Putnam, Maddox, Square Off in Debate for Ag Commissioner

The race for Florida Agriculture Commissioner has taken a back seat to the publicity generated in the races for governor and U.S. Senate. But the job looks after a lot more than just agriculture. The top two candidates squared off during a debate at the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club.

Congressman Adam Putnam of Bartow wants to leave Washington and go to Tallahassee. Putnam says agriculture can be one of the best sources of new jobs for Floridians. The Republican says it's not just in the growing of food, but for biomass used for renewable energy.

"The opportunities in renewable energy, the opportunities in water policy, the opportunities in feeding our world are so great," Putnam says, "and we're so blessed to live in an environment with a year-round growing season - we can meet the needs of a starving world in the winter months here in Florida - and become less dependent on other countries for our energy."

Putnam's Democratic opponent, former Tallahassee Mayor and state Democratic chair Scott Maddox, says he'd be more of a protector of state's environment as a member of the Florida Cabinet.

Maddox says what separates him from Putnam is his "green" credentials, such as his opposition to offshore oil drilling

"We also need to look at different kinds of green energy," Maddox says. "Why are we the Sunshine State and we're not the solar state? We ought to have more of a commitment to solar, to wave technology, to current technology with algae."

Putnam says food safety should be one of the primary concerns of the Agriculture Commissioner.