POI endorses candidates in primary election
To the editor:
The Progressives of the Islands (POI) announces its endorsements for the Aug. 18 Florida primary election. The organization provides critical information on issues confronting the islands of Sanibel and Captiva and champions candidates and organizations that offer progressive solutions to these challenges.
After a thorough review of candidates’ qualifications, campaign viability and alignment with progressive values, POI is endorsing seven candidates across five contested races, ranging from the Florida U.S. Senate special election to Lee County School Board seats.
The endorsed candidates are:
– U.S. Senate, Florida (Special Election): Alexander Vindman
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman for the Democratic nomination in Florida’s U.S. Senate special election. A Purple Heart recipient and 21-year military veteran, he served as the director of European affairs for the National Security Council and holds advanced degrees from Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University. Vindman enters the primary with $6.4 million in campaign funds, positioning him as the most viable Democratic candidate in the race.
– U.S. House of Representatives, FL-19: Victor Arias
Victor Arias for Florida’s 19th Congressional District. A Cape Coral-based lawyer with more than 35 years of experience in personal injury, workers’ compensation and Social Security law, he also brings direct public-sector experience as a former staff attorney for the Lee County and St. Lucie County School Districts. His campaign focuses on economic opportunity, Everglades restoration and anti-corruption reform in Congress.
– Governor of Florida: David Jolly
David Jolly for Governor of Florida. A former U.S. representative for Florida’s 13th Congressional District (2014-17), attorney and political commentator, he is a graduate of Emory University and George Mason University Law School. Originally elected as a Republican, Jolly became an independent critic of the GOP before formally joining the Democratic Party in 2025. His campaign has raised $3,782,135, far outpacing the combined fundraising of his five Democratic opponents. He has selected former Congresswoman and former U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary Gwen Graham as his running mate for lieutenant governor.
– Chief Financial Officer: Annette Taddeo
Annette Taddeo for Florida Chief Financial Officer. A former Florida State senator (2017-22) representing Miami-Dade County and the first Latina Democrat elected to the Florida Senate, she also founded and operated LanguageSpeak, a multilingual translation and interpretation company, for more than 30 years. Her combined legislative experience and record as a small-business owner make her uniquely qualified to oversee the state’s finances and consumer protection functions.
– Commissioner of Agriculture: Donald “Don” A. Prichard
Police Capt. Donald “Don” A. Prichard for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. He has spent his career in the police force, first as a Broward County sheriff’s deputy, then in Iraq after 9/11 as a Florida National Guardsman, now with Pembroke, Florida. Prichard took lessons learned in Iraq to improve relationships between police and the communities they serve — a task he has also taken to police in Brazil, Turkey and other countries. While he has led an admirable career, he has no campaign website and few donations; his plans for agriculture commissioner are unknown.
His primary opponent, Joey Mendoza Atkins, also has no website and no campaign donations. He started as a candidate for U.S. Senate and dropped out when Alexander Vindman entered the race. His donation page and Facebook posts point to his Senate run.
– Lee County School Board, At-Large District 1: Jenn McDaigle
Jenn McDaigle for Lee County School Board District 1, representing Cape Coral, Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach. A first-time candidate with a background in youth psychology and corporate leadership at technology companies, including Instacart and Zeta Global, her candidacy is informed by her family’s firsthand experience navigating Lee County’s special education system. McDaigle’s platform calls for future-ready schools, stronger teacher retention, and expanded support for arts and hands-on learning.
– Lee County School Board, At-Large District 6: India Palencia
India Palencia for Lee County School Board District 6. A community advocate and mother of children currently enrolled in Lee County public schools, she has been an active voice on local education issues, including organizing community protests against proposed school budget cuts. Her platform prioritizes fair educator compensation, expanded student mental health resources and transparent fiscal management of the school district.
POI is making no recommendation in the three judicial races on the August ballot: Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 19, Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 27, and County Judge Group 5. In the Group 19 race, both the incumbent James Stewart and challenger Vera Bergermann are accomplished attorneys with meaningful records of public service. In the remaining two races, the candidates present no meaningful differences relevant to the goals of the POI.
Progressives of the Islands
Sanibel