Mayor to travel from Cuba to Florida on makeshift raft

DEBARY, Fla. – The mayor of a Central Florida city is planning to visit Cuba and return home on a makeshift raft so he can better understand what Cuban migrants go through when crossing the Florida Straits.

DeBary Mayor Clint Johnson said that he plans to visit Cuba in mid-April.

"First, it's for adventure. Secondly, it's to experience what the men, women, and children go through to get here," Johnson said. "I empathize with the journey and it's something I really want to know more about."

He said he understands the risks of crossing the straits on a raft, adding he loves "living outside the box."

Johnson said he will go to Havana with his wife, bringing along bolts and oar locks. He plans to obtain other pieces for his raft in Cuba.

"I wanted to use all material that I knew I could get in Cuba to build it," Johnson said.

Johnson says he spent several months getting permission from federal agencies to go on the trip. He says he qualified for a license to travel to Cuba under professional research or journalism reasons. He will also blog about his trip.

"There will be an update on where I am at geographically with a pin," he said. "I'll be able to send messages out during the trip to kind of give updates on what's going on...tell about the size of the shark that swims by or whatever."

The U.S. Coast Guard is urging Johnson strongly not to make the trip, but the mayor tells News 6 he plans to go through with it.

"There is some risk, but I think it's some what calculated and I'm really excited to go on and do it," he said.

The United States and the Caribbean country re-established diplomatic relations in July. Johnson hopes his trip will help bring the two countries together.
"I'm writing about it, sharing it, trying to bring more awareness of opening up these borders and being better neighbors," he said.

The 30-year-old said he hopes to reach Key West in about two days. He adds the trip could take as long as 10 days, depending on the weather.