State of the State Gallery Guests
The VanHees Family
Ashley and Brent VanHees attended the address with their son, Camden. At the age of two, Camden VanHees was bitten by a tick, triggering a traumatic brain injury caused by Lyme Encephalitis. The VanHees family met Governor DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis at Pace Brantley School, where the Governor announced his proposal to fully fund the waitlist for the Gardiner Scholarship, which the VanHees family receives. The Gardiner Scholarship has allowed the VanHees to send Camden to a school where he thrives and has shown remarkable improvement. Funding the waitlist for the Gardiner Scholarship would cover nearly 2,000 students with unique abilities.
Shareka Wright
Shareka Wright is a single mother of three currently on the waitlist for a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship. Ms. Wright, a garbage truck driver for the City of Orlando, usually works more than 60 hours a week to send two of her sons to private school after one struggled academically and the other was bullied in public school. On February 15, joined by Ms. Wright, Governor DeSantis announced his proposal of a new scholarship, the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, that would provide more options for parents with limited means and would empower them to send their child to a school of their choosing.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood
Sheriff Chitwood was elected Sheriff of Volusia County in 2016 and before that served for 10 years as the Police Chief of the Daytona Beach Police Department. It was during his time as Police Chief that Sheriff Chitwood first met Governor DeSantis, then a United States Congressman, when he traveled from Washington, D.C. to meet with over 20 law enforcement officers to hear their safety concerns facing the state and nation.
Carol and Wade Greenlee
Carol Greenlee is the daughter of Charles Greenlee, one of the men in the “Groveland Four”. She attended the address with Charles’ brother, Wade Greenlee. In January, under the direction and leadership of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Board of Executive Clemency voted to pardon the Groveland Four, including Charles Greenlee.
Todd Kelly and Amanda Shupert
Todd Kelly is the Construction Project Manager and Amanda Shupert is an Engineering Contract Support Specialist at SunTrax, a large-scale, cutting-edge facility dedicated to the research, development and testing of emerging transportation technologies in safe and controlled environments. Governor DeSantis visited SunTrax in January to announce his commitment to innovation and modern technology in infrastructure development and maintenance.
Giselle and Arturo Gomez III
Giselle Gomez attended the State of the State Address with her six-year-old son, Arturo Gomez III. Arturo is in kindergarten at Redeemer Christian Academy in Ocala and is currently on the waitlist for a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, which empowers parents with limited financial resources to send their child to a school of their choosing. On February 15, Governor DeSantis announced his proposal of a new scholarship called the Equal Opportunity Scholarship that would clear the waitlist for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and empower thousands more of Florida’s parents to make educational decisions for their children.
Kiyan and Bobby Michael
Kiyan and Bobby are Angel Parents who lost their son, Brandon Randolph Michael, in a collision that took his life. Brandon was struck by a criminal alien who was twice deported and driving without a driver’s license or registration. After a lengthy and difficult trial, the criminal alien was only sentenced to two years and ordered to pay restitution, after which he was again deported. The Governor first met the Michaels in February at an event in Brooksville where he called for increased state and federal cooperation for immigration enforcement.
Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey
After Hurricane Michael made landfall, Mayor Cathey worked hard to restore as much normalcy as possible to the city and has met with Governor DeSantis to discuss recovery and rebuilding efforts. Governor DeSantis has made Hurricane Michael recovery a top priority of his administration and has visited Mexico Beach twice since taking office, including on his first full day as Governor.
Mexico Beach City Administrator Tanya Castro
Tanya Castro was unanimously voted by the Mexico Beach City Council to become the interim city administrator in September 2018, just weeks before Hurricane Michael made landfall as a category four storm. Governor DeSantis has made hurricane recovery efforts a top priority of his administration and has visited Mexico Beach twice since taking office, including on his first official day as Governor.
Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford
Tommy Ford, who serves as Sheriff of Bay County, was an FDLE Special Agent and Chief Deputy before he was elected Sheriff in 2016. Sheriff Ford is dedicated to keeping Bay County safe and has significantly aided Hurricane Michael relief and recovery efforts.
Hunter Pollack
Hunter Pollack is the son of Andrew Pollack and brother of Meadow Pollack, who died trying to save another student during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February of 2018. Governor DeSantis got to know Hunter and his father Andrew over the last year and has partnered with them on a number of initiatives focused on improving school safety and security. They both served on Governor DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Public Safety. They recently stood with the Governor when he first called for a now approved Statewide Grand Jury on School Safety.
Dr. Rafael David Gottenger
Dr. Rafael David Gottenger is the Vice President of the Venezuelan American Medical Association (VAMA), which works to send humanitarian aid to Venezuela. The Association has organized a group of volunteer physicians to deploy to Riohacha, Colombia on a naval ship to provide medical attention to Venezuelan migrant families. Dr. Rafael David Gottenger first met the Governor in Doral during a visit alongside Vice President Mike Pence where the Governor issued an Official Proclamation recognizing Interim President Juan Guaidó as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
Jose and Adelina Amat
The Amats own Aldo Surgical Supply, a provider of home health care products and medical equipment with stores in Hialeah Gardens and Miami. Governor DeSantis visited Aldo Surgical Supply shortly after his election to highlight his support for small business.
