Dem Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services candidate Nikki Fried

With the November 6 general election now less than a week away, we continue WGCU’s series of interviews with the Republican and Democratic nominees for public office in Florida in a conversation with Democrat Nicole “Nikki” Fried, who is vying to become the state’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Fried is an attorney and life-long Floridian who previously headed the Felony Division of the Alachua County Public Defender’s Office.  In the private sector, she also worked on behalf of Florida homeowners facing foreclosure during the housing crisis a decade ago.  In more recent years, Fried has been working as a lobbyist on behalf of the medical marijuana industry in Florida.  Fried’s campaign marks her first attempt at holding public office and she’s the first woman from either major party to receive a nomination for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services position.  In this interview, Fried talks about her background and qualifications and the priorities in her campaign platform including: addressing water quality and harmful algal blooms, helping the state’s beleaguered citrus industry, implementation of Florida’s medical marijuana industry, developing a hemp industry in the state, regulation of firearms and cracking down on fraudsters that prey on vulnerable residents.  Fried faces Republican Matt Caldwell in next week’s election.  You can hear our conversation with him here.