In 2014, Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, will be term-limited, leaving his steadily Republican-leaning district representing parts of Bay County open. So far, three Republican candidates have filed to run for the seat while no Democrats have entered the race.
Melissa Hagan filed to run back in February. Hagan has worked for more than a decade at Gulf Coast State College, eventually rising to her current post as director of development. She has been very active on the pageant scene with some impressive results, winning the Mrs. Alaska United States and Mrs. Alaska America titles, placing in the top 10 in the Mrs. Florida America pageant and competing in the Mrs. America national pageant.
Hagan has also been active in Republican politics, serving as Rick Scotts Bay County chairwoman during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign. She is already rounding up some of the local Republicans behind her campaign including Lynn Haven Mayor Walter Kelley who endorsed her.
In the early stages of her campaign, Hagan is playing up her various experiences.
As an educator, I know that our future success as a community is dependent upon how we educate our kids today, Hagan said when she launched her campaign. As a business owner, I know the free market works when government knows its role and business accepts responsibility. As a mom and a believer in the hearts of Floridians, I know our strength lies in our charities and faith based institutions to provide hope to the lost, food for the hungry and assistance to the poor.
After filing her paperwork on February 18, Hagan raised $2,000 between then and March 31, the end of the first quarter. During that time, she also loaned her campaign $5,500 and spent less than $35.
Mark Anderson, a Panama City attorney and engineer, is also looking to showcase his experience. Anderson, who is not the Bay County elections supervisor with the same name, hopes his diverse background, which also includes teaching at Florida State University, will do well with the voters. He also hopes Republican primary voters will be attracted to his conservative principles.
Im a conservative, Anderson told Sunshine State News on Tuesday. I believe smaller government is better.
Calling for more freedom and less taxes, Anderson believes free market solutions will help Floridas economy. He also supports fewer regulations. I believe this will bring more prosperity to Florida.
Anderson stressed that his background as an attorney would help him understand legislation but his experience as an engineer will help him connect to the residents of the district.
As an engineer, I can apply common sense, Anderson said.
As he entered the race in the middle of May, Anderson has not filed fundraising paperwork with the state Division of Elections yet.
Also in the race is conservative Brian Rust who ran for Bay County Commission in 2012 and had already set up a webpage to run again for the same office in 2016. In the meantime, he has his eyes set on Tallahassee for 2014. A former broadcast journalist, Rust hosts a radio show in New York even though he has lived in Bay County for a number of years.
We need a strong leader to continue the tradition of strong leadership from Bay County, Rust insisted when he jumped in the race. I will be someone who will represent the interests of the people of Bay County and not special interests. I promise you that I will defend us and support the U.S. Constitution to the letter.
Rust entered the race on March 7 and has filed a waiver with the Division of Elections regarding his first-quarter fundraising report.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (904) 521-3722.
