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Gov. Ron DeSantis Slams Local Rep. Michelle Salzman Over Higher Ed Bill; She Fires Back
April 16, 2025
During a Pensacola press conference Tuesday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired the first shots in what has since erupted in a war of words between the Republican governor and fellow Republican District 1 Representative Michelle Salzman.
Salzman, who said she was not even invited to the presser, is firing back.
During the press conference at Pensacola State College, DeSantis said both local representatives, Salzman and Alex Andre, were “behaving like Democrats”.
DeSantis’ beef with Salzman, who represents all of Escambia County except for the more southern end, is over a bill she filed. HB 1321 will remove the governor’s office from searches university presidents and puts the process back into the sunshine under Florida public records law.
DeSantis claimed Salzman’s bill is “cosponsored by the most flamboyantly left-wing Democrat”.
“She had been a very good, good ally for many years. She had a good conservative record. And I think what happens is these people go to Tallahassee, and they go native,” DeSantis said in an apparent slight to Salzman’s Native American heritage. She is a member of the Santa Rosa Creek Band of the Lower Muscogee.
“She’s doing the bidding of the leadership and the staff. She’s not doing what you sent them there to do. You did not elect her to undo our conservative reforms in higher education because I’m confident if she ran on that, you wouldn’t have elected her in the first place,” the governor said.
Salzman said DeSantis did a statewide phone callout across the state Monday night, asking Floridians to flood her office with phone calls. She said the call only prompted eight people to call her office, and only three of those were from her local district, and they support her bill.
Salzman said she and her supporters were not allowed to attend the press conference, with the only elected officials there being from Santa Rosa County. Escambia County Chairman Mike Kohler, a Republican, said he was also turned away.
In a lengthy exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com, Salzman explained her bill and responded to the governor. To hear her complete response, see the video below or visit the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
Comments
28 Responses to “Gov. Ron DeSantis Slams Local Rep. Michelle Salzman Over Higher Ed Bill; She Fires Back”
The republicans just lost Escambia county in the patronis election ; maybe the governor didn’t feel like a back slapping photo shoot was necessary .
I am hoping that all Republican elected officials will keep lunatic democrat policies out of our area . Looks like both the governor and representative had this in mind . Do I think the governors or representatives plan will keep the lunatic policies out of our education system ; a big fat NO . Just like the education system involved with the Ivy League schools you have to stop funding these parasites playing with our lives on taxpayers money .
I’m pretty sure that NO ONE who responded saying this bill was bad has ACTUALLY read it. Go for it. Here it is. Read the bill, and read the summary below. AFTER you have, then decide if you think it’s bad. Also, on line 306, you will see that it even REMOVES DIVERSITY from being a REQUIREMENT when appointing a board member.
The link to the bill is here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1321/BillText/e1/PDF
Florida’s HB 1321 Embodies Florida-First Conservative Values
1. Transparency in Bureaucracy
Conservatives have long championed transparency as a cornerstone of good government. HB 1321 restores public oversight to university presidential searches, requiring these processes to be open under Florida’s Sunshine Law. This ensures that citizens can see how decisions are made, holding public officials accountable and deterring corruption or backroom deals. Transparency is a deeply conservative value because it limits government overreach, empowers citizens, and keeps bureaucrats answerable to the people, not special interests or political insiders. It institutes the “cone of silence” as a temporary communication blackout during the interview stage of university presidential searches. It prevents outside influence and backroom deals by restricting contact with decision-makers, ensuring the process is fair, impartial, and based solely on merit. This conservative safeguard protects the integrity of the selection process while keeping the rest of the process open and transparent to the public.
2. Governor’s Role Remains Central
HB 1321 does not remove the governor from the process. The governor still appoints the members of the boards of trustees and the Board of Governors, who are responsible for selecting university presidents. This maintains executive accountability and ensures that those making key decisions are ultimately answerable to the people of Florida through their elected leader.
3. Term Limits on Bureaucrats
Term limits are a classic conservative reform, designed to prevent the entrenchment of power and encourage fresh ideas in government. By imposing term limits on higher education board members, HB 1321 reduces the risk of bureaucratic stagnation and special interest capture, ensuring that new voices and perspectives regularly enter public service. This aligns with the conservative belief in limited government and the dangers of unchecked, lifelong bureaucrats.
4. Florida-First Leadership
Requiring board members to be Florida residents or graduates of Florida institutions is a direct expression of the conservative principle of local control. Floridians know what’s best for Florida—outsiders may not understand the unique needs, values, and priorities of the state. This provision ensures that those making decisions about Florida’s future are invested in the community and accountable to local taxpayers, not distant interests.
5. Transparency in Class Requirements
Mandating that universities publish detailed syllabi, including class descriptions and textbook costs, is about empowering students and parents with information. Curriculum transparency is a conservative value because it gives families the tools to make informed choices, prevents ideological indoctrination, and holds educational institutions accountable to the public. It also supports fiscal responsibility by helping students avoid unnecessary expenses.
6. Financial Disclosures for Board Members
Requiring full financial disclosures from board members is another conservative safeguard against conflicts of interest and corruption. This measure ensures that those in positions of authority are acting in the public’s best interest, not for personal gain, and builds public trust in government institutions.
Summary List: HB 1321’s Conservative Values
• Transparency in Bureaucracy: Open presidential searches and decision-making processes, holding officials accountable to the public.
• Governor’s Role Remains Central: Maintains executive oversight and accountability, with the governor still appointing key decision-makers.
• Term Limits on Bureaucrats: Prevents entrenched power, encourages new ideas, and limits government overreach.
