Rick Scott Goes Back to Roots in Visit to State Farm in Winter Haven | Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A. | Florida Law Firm

Rick Scott Goes Back to Roots in Visit to State Farm in Winter Haven | Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A. | Florida Law Firm: "In his address Scott joked about his mother, Esther, being featured in an ad and how he spent a lot of money making it."

In his address Scott joked about his mother, Esther, being featured in an ad and how he spent a lot of money making it.

Thompson went on to talk about the challenges facing State Farm, saying the company "was struggling." State Farm officials announced last week they were conducting a review of the company's operations that could result in local layoffs. The company employs 1,400 people in Winter Haven.

"We need politicians in Tallahassee who understand the issues of our business and make decisions about how this business is run," Thompson said.

"This election is very important to all of us, so it's important that we get involved. We need some reform on the property insurance side and we need a governor who's going to have an interest in supporting some necessary reform."

"We've got to get back to where people want to sell insurance in the state," Scott said.

He said his plan calls for working on insurance fraud, sinkhole issues and regulatory reform, "so you can sell State Farm Insurance instead of Citizens Property Insurance," a reference to the state-backed insurance fund.

While State Farm doesn't endorse candidates, it encourages its employees to go to the polls, Neal said.