Kat Cammack amasses huge team of first responders in newly released coalition

The hometown heroes who protect us are putting their trust in Kat Cammack for Congress

Gainesville, FL - Kat Cammack, the Constitutional conservative candidate for Congress in Florida's Third Congressional District, is announcing her First Responders Coalition, backed by an incredibly strong list of community leaders. The coalition is made up of hometown heroes who fight each and everyday for the safety of our North Central Florida communities and our families.

Cammack's First Responders Coalition is the fifth coalition that she has announced in recent weeks, the first four being her America First Coalition, Young Americans for Kat Coalition, Second Amendment Coalition, and Faith and Pro-life Coalition.

Kat Cammack made the following statement in response to releasing her First Responders Coalition:

“I am honored to have this coalition of first responders standing behind my campaign. They put the lives of the communities they serve before their own every day, and they have my deepest respect for the work they do. As the wife of a fire fighter, through my time as Congressman Ted Yoho's deputy chief of staff, and as the co-founder and President of the GRIT Foundation, I have long been a staunch supporter of the first responder community. However, I can assure you that my work fighting on their behalf has only just begun.

"Now more than ever, first responders need an advocate on Capitol Hill. We cannot and will not let these hard working conservative hometown heroes go unheard. I thank them for their council and look forward to listening to them on the best ways our leaders can support their efforts to save lives.”

First Responder Coalition members gave the following statements:

Nick Gonzalez - Vice President, Gainesville Professional Firefighters, Gainesville, FL: “It is my pleasure to serve on Kat Cammack's First Responders Coalition and support her campaign in Florida’s 3rd Congressional District. She has shown through her work with previous and current legislators to exemplify qualities that are needed as a decision-maker for our state and country. She has also shown her support to our firefighters and their causes. I am proud to give her my support and look forward to her election."

Sheriff Bobby McCallum - Levy County Sheriff, Levy County, FL: "I am honored to serve on Kat Cammack's First Responders Coalition. Over my many years of working with Kat, I have come to know her as a strong conservative and a loyal public servant of the Third Congressional District. Her experience with the first responder community has distinguished her as the candidate with the most knowledge and passion regarding the issues pertaining to our families on the front lines. I am proud to support Kat Cammack as she will be an avid defender of the Constitution and faithfully advocate for our community in Washington D.C."

Robert Sullivan - President, Fire Rescue Professionals of Alachua County IAFF Local 3852, Alachua County, FL:

“As a proud first responder serving Alachua County, I know the passion and care Kat Cammack has for fire rescue professionals across North Central Florida. I am excited to be able to serve in this coalition among a collection of dedicated public servants who strive to put others safety and well-being above their own. I know that Kat Cammack is the right person to represent us in Congress and this coalition will provide input and a voice that is sorely needed. Kat’s willingness to listen has garnered her support from first responders across this district and her knowledge and person care for first responders sets her apart from the rest.”

Brian Keith - Deputy Sheriff, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County:

“I retired from the Palatka Police Department with 21 years, I'm a board member of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, and I am on the District Board of Trustees for St. Johns River State College. I work as a Bailiff for the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, and I have been very impressed with Kat Cammack and watched firsthand how much she and Congressman Yoho helped Putnam County. I see the individual attention she takes in each and every community in the district. Kat is a strong conservative, a true patriot, and a defender of the Constitution. She is a staunch supporter of first responders, and I very much appreciate that. I am honored to serve on her First Responder Coalition and I look forward to her representation on Capitol Hill.”

Donnie Jackson - Assistant Warden (Ret.), Florida State Prison, Starke, FL:

“I am proud to announce my support for Kat Cammack in her campaign for Congress in Florida’s third congressional district. I have worked with Kat in the past and she has proven herself as a loyal advocate for first responders in Washington D.C. Kat will be an unwavering advocate for our Department of Corrections officers and their families. She is a true patriot, a loyal conservative, and I can’t wait to see the work she does on behalf of the first responder community.”

• Donna Jackson - Wife of Corrections Officer, Union County, FL

• Greg Graham - Ocala Police Chief, Marion County, FL

• Derek Asdot - Police Chief, Green Cove Springs Police Department, Green Cove Springs, FL

• Sheriff Bobby Schultz - Gilchrist County Sheriff, Gilchrist County, FL

• Chris Sims - Sergeant, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office , Alachua County, FL

• Kevin Mobley - Fire Chief, Melrose Fire Department, Melrose, FL

• Cody Loomis - Lieutenant Paramedic, Alachua County Fire Rescue, Alachua County, FL

• Matt Harrison - Operator / SWAT Medic - Gainesville Fire Rescue, Alachua County, FL

• Fred Melaragno - Corporal, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County

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• Robert Ludwig, Jacksonville Fire Rescue, Duval County, FL

• Erle Biggs - Gainesville Fire Rescue (retired), Alachua C

• J.R. Grimes - Fire Chief, City of Palatka Fire Department, Putnam County, FL

• Darren Denmark - Engineer, City of Palatka Fire Department, Putnam County,

• Shawn Hines - Operations Lieutenant, Green Cove Springs Police Department, Clay County, FL

• Tracy Higdon - President, Gainesville Professional Firefighters, Alachua County, FL

• Darnell Harris - Chief, Town of Lacrosse Fire Department, Lacrosse, FL

• Brendan Donahue - Corporal / K9 Handler - Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County, FL

• Ben Carter - Operations Captain, Bradford County Emergency Medical Services

• Gary Wise - Fire Chief, City of Starke Fire Department, Bradford County, FL

• Heather Lanier - Robbery/Homicide Investigator - Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County, FL

• Jay Nix - K9 Deputy, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County, FL

• Nikki Nix - WIfe of First Responder, Marion County, FL

• Danny Garcia - President of the Marion County Professional Firefighters, Marion County Fire Rescue, Marion County, FL

• Shawn Hillhouse - District Chief, Gainesville Fire Rescue / SWAT - Alachua County, Alachua County, FL

• Rob Altman - Battalion Chief, Professional Firefighters of Ocala / Battalion Chief - Ocala Fire Rescue

• Richard Grubbs - President, Ocala Fire Rescue, Marion County, FL

• Sheriff Brad Whitehead - Union County Sheriff, Union County, FL

• Clay County Fire Rescue 

• Professional Firefighters of Gainesville

• Professional Firefighters of Palatka

• Professional Firefighters of Alachua

• Professional Firefighters of Marion

These coalitions are in addition to the scores of local endorsements Kat has earned thus far from community leaders and elected officials, as well as support from national conservatives such as U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R, KY), "We Build the Wall" founder, Brian Kolfage, and the Tea Party Express.

Kat Cammack is a small business owner, a proud wife to a first responder, an alumnus of the United States Naval War College, and the longtime former Deputy Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager to Congressman Ted Yoho (R, FL-03).

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