Clay Chamber To Host Top Florida Democrat

She Will Speak At A Women's Empowerment Council Luncheon

Clay Chamber posted this image to Facebook to promote an upcoming luncheon.

By SHELBIE GRAHAM

The Clay County Chamber of Commerce has landed a high-profile speaker for the next meeting of its Women’s Empowerment Council. Nikki Fried, former Commissioner of Agriculture and current Chair of the Florida Democrat party, is set to speak at a luncheon on September 25th.

Per their website, the Clay Chamber is “a member-focused organization that supports and advocates for local businesses.” Part of their activities includes a variety of councils that offer meetings and events pertaining to specialized topics.

The Women’s Empowerment Council hosts a quarterly luncheon where guest speakers “deliver impactful and engaging leadership messages, for both women & men.”

The announcement of Fried’s appearance made a splash on social media, where some, including the official Clay GOP page, chastised the chamber for featuring a prominent Democrat who, according to them, is a proponent of views that are not empowering to women. The Clay GOP Chair Rhonda Jett, Clay Moms For Liberty Chair Tanya Kacsan, and the Clay Young Republicans all responded to the event post with various levels of complaints.

Other comments defended the chamber, noting that most detractors are likely not members of the chamber and don’t attend the other chamber events.

The chamber responded to some of the comments, advising that Fried's appearance would be apolitical and focus on her success as a businesswoman. They also interestingly claimed that many of the complaining Republicans were registered to attend the event.

The Clay Chamber has been active recently on Facebook, showcasing new additions to their organization and recapping their events. The cost to join the chamber can vary from a few hundred dollars to well over $20,000, depending on the size and type of business looking to join. Membership isn’t limited to Clay County; various companies outside of Clay are also members, including notable organizations like the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A Facebook post from the Clay County Chamber of Commerce highlights a recent event.

While the luncheon featuring Nikki Fried is sold out, anyone interested in joining the chamber or attending future events can find more information on its website.