Broward County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Bell
Deputy Sheriff Bell has been working with the Broward Sheriff’s Office since 1994. Since then Deputy Bell has chartered a Local Chapter of the International Union of Police Association. Deputy Bell also proudly served on Governor DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Public Safety.
Captain Daniel Andrews, Executive Director of Captains for Clean Water
Captain Andrews is a full-time inshore fishing guide, born and raised in Southwest Florida and has devoted his life to protecting Florida’s Everglades and estuaries. Governor DeSantis joined Captain Andrews and others on his second day in office to announce an executive order aimed at restoring and protecting Florida’s Everglades and water resources. The executive order outlines a path for Florida to invest more than $2.5 billion to improve Florida’s water quality, quantity and supply over the next four years. This investment will be $1 billion more than has been spent on Florida’s water resources over the previous four years.
Dr. Michael Crosby, President and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory
As President and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory, Dr. Crosby leads a team of world-class marine scientists committed to the belief that conservation and ocean sustainability begins with research and education. Dr. Crosby introduced Governor DeSantis on his second day in office when the Governor signed an executive order aimed at restoring and protecting Florida’s Everglades and water resources at Mote Marine Laboratory. The executive order outlines a path for Florida to invest more than $2.5 billion to improve Florida’s water quality, quantity and supply over the next four years. This investment will be $1 billion more than has been spent on Florida’s water resources over the previous four years.
Major John Haynes
Major John Haynes is a retired United States Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Major Haynes was also a Silver Star recipient, which is the United States Armed Forces’ third-highest decoration for valor in combat. In 2013, Major Haynes was also inducted into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame, which recognizes and honors those military veterans who have made a significant contribution to the state of Florida through civic, business, public service or other pursuits. He also received the Governor’s Medal of Merit for 72 years of service to his country and to his fellow veterans.
Bryce Thornton
Bryce Thornton served in the United States Army during World War II. He was stationed with the 104th Infantry unit during two and a half years of the most intense fighting of World War II. During his service, Thornton and his unit liberated the German concentration camp Mittelbau-Dora, near Nordhausen. Governor DeSantis has made it a top priority to make Florida the most veteran friendly state in the nation.
Rabbi Schneur Oirechman
Rabbi Oirechman came to the United States in 1991 and later established a Chabad Lubavitch center in Tallahassee in 2000 with his wife Chana. Since then, they have opened three more chapters throughout North Florida in Panama City, Destin and Pensacola. Schneur and Chana first met Governor DeSantis at his inauguration during a meeting with other Chabad Rabbis from North and Central Florida. Through a number of actions and statements, Governor DeSantis has made it clear that Florida stands strongly in support of Israel.
The Holt Family
Donna and Michael Holt attended the State of the State address with five of their seven children. One of their children, Levi, who has down syndrome, is currently being homeschooled by Donna and is on the waitlist for a Gardiner Scholarship. The Holt family met Governor DeSantis at the Florida State Fair, just days after the Governor announced his proposal to fully fund the waitlist for the Gardiner Scholarship. This funding will help families like the Holts receive the resources they need to implement an educational plan tailored to their child’s needs.
Kris and Wendy Hager
Kris and Wendy are a gold star family. Kris lost his son, Joshua R. Hager, in February of 2007 while Josh was serving in Iraq as a U.S. Army Ranger. Kris met Governor DeSantis in 2015 when he and Wendy interviewed him for their radio show “5 Minutes at a Time with Kris & Wendy”. Kris served as Veterans Coalition Coordinator for the Governor’s campaign and shares Governor DeSantis’ goal to make Florida the most veteran friendly state in the nation.
Vickie Lee Lyon
Vickie Lyon is an Angel Mother who lost her daughter, Dennielle Nikole “Nikki” Schermock, when she was tragically killed by a criminal alien who was driving drunk on the wrong side of the road. With Dennielle were her two children, Brieanna and Brandon, who both miraculously survived the collision. While the criminal alien was recovering from the crash, he broke out of the hospital with the assistance of his family and remains a fugitive to this day. Governor DeSantis first met Vickie at an event in Brooksville where he called for increased state and federal cooperation for immigration enforcement. Brandon will join his grandmother at the State of the State Address.
Glenn Wester III
Glenn Wester III is a student at Tampa Bay Technical High School who met Governor DeSantis in January when the Governor announced an executive order on workforce development. Glenn is enrolled in the welding program at Tampa Bay Tech and at 16 has already received a job offer as a welder. Additionally, Glenn takes advanced placement courses. His story impressed Governor DeSantis and reinforced his commitment to expand technical education in Florida. With the executive order, the Governor has charted a course for Florida to become number one in the nation in workforce education by 2030.
Amy Hyers
Amy Hyers is an English teacher at Armwood High School who has received the Best and Brightest Teachers program bonus five years in a row. Governor DeSantis visited Armwood High School in February to announce his proposal to reform the program to allow more teachers to be eligible. This proposal includes more than $422 million for bonuses to effective teachers and principals throughout Florida.