Press Releases
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2010
Greg Evers Receives Fraternal Order of Police Legislator of the Year Award & Endorsement
Baker, Fla. – Greg Evers, Candidate for State Senate District 2, today announced he received the Legislator of the Year Award and endorsement of his campaign from the Fraternal Order of Police – Florida State Lodge (FOP). SD 2 consists of Holmes and Washington, and parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties. The seat is currently held by Senator Durrell Peaden, Jr., MD, who has served-out his term in the office.
During the 2010 Legislative Session, Evers sponsored FOP priority legislation while serving in the Florida House of Representatives. This legislation, which was subsequently signed into law, extends the period of time between parole interview dates for violent crime offenders from five to seven years. Evers also worked closely with FOP to defeat House Bill 417 and voted against House Bill 5701 to protect the health insurance subsidies of Florida’s law enforcement officers.
“Greg Evers is the Legislator of the Year and one of the true unsung heroes of the Legislature,” said Lisa Henning, legislative director for FOP. “He fights to protect the protectors without the spotlight and without request.”
“I am grateful that the Fraternal Order of Police would honor me with this award, and I thank them for their endorsement and support of my campaign for Senate District 2,” said Evers. “Law enforcement officers are the true heroes of our state. And, if elected, I pledge to continue to work closely with the FOP and pass legislation that ensures police officers have the tools necessary to protect our neighborhoods and communities and that their jobs and retirement continue to be protected.”
The mission of the Fraternal Order of Police is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Florida to inculcate loyalty and allegiance to the United States of America; to promote and foster the impartial enforcement of law and order, to improve the individual proficiency of our members in the performance of their duties, to encourage social, charitable, educational activities among all law enforcement officers, to advocate and strive for uniform application of the Civil Service and merit system for all law enforcement officers, to create a tradition of esprit de corps insuring fidelity to duty under all conditions and circumstances, to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and mutual helpfulness among our membership and the people we serve; to increase the efficiency of the police profession and thus more firmly establish the confidence of the public in the service that is dedicated to the protection of life and property.
Evers has had the privilege of serving the residents of Florida House District 1, which includes northern portions of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties, in the Florida House of Representatives since 2001. A fifth-generation, panhandle farmer and small businessman, Evers puts his real-world experience to good use in the Florida Legislature and is proud of his accomplishments on behalf of Florida’s critical agriculture industry, economic development, job creation, and preserving and protecting Northwest Florida values, including acting as a champion of our Second Amendment rights and protections. He has sponsored and passed NRA priority legislation, protecting the right of law-abiding citizens to have legal firearms secured in the automobiles in public parking lots and protecting against raids of Florida’s Concealed Carry Permit Trust Fund. He has also sponsored legislation, protecting Floridians from unnecessary federal government intrusion into health care freedoms and choices, designating “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the State of Florida, enabling Florida farmers to transport their farm equipment from field to field without the burden of additional government permits or fees, enabling the reopening of the Jay Oil Field to restore numerous Northwest Florida jobs, and extending the dates between parole hearings for violent criminal offenders to protect victims and taxpayer resources. Evers has never been prouder of any legislation he has sponsored than he is of House Bill 31, which will protect the First Amendment religious speech rights of teachers and students across Florida from future infringements, such as those suffered at the hands of the ACLU in Santa Rosa County.
For more information on the Greg Evers for Senate Campaign, please visit www.gregevers.com.
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