Florida’s first lady speaks with GOP women’s group in P.C.

PANAMA CITY — For Florida first lady Ann Scott, the state’s economic turnaround is more than a bullet point.

“I love sharing the Florida turnaround story,” the first lady said.

She cited Florida adding 560,000 jobs and unemployment dropping from 11.1 percent to 6.3 percent since her husband took office.

Scott met Wednesday with many of the about 65 women from the Panhandle Federated Republican Women in attendance at Golden Corral in Panama City. Some like Davie Doescher, three-year member of the Republican Women, wanted to talk about issues like common core and immigration. Scott said most wanted to offer their support for Gov. Rick Scott’s re-election campaign.

“Most of them said we love the governor, all that he’s doing,” Scott said. “He’s doing a great job bringing gobs of jobs to the state.”

Scott gave a short speech and talked very little about politics instead focusing on her family’s humble beginnings, her children and grandchildren and other stories about her life.

“I’m glad she came over to this side of Panama City,” Suzanne Britson said. “I’m glad her husband is running again. They had humble beginnings. That’s the true spirit of America.”

The reception from those in the partisan crowd was positive for Scott.

“She’s very down to Earth. You think of a governor’s wife as high on a pedestal,” eight-year Republican Women member Barbara Mazzola said after the speech. “She seemed like your next door neighbor. I’d borrow a cup of sugar from her.”

Scott also talked about her fear of public speaking, something she has had to overcome in two campaigns for governor. She said she’s made this commitment to be a supportive wife.

“My first instinct is to run away,” Ann Scott said. “I did overcome it.”

Maria Bogart was impressed enough with Ann Scott’s speech that she wanted her to run for office.

“I would vote for her for governor,” Bogart said.

The Republican Women’s meeting was one of several recent western Florida stops for Ann Scott. She was with the governor when he visited Panama City last Thursday. She surveyed flood damage and attended events in Pensacola in between Panama City trips.