A Florida mother and staunch Trump supporter has ignited a political firestorm by launching a petition to establish a new county along the state's coastline, named in honour of former President Donald Trump.
The 'Trump County' Proposal
Jen Herold, a 40-year-old resident of unincorporated Flagler Beach, is spearheading the controversial campaign. She proposes linking coastal barrier islands from the northern tip of Anastasia Island to the southern end of Ponce Inlet, creating a 60-mile stretch that would become Florida's 68th county.
The proposed 'Trump County' would encompass several areas including Herold's own community of Flagler Beach, as well as Beverly Beach, Daytona Beach, and part of St Augustine. This would incorporate territory currently within St. John's, Flagler, and Volusia Counties.
Herold's petition describes Trump as 'a once-in-a-generation leader, a master dealmaker, real estate titan, and the greatest president of our time'. It argues that as the first president to call Florida home, he deserves this honour as 'a lasting testament to his impact on our state and nation'.
Civic Project or Political Statement?
Herold has promoted what she calls a 'real life civics project' across her social media channels. She claims the current system leaves beach communities fragmented and without direct representation from county commissioners, labelling the situation 'taxation without representation'.
Her husband, Rob Jarowski, supports the measure, suggesting a new county would improve representation for Florida's coastal communities. However, the petition has garnered significant pushback online.
One critic argued: 'A creation of a county impacts zoning, taxes, infrastructure, policing. This is an unserious proposition meant to flatter, not improve statewide or local governance and services.'
Another detractor called it 'a divisive petition' and suggested alternative ways to support Trump without imposing 'fanaticism on the rest of us'.
Long Road to Implementation
Despite the controversy, the petition has attracted some support. One commenter noted that 'barrier islands have unique needs, particularly given Florida weather', while another suggested it could benefit 'beach conservation and tourism promotion'.
Nevertheless, the petition faces substantial practical hurdles. With a target of 500 signatures, it had only secured approximately 100 at the time of reporting. Even if successful, a member of the state Congress would need to present the legislation.
Any bill would require passage through both the state House and Senate before reaching the desk of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for final approval.
This isn't Herold's first political endeavour. She previously ran as a Republican for the Ohio State House of Representatives in 2016 but was unsuccessful. Her husband claims they received threatening calls during that campaign, which ultimately led to their withdrawal from the race.
