About Rick Minton

As a fifth generation Floridian, I appreciate the history we have in Florida.  The Minton family first settled in Hastings, Florida in the early 1800’s.  My father, O. R. “Dick” Minton, Sr. bought his first citrus grove at the age of 17 and helped establish what is known today as Indian River Citrus. Following his lead, I established my cattle herd in 1970 and started growing citrus in 1975.  My family has been in the cattle business for decades on our ranch on Florida’s west coast near Sarasota.

Agriculture has been a mainstay of my life, but my passion is serving the citizens of Florida.  That is why I served for 8 years as a Representative in the Florida State House.  I have a strong track record for protecting Florida’s consumers as well as safeguarding one of Florida’s largest industries – agriculture.

For 25 years, I have held positions on the Advisory Council to two Commissioners of Agricultural & Consumer Services.  In addition, I have served 17 years as an elected official as a Supervisor of St. Lucie County Soil and Water Conservation District.  These years of experience in public service have made me acutely aware of the needs for the protection of our natural resources and our food supply.  My goal as your Commissioner of Agriculture will be to keep the agricultural industry a viable part of Florida’s economy, while striving to protect our unique environment.  I will also make sure that Florida’s food supply is safe for you and your family!

Rick on his horse, Concho. Rick Minton 1

 



 

Rick at election rally with his wife, Linda, and mother, Shirley Rick Minton 2

 

Biography

I was born in Orlando, and grew up in Fort Pierce, Florida.  Growing up, summers were spent working in the groves.  High school was completed at Georgia Military Academy (GMA) where I played football, was a member of the band and was accepted into the National Honor Society.

Upon graduation from GMA in 1968, I was accepted into the University of Florida.  While working on my Bachelor of Science degree, I served as Senator for 2 years in the Student Senate.  I was also President of the Student Ag Council, and was honored with the Alvin T. Wallace Memorial Scholarship Award (first recipient) and the Citrus Mutual Outstanding Citrus Student Award.  In 1972, I earned my degree in Horticultural Sciences with a specialization in fruit crops.

Rick accepting the Alvin T. Wallace Memorial Scholarship Award.Rick Minton 3

While pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of Florida, I worked as a clerk at the Florida Department of Citrus.  I also served as student member to the Presidential Search Committee to University President, Steven C. O’Connell, to choose a successor to Dr. E. T. York who was University President for Agricultural Affairs and started I.F.A.S.  During this time, I studied Karate and advanced to a 3rd degree brown belt.  In 1973, I earned a Master of Agricultural Management and Resource Development degree.    Carrying on my family’s tradition of real estate sales, which began in 1952, I obtained my real estate license in 1979.  Continuing my work in real estate, I now serve as president of Holland and Minton Properties, Inc.

In 1992, I ran for public office and was elected to Florida House of Representatives, District 78.  After serving 4 two-year terms, I retired in 2000 because of term limits.  While serving in the House from 1992 until 2000, I led four committees as Vice-Chairman: General Government Appropriations, Regulated Industries, Water Policy and Community Affairs. I was also a member of five additional committees, handling issues related to environmental protection, public land management reform, healthcare, licensing and administrative management.  I encourage you to take a look at my list of accomplishments achieved while serving in the Florida Legislature.

Click to read my Florida House of Representatives Biography

 

Family and Interests

Rick with granddaughter, Cheyenne Rose.Rose

 

 

 

 

 


I enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren.  We love riding horses, hunting, fishing and just being in the woods.


Rick and Linda with three of their daughters, three of their grandchildren and son-in-law.
Melanie, Ashley with Cheyenne and Ciera, and Melissa with Brody and Bryan Neill 
 

Daughter, Tara, and grandchildren, Jacqueline and Jared Phares join Rick and Linda at the National Day of the American Cowboy celebration and rodeo in Okeechobee. 
 


Rick, Linda and grandson, Jared Phares enjoy a tour of the Kennedy Space Center with hopes of being there to witness the launch of Endeavor.

