Palm Beach Atlantic University’s (PBA) LeMieux Center for Public Policy hosted the second Speaker Series of the season on March 25 with Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis. Since 2012, the center has focused on providing students with the opportunity to meet and discuss domestic and global policy with influential figures. The center’s goal is to educate and encourage students to be active participants in public policy decisions.
A Focus on Policy
Before the main presentation, Gov. DeSantis attended a Q&A with students who asked for his insight into the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S.’s relationship with Israel, and the importance of having the motivation to make the right choice rather than the politically popular one.
The main discussion was held in the DeSantis Chapel before an audience of over 300 people and hosted by former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, founder of PBA’s LeMieux Center for Public Policy.
Gov. DeSantis was introduced as a Florida native who studied history and was the baseball captain at Yale University. During his second year at Harvard Law, he joined the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal. In 2013, he joined the U.S. House of Representatives, and in 2019, he became the 46th governor of Florida.
He prioritizes being approachable and accessible to Floridians by traveling frequently throughout the state. People can approach him anywhere, from gas stations to sporting events. When Sen. LeMieux asked about his travels, the governor happily shared that he has been able to promote family-owned restaurants in lesser-known parts of Florida through his video series, Diners, Drive-ins, & DeSantis.
“When I profile these places, it’s life changing for their business,” he said.
Going on about the personal connections he’s made across the state, Gov. DeSantis shared a story about an unexpected connection with his golf caddy. While playing golf, he learned his caddy was going to college in Florida, even though the caddy was from Nebraska. When Gov. DeSantis found out that the caddy’s grandparents lived there, he informed the caddy that he qualified for in-state tuition through his grandparents’ residency. Gov. DeSantis took the student’s information and arranged for him to receive “the biggest caddy tip” ever.
Balancing Financial Concerns
Sen. LeMieux steered the conversation to the Governor’s history of supporting Florida’s economy. While Gov. DeSantis has spent his time finding ways to build Floridians’ savings, he shared that he still believes there needs to be a recalibration at the federal level by Congress to balance the budget and institute term limits. He wants to find a way to alleviate the financial burden that the national debt indirectly places on Floridians through taxes.
Gov. DeSantis said he would like to find a way to exempt Florida’s homestead from property taxes. He has plans to shift property taxes away from middle-class families and onto non-homestead properties and out-of-state residences, he said, and plans to champion his proposal through the U.S. Legislature. He encouraged other Republican officials to act in their voters’ best interests.
“Of all the things these people come up to me about, this is 90% of it,” he noted, looking into the audience. “Because they understand how significant it would be for a family to actually own their home and not just be paying rent to the government.”
Restoring the State’s Natural Beauty
One of Gov. DeSantis’s biggest projects has been restoring the Everglades, Sen. LeMieux mentioned. Florida has now received a delegation from President Donald Trump’s administration to work on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, focusing on restoring the environment, providing a large water supply for the region’s needs, and enhancing protection against flooding. The project was set for completion in 2034, but it has now been moved up to 2029.
“It is right now and will be the biggest and most significant environmental restoration in the United States in the history of our country,” Gov. DeSantis said.
Looking Ahead for Florida
When asked if he plans to run for president again, Gov. DeSantis said he is more focused on his current job as governor to balance budgets, fix property taxes, and address other pressing issues than on what will be next in his political career. To him, his job is to make the choices he believes in and deliver concrete wins to the people of Florida. There is an element of uncertainty in politics, and the tides change quickly, he commented. However, at the end of his tenure as governor in 2026, what matters to him is that Florida is on the right path to being one of the most successful states in the Union.
To learn more about the LeMieux Center for Public Policy, visit here.
