![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lesley1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
By Lesley Keays\u00a0<\/p>\n
Herald Staff Writer<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
A local helicopter maintenance facility recently hosted a Republican running for Florida governor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rotor Blade Repair in Sanford held a rally for Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds and his running mate, state Sen. Bryan\u00a0\u00c1vila, on August 25.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The event occurred shortly after\u00a0Donalds’ victory in the Republican primary for Florida governor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over 100 supporters were present, including notables Bishop Gregory Meaux and his wife, Pastor Rosalina Meaux, as well as\u00a0Florida’s 7th Congressional District GOP nominee, Ryan Elijah.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The campaign event, titled “Defending the Florida Dream,” took place as part of a multi-city tour, of which Sanford was a key stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When asked her reasons for attending the rally, longtime Sanford resident Pat Czar said, \u201cI wanted to show my support locally. I have been scared to wear my Trump hat in public, but not here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma opened the event to the pounding tempo of the TV show \u201cCops\u201d theme song, congratulating Donalds on his recent victory. \u201cLeadership matters,\u201ddeclared Lemma.\u00a0\u201cI look forward to working alongside Donalds to keep Florida a safe, strong, and special place to call home.\u201d He then introduced Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.<\/p>\n
Ivey congratulated Donalds on his primary win, and encouraged the audience to vote, \u201cto keep Florida safe; to keep Florida free,\u201d he stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Donalds\u2019 wife Erika, a conservative activist and educator, then led the group with a welcoming prayer, thanking God for Ron DeSantis and Rick Scott.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00c1vila\u00a0took to the podium, thanking Trump-backed Donalds for \u201cthe opportunity of a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donalds spoke for roughly one half hour, first addressing the economy.\u00a0He stated that, \u201cHere in Florida, we value capital. We value business owners.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are number one in all of America,\u201c Donalds noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He reinforced his support for law enforcement, government oversight, tax reform, and educating children in trades as an alternative to college.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Donalds stated, \u201cWe want an affordable Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n
He touched upon his race opponent\u00a0Democratic nominee David Jolly,\u00a0referring to the Jolly-Graham ticket as \u201cthe most boring, uninspired ticket that Florida Democrats could put together.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked how the event came to be, Rotor Blade Repair Director of Operations Jeff Small stated, \u201c(Seminole County Commissioner) Amy Lockhart is my neighbor. She called me about two weeks ago asking if I could donate my time and space. I said, \u2018Sure!\u2019 because we have got to keep this state red.\u201d\u00a0Lockhart did not attend the rally.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For further information about Rotor Blade Repair, access\u00a0www.rotorbladerepair.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n For further information about the Donalds-<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lesley2.jpeg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lesley3.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n