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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis selected a distinguished state lawmaker and amputee fight veteran dubbed the “Chuck Norris of Florida Politics” on Tuesday to be his second in command in Tallahassee.
The selection of state Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, makes the DeSantis-Collins staff the one all-veteran govt state management pair within the nation.
DeSantis praised Collins’ bravery in battle, the place he earned the Bronze Star and Purple Coronary heart as a Inexperienced Beret in the course of the Warfare on Terror whereas additionally being deployed to South America – whereas Collins mentioned DeSantis does not converse sufficient about his personal Navy service.
The governor was a decide advocate common (JAG) officer for the U.S. Navy and a rules-of-engagement authorized advisor to Seal Group One throughout President George W. Bush’s Iraq “surge.”
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Jay Collins, left, and Ron DeSantis (Getty)
Collins misplaced a leg in Afghanistan – or, as he said Tuesday, “I didn’t lose a leg; I do know the place it’s” – and in addition helped command Florida’s evacuation of Jewish People from Israel after the Gazan terror assault on Oct. 7, 2023.
DeSantis mentioned Tuesday that whereas he commanded the operation from Tallahassee, it was Collins who selected to go to Israel and Jordan himself to assist the U.S. residents again to the protection of Tampa Bay.
“As our state senator from Tampa, he is been a person of motion,” DeSantis mentioned of Collins.
“He has delivered conservative wins and I feel has been probably the most productive senators we now have had in fashionable Florida historical past and on all the large points. He not solely was an ally of mine, he was standing up for you.”
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Along with his volunteerism in Israel, when hurricanes struck the decrease Gulf Coast, Collins was on the bottom feeding individuals and serving to displaced residents by way of his charity, DeSantis mentioned.
“Sen. Jay Collins is the Chuck Norris of Florida politics. And I’m proud to announce right this moment that I’m appointing him to be the following lieutenant governor of the ‘Free State of Florida.'”
“I actually wish to thank the governor and the primary woman for his or her belief and their religion in myself and our household,” Collins mentioned after taking the dais.
“I didn t develop up with privilege or wealth. I used to be adopted. Raised on my grandparents. I watched my father cross away earlier than I used to be actually a person. And later selected to serve our nation to struggle for a nation that afforded me each alternative to climb out of these circumstances and rose as much as be one thing new, one thing dynamic, one thing distinctive to my household,” mentioned Collins, who was born in a tiny Montana group close to the Saskatchewan border.
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Actor Chuck Norris arrives at Lionsgate Movies’ “The Expendables 2” premiere on Aug. 15, 2012, in Hollywood, California. (Getty)
“You see, I grew up in a trailer, however in our nation, you are not outlined by that. There are alternatives forward of everyone,” he mentioned.
Former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez departed Tallahassee earlier this yr to take the job of president of Florida Worldwide College – simply south of President Donald Trump’s Doral resort.
