Florida’s New Lieutenant Governor Takes Charge
Jay Collins, Florida’s newly appointed lieutenant governor, is no stranger to being on the front lines. Before stepping into the political arena, he served as a Green Beret for the Army Special Forces, with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now, Collins finds himself engaged in a different kind of battle—this time within the political landscape of Florida. His focus? To ensure that the resources and opportunities afforded under the leadership of the state are utilized effectively. Collins, who stepped down from his role as president of Florida International University in February, was appointed by Governor DeSantis in August, succeeding Lt. Col. Janet Nunez.
“People just long for leadership that cares about them.”
Collins’ approach to leadership became evident when he recently traveled to California. His mission was to oversee the deportation of an undocumented truck driver who allegedly caused a deadly accident in Florida due to making an unsafe U-turn.
“These were three lives lost prematurely,” he said, referring to the victims. “This driver couldn’t read road signs and doesn’t speak English. What are we going to do? Do we trust Gavin Newsom to manage this? We had no faith he would handle it correctly. So why is there such a void in strong leadership?” Collins shared with Blaze News, explaining his motivations for the trip.
“Our goal is not just to hold individuals accountable but to take substantial steps to ensure that accountability is achieved,” he added.
Upon returning to Florida with suspect Haljinder Singh, Collins described the experience as “strange,” noting that Singh barely spoke, other than to express his fondness for Chick-fil-A.
Collins mentioned he wasn’t entirely surprised by the demands of the lieutenant governor role. “I believe in double-checking, maybe even triple-checking before making decisions,” he remarked. Still, he emphasized, “The question remains: how much do you want effective leadership?”
“In our conversations, people, they crave leadership that shows genuine concern for them,” Collins stated. “It was refreshing to witness that desire.”
In light of the recent tragic assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, Collins mentioned the “numerous threats” facing the country now more than ever.
“Kirk stood up for civic dialogue and discussion, fostering a curiosity for learning. To see someone embody those American ideals be taken so brutally is heartbreaking,” Collins expressed, voicing his apprehensions regarding the left’s reaction to such figures.
With limited time available for DeSantis, Collins may seize the opportunity to enter the gubernatorial race himself. If he opts to run, he’ll face competition from Rep. Byron Donald, who has already announced his candidacy and received backing from former President Donald Trump.