Click to see more of me with my family

 

Legislative Accomplishments

Over 10,000 hours and 235,000 miles logged for District 78

1993 – Vice Chair – Regulated Industries

  • Guardian Ad Latem – Federal Security background investigations to protect our youth from criminals
  • County Budgets – Authorizes Bd. of Cty. Commissioners to amend budget and transfer revenue between funds
  • Taxation of Jai-Alai Games – Provides for taxes on Jai-Alai.  Saved 250 Fort Pierce Jai-Alai jobs
  • Taxation on Harness Horse Live Races – Provides for harness horse taxes.  Saved 3 race tracks in Florida
  • Thoroughbred Horse Live Races – Provides for thoroughbred horse taxes.
  • Representative Bert J. Harris, Jr. – Supported efforts of Rep. Bert J. Harris, Jr. in developing and overseeing the Citrus Canker Compensation Program
  • Additional Circuit Judgeship for 19th Judicial Circuit (Treasure Coast)
  • Indian River Community College – Funding
  • Bean Backus Florida Artist Hall of Fame Designation
  • Public Schools Increased Funding
  • Okeechobee Correctional Institute providing 700 jobs in lieu of 1500 jobs lost to dairy buy-out

1994 – Vice Chair – Regulated Industries

  • State Lands/Purchase and Management – Provides for application of rules regarding acquisition Procedures.  Public Access.  Management Funding and Management Plans
  • Public Construction – Requires counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions to competitively bid construction projects exceeding $200,000 in costs
  • Tangible Personal Property Tax – Allows property appraiser to grant extension for filing tangible personal property tax returns
  • Mainstreet – Funding
  • Barry University Sale to F.A.U. in St. Lucie West
  • Indian River Funding Investment
  • Driver’s License Office – Additional Staff, Okeechobee County
  • ATM Legislation – Interstate Reciprocal Banking
  • Village of Maranatha – Property Tax Resolution Religious Exemption Highlands County
  • Indian River Community College – Funding Enhancement
  • Palm Beach County Wellington Public Notice for Town Crier
  • South Bay Fire Truck (Thunder) – Fire Hoses - $6000 Fire Hose donation from SLC Fire Department
  • Lobbied Governor not to veto Jai-Alai Fronton Bill – 250 jobs saved in St. Lucie County

1995 – Vice Chair Community Affairs

  • Building Designation/Dr. Clem C. Benton – Designates St. Lucie Reg. Svc. Ctr. As Dr. Clem C. Benton Building
  • Agriculture Law Enforcement & Inspection Stations – Allows agriculture law enforcement officers to issue uniform traffic citations
  • Aviation Facilities – Provides certain helistops & aerial applicators an exemption from airport licensing requirements
  • Village of Wellington created – Establishes Village of Wellington & creates its charter
  • Fort Pierce Library funding
  • Indiantown Speed Limits lowered from 45 to 35 mph for pedestrian safety – Martin County
  • Fort Pierce Tree Ordinance – Encouraged language and adoption for historical tree protection
  • Special Taxing District Statewide rewrite.  Reformed all districts language and codified statutes
  • Moved Juvenile Correctional Center from Eckerd’s site to prison site – providing 300 more jobs in Okeechobee County to help relieve Dairy Buy-out recession
  • Delivered Governor’s veto on $25 Million bonding ability for St. Lucie County Fire District
  • Supported the retention of Workers Safety Program State compliment to OSHA

1996 – Vice Chair Community Affairs

  • Hunter Safety Law – Requires safety course as prerequisite to issuance of hunting license & created Safety Course for youth training
  • Public Accountancy – Repeals certain provision regarding certificates of special competence & youth training.  Specialization Advisory Committee
  • Soldiers & Airmen Relief Act – Provides for stay of proceedings in court when troops are called out of state service for certain period
  • St. Lucie County Fire District – Amends charter of said district to incorporate all subsequent amendments and increase funding ability to $5,000,000 in bonding and $100,000 emergency
  • Bert J Harris Property Rights Act – Delegation effort with Governor to allow passage
  • Picos Road paved – St. Lucie County
  • Investigation of Booker Park Fires – Martin County
  • Welfare Reform Statewide.  One billion tax dollars saved to date, many in jobs thru WAGES Program
  • St. Lucie County Fair Funding
  • Snook Tag License – Co Sponsor
  • Convinced Conservative Caucus to sponsor Reduction of Annual Corporate Filing Fees

