As with many program alumni, Nikki’s love for politics and public service came at a very young age, asking her parents to see the White House for her 10th birthday. A passion for service is clearly evident in her unconventional, varied career in politics. At UF, she became the first female Student Body President in over 18 years. She practiced commercial litigation at the Holland & Knight law firm, worked in the Public Defender’s Office in Alachua County, and protected homeowners in south Florida during the mortgage foreclosure crisis. Her passion for impacting public policy brought her back into the political fold to become a lobbyist, working for an array of clients.
These experiences helped to shape Nikki’s decision to enter the 2018 race for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Her election victory was historic in several respects. In addition to being the only Democrat elected statewide that year, she also became the first woman to be elected Commissioner of Agriculture and the first Jewish woman ever elected to statewide office in Florida.
Although she always knew she wanted to run at some point, she wasn’t sure when, for what office, or from where. “I certainly didn’t dream of being Commissioner of Agriculture when I was a little girl,” Nikki said, “but now I get to inspire young girls to be Commissioner. It’s why I get up each morning.”
Nikki’s keys to success were simple: Work hard and be yourself. With agriculture being such a critical component of Florida’s economy — the second largest economic driver in the state with over two million jobs — her goal is to make sure that it continues to thrive for future generations. She lists a variety of policy goals, including growing the agricultural sector, giving farmers alternative crops like hemp, inspiring the next generation of agriculture providers to protect consumers, combating food insecurity, providing affordable access to medical marijuana, and bringing new energy technologies to protect the environment. “I have a lot of work to do in my 4 years, but I am up for the challenge.”