DeSantis, Biden hurricane recovery actions show how 2024 race might shape up

The lion’s share of the national attention on the meeting between President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speculated on the theoretical 2024 presidential match-up. But for many in the Sunshine State, the duo standing together represented another stark contrast, and it had nothing to do with presidential politics, but rather effectiveness of government. 

DeSantis’ leadership since Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm whose strength and destruction rivaled predecessors such as Andrew, Charley and Michael, has earned high marks from unlikely sources. In Biden’s words, “What the governor’s done is pretty remarkable.” 

While Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach have drawn most of the camera crews, events on Pine Island have been truly remarkable. Located just off the coast of Fort Myers, Pine Island is Florida’s largest barrier island. It is a working-class fishing village connected to the mainland by just one bridge – a structure severely damaged by the hurricane. Needing a boat or a plane to access supplies, the 9,000 residents of Pine Island were in a bad spot. 

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DeSantis did not wait around for help from the federal government. On Monday, October 3, he announced plans to build a temporary bridge to Pine Island, deploying more than 130 trucks from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), who worked around the clock. Less than three days later, the bridge was open to the public, well ahead of schedule. State government and state funds got the job done. Trucks from Publix were seen that day bringing much-needed supplies to the island’s store. 

In the words of FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue, “As soon as the governor gave us the direction to work on this facility, we mobilized our contractor and internal…