1997 – Vice Chair Water Policy

  • Land and Resource Management – Extends submerged lands leases for certain properties.  Provides $28 million for improved state land management objectives
  • Research Center Road paved for access to Research Center USDA lab & Extension office
  • UF Bachelor of Science Program in Agriculture at Indian River Research Center in St. Lucie County
  • Wellington Comprehensive Plan approval
  • New Horizons Crisis Stabilization Unite Funding
  • U of F site on campus for USDA Lab locating in St. Lucie County
  • St. Lucie County Fair Funding
  • Agriculture in Classroom License Plate – Co-Sponsor
  • Dean Brooker Resolution honoring him as Dean of College of Agriculture at U of F
  • Local Option on TRIM notices to include Special Taxing Districts Assessments
  • Organized Blue Dog Caucus (Includes 25% of Florida House of Representatives)

1998 – Vice Chair Water Policy

  • St. Lucie County Farmer’s Market paving funding
  • Highlands County Library (Sebring) Funding
  • Okeechobee Courthouse Funding
  • Okeechobee Agriculture Center Funding
  • Belle Glade Business Park dispute Resolution and Funding
  • NASA New Business Incubator Program (Martin County) $1,000,000 Funding
  • Okeechobee/Highlands Libraries Funding
  • Fort Pierce Magnet School of the Arts – Delaware School Funding saving school from destruction
  • Sunrise Theater Funding
  • Four Year Degree at Florida Research Center and $21.5 million Education Building
  • IRCC/FAU Joint Campus
  • Dolphin License Plate – over $1,000,000 in sales – Prime Sponsor
  • Aquaculture Program at Harbor Branch funding
  • Signage on Turnpike and I-95 for Indian River Research and Education Center and USDA Horticultural Lab
  • Temporary Funding for Teachers in St. Lucie County – Saved 250 jobs - $5 million funding
  • Legislation to create additional Jury Districts – West Palm Beach and statewide
  • Statewide Water Policy Act.  Changed Water Policies for State – Local sources first to protect rural counties
  • Citrus Canker eradication funding - $50 million D.A.C.S. budget per year
  • Edna Pierce Locket estate funding – Highlands County
  • Blue Dogs saved school sparsity factor in funding rural schools - $10 million
  • Five year averaging for citrus grove tax valuations statewide
  • Saved $50,000 for Girl Scouts Camp Facilities – St. Lucie County per Paul Driscoll

1999 – Vice Chair General Government Appropriations Committee

  • Street Beat Program Funding - $50,000 – Belle Glade, Palm Beach County
  • Invasive Plant Facility Building (I.R.R.E.C.) - $3.7 million
  • Trauma Care Bill – Assuring golden hour delivery statewide especially for rural counties $20 million fiscal impact
  • Farmer’s Market Administrative Building Funding – St. Lucie County
  • One School – One Nurse Act – Statewide $60 million fiscal impact
  • Blue Dogs saved Sparsity Factor in formula for rural school funding - $10 million
  • Edna Pierce Locket Estate funding
  • J. O. Pearce Resolution honoring him as Outstanding Citizen of Okeechobee County and Florida.
  • One half-million allotted to Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to insure adequate inspection of carnival and fair rides for rider safety.

2000 – Vice Chair General Government Appropriations Committee

  • Health Care Reform/Certificate of Need (CON) Deregulation with Undetermined Fiscal Impact
  • Teenage Driving – Education Improvement – Justin Marks Teen Driver Safety Act
  • IRCC Okeechobee Campus Funding
  • Sparsity factor funding for rural schools
  • Farmer’s Market Funding for St. Lucie County
  • Fought to prevent government quotas on regulatory fines by bureaucrats.

Primary Goals

As your Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner, I will:

Regulate telemarketers in Florida and require that such companies, as well as their sales agents, are registered.
Monitor food going from the farm, through processing and distribution, and finally to the retail point of purchase to assure that your family has access to safe, wholesome and properly represented food.
Promote the Florida "Farm to School" program which seeks to bring nutritious, fresh food from local farms to schools, from K-12, to colleges and universities.
Promote the “Fresh From Florida Kids” program which encourages healthy habits by showing you how easy it is to make healthy meals for your baby and family. Preparing homemade food is simple, fresh, flavorful, nutritious and cheap!
Enhance the competitiveness of Florida crops in US and global markets. Encourage consumers to stimulate their local economies by buying products grown or produced locally.