• Florida-First Leadership: Ensures local control by requiring board members to be Florida residents or graduates, reflecting community values.
• Transparency in Class Requirements: Empowers families with information, supports informed choice, and prevents ideological bias in education.
• Financial Disclosures for Board Members: Promotes ethical leadership and public trust by exposing potential conflicts of interest.
Each of these provisions reflects core conservative principles: limited government, local control, accountability, transparency, and ethical stewardship of public institutions. HB 1321 is a model of how conservative values can be applied to strengthen Florida’s higher education system for all its citizens.
I voted for DeSantis both times but I’ve never really been happy with his power grabs and ego. He helped a lot during COVID but after that his head got too big for himself. I am glad to see this going back into the public. I’m not sure why DeSantis would be against the transparency.
Did any of you who are speaking against Michelle Salzman bother to watch the video included with this article? I don’t see how anyone could be against what she is saying. The public has a right to know what’s going on. DeSantis sounds like he is mad because he can’t control every last thing instead of communities making the right choices for themselves. He still gets to pick the final people. WATCH THE VIDEO.
CONCERNING:
“I don’t understand why the governor is against this bill. It creates transparency in the whole process. It stops hiding how university presidents are selected from the taxpayers”
It looks like you answered your own question. Democracy may die in darkness, but other things — such as criminal enterprises, for a random example — need it.
She might want to stay in her lane. You dont go making enemies with the Governor..
The House Bill that is at issue will make searching for high level individuals for appointments to certain positions to be completely open to the public. Doing this is typically believed to be a barrier to currently employed and qualified individuals to formally express an interest, resulting in some of the best potential candidates choosing not to apply. This view has merit to me.
As for why Michelle Salzman and Gov. Ron De Santishe seems at odds, the only thing I can think is that he did veto her budget proposal to put a walk over on Highway 90 at Beulah Middle School siting excessive cost (over 1 million dollars and serving relatively a small number of students)
Never liked her, to touchy Feely. I voted for her because I made a promise to never vote for a democrat. Do believe now that I broke that promise when I voted for her.
@jimbo
Governor has no say so on the insurance rates. That falls to the INSURANCE COMMISHERS
CAR RATES ARE HIGH DUE TO NUMBER OF UNINSURED INVOLVED IN WRECKS.
HOME OWNERS DUE TO MULTI MILLION DOLLAR HOMES vs HURRICANES
@LEROY, RIGHT ON
I don’t understand why the governor is against this bill. It creates transparency in the whole process. It stops hiding how university presidents are selected from the taxpayers. Maybe he just wants to keep putting his buddies there.
Maybe we need to look at these UWF trustees like we did the school board and fire the ones with the tim smith playbook .
I am a life long republican and I did not get a so called phone call. I am in her district and I do not support her on this. TAKE NOTE: REP. SALZMAN.
DO NOT PUSH THIS BILL.
Thank you Mrs. Salzman for standing your ground of what you think is best for the people you represent. Great job. We need to lower our Home and Auto Insurance rates. Not worry about a Coward who caves in to what ever someone say and agree with them. Thean you for representing NORTHWEST FLORIDA.
As a UWF graduate I hope trustee Godwins advice is free because that is what it is worth .
Great job Ms Salzman! Your job is to represent the constituents that elected you and not just cow tow to anything that the party or the Governor desires. We had years of that and look where we are. Highest home insurance rates in the country and 3rd higest auto. We deserve better and she is standing up against some of his inane policies and some of you are riled up by his words. This is the type of representation we have needed locally for a long time.
WHAT “EMD” said… Mike drop…
It looks like the growth of Escambia County/lack of voter turnout are causing the county to turn blue. Wake up, Republicans!
THE God WHO CREATED US and sent His Only Begotten Son to Save us is THE ONLY ONE who can be 100% trusted……….. Period.
I thought I was voting for Godly values. Now, I do not look to the left OR the right. I will strive to go straight up the middle and not to either thel left OR the Right, but stay on the narrow road that leads to where I want to be. I hope and pray that more will do that.
All she does is fight the governor now; first on immigration, and now on this. Will NOT be voting for her ever again.
It’s called bipartisan governing Ron. Both political parties working together for the betterment of our state.
I give kudos (small k) to Michelle for at least standing up to the tyrant.
I like Salzman and DeSantis, but I DID NOT like that DeSantis was appointing an antisemite and misogynistic man and others who don’t even live in Florida just to be CONSERVATIVE.
Please serve all races and BOTH genders in Florida.
Most of us just want a leader with common sense, not so political.
Wonder why, after 6 years of harmony in Tallahassee, things seem to be turning sour?
What happened? What, or who, changed?
I get the political posturing for the 2026 elections; but, why does it seem, all of a sudden, the legislature is going against the governor? To what end?
Guess we need to watch and listen closely for the next several months to see who goes to, stays in, or is prevented from, going to Tallahassee.
We don’t want Florida becoming CA or NY after setting the standard in the US under DeSantis.
Kudos Mrs Salzman . Great to see our elected official fighting for what is right . Do not bend the knee at all. We all know how some politicians will throw , their fellow party leaders, the public that elected them in order for them to go dc and do the two tap dance near the Potomac . I voted for the guy twice yet all we got is the highest insurance rates and condominium crisis with no relief in sight, causing many mostly retirees and seniors to relocate somewhere else .
One is on the way out and the other is hopefully not far behind.
VOTE HER OUT
With Escambia going Democrat in the patronis election our local politicians have to roll with the flow ; they care zero about the people they are supposed to serve . Get a picture of yourself with a can of beans at the fill the mayflower . Each can of beans our commissioners are smiling with cost the taxpayers thousands .