industry.
