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Republican Gov. Rick Scott Reveals Incredible Surprise for Parkland Father

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Andrew Pollack has been arguably the most visible parent of a Parkland victim, at least in the national media.

Now, thanks to outgoing Gov. Rick Scott, Pollack is going to be on the Florida state board of education.

According to WSVN-TV, “Pollack was one of several dozen new appointees Scott’s office announced on Friday.”

“Since the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman High School, Pollack, 52, has heavily advocated for school safety,” WSVN added.

Pollack’s term started the day of the announcement and will run through the end of 2022.

In a Twitter post, Pollack thanked Scott and outlined his agenda on the board of education.

Do you think Andrew Pollack should have been appointed to the Florida board of education?

“Accountability for School Boards and Superintendents, increased teacher pay and enacting and enforcing school safety initiatives are my priority,” he wrote.

Indeed, Pollack told South Florida Sun-Sentinel that the word “accountability” has been his focus since his 18-year-old daughter Meadow was killed in the Feb. 14, 2018 shooting.

“That word has haunted me since my daughter was murdered,” he said.

“What I hope to accomplish is accountability at a local level, to hold school boards accountable and superintendents accountable.”

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean he can hold Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel accountable for his actions before and after the shooting, including the sheriff’s inability to hold his own deputies accountable. That doesn’t mean Pollack isn’t going to continue to focus on that, however.

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Just after the appointment, Pollack tweeted a story involving an alleged cover-up of sexual assault allegations against Israel’s son by Scot Peterson, the deputy who was allowed to retire after the Parkland shooting, even though he failed to engage the gunman on the campus.

“The evidence for removal is mounting,” Pollack wrote. And removal is definitely an option, given that incoming Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has discussed suspending Israel from his post, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Pollack has also been a strong advocate for the Second Amendment and arming teachers, at one point telling Californiai Rep. Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats to “go to hell” after a suggestion that they could honor Parkland victims through gun control if the Democrats retook the House.

Pollack’s appointment was still a bit of a surprise, even though the school safety advocate has a strong relationship with Scott. The father stood behind Scott as he launched his successful senatorial campaign back in April of 2018.

Scott won’t take his Senate office until Tuesday, when DeSantis is sworn in as Florida’s governor.

“We developed a relationship over the last 10 months and he knows what I’m capable of doing,” Pollack said.

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C. Douglas Golden is a writer who splits his time between the United States and Southeast Asia. Specializing in political commentary and world affairs, he's written for Conservative Tribune and The Western Journal since 2014.
C. Douglas Golden is a writer who splits his time between the United States and Southeast Asia. Specializing in political commentary and world affairs, he's written for Conservative Tribune and The Western Journal since 2014. Aside from politics, he enjoys spending time with his wife, literature (especially British comic novels and modern Japanese lit), indie rock, coffee, Formula One and football (of both American and world varieties).
Birthplace
Morristown, New Jersey
Education
Catholic University of America
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Topics of Expertise
American Politics, World Politics, Culture




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