Both candidates come from farming families, but neither is actually a farmer.

Both candidates are native Floridians.

Both candidates entered politics early: Adam Putnam was elected to the Florida legislature at 22, Scott Maddox was elected to the Tallahassee city commission at 24.

Adam Putnam, as should surprise no one [the football stadium is named for his grandfather], graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in food and resource economics.

Scott Maddox graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration and then a law degree.

Here are the links to Wikipedia, a Lakeland Ledger profile, and the campaign site for Scott Maddox.

FYI: Adam Putnam was part of the House Republican leadership, but his committee assignment was not Agriculture. Believe or not he is on the Committee on Financial Services and the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, the House watchdogs who didn’t bark before the economy collapsed. Oh, yes, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are “Government Sponsored Enterprises”.

I wouldn’t take farming advice from either one, but Scott Maddox is overwhelmingly better on the environment and consumer issues. Florida’s number one asset is its environment. If we mess it up, the BP oil spill showed us what will happen.

Position: 17.0N 91.0W [10 PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [285°] near 14 mph [22 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [ 70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1001 mb ↓.

Currently inland about 125 miles [200 km] South-Southeast of Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.

It is not expected to survive the passage across the Yucatan to reach the Bay of Campeche.

All Warnings and Watches have been canceled but the heavy rains will cause flooding.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]