Melissa Sellers Stone, who served as chief of staff and campaign manager to Gov. Rick Scott, is going to work for state Rep. Frank White, R-Pensacola, as he continues his bid for the Republican nomination in the state attorney general race.
According to White’s team, Stone will “focus on strategic coalition building.” White meets former Judge Ashley Moody in the Republican primary at the end of next month. Current Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi faces term limits this year.
Stone is no stranger to Florida politics. Back in 2014, she guided Scott to a second term when he held off former Gov. Charlie Crist in a close race. Stone had been working with state Rep. Jay Fant, R-Jacksonville, in the race to replace Bondi. Fant ended his bid last month and applied to lead the state Office of Financial Regulation.
On Monday, White welcomed Stone, who has also worked for the Republican National Convention, for then Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., and for the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign, to his team.
“Melissa is a conservative warrior who’s been on the front lines of campaigns here in Florida and across the country and we are excited to have her on the team,” said White.
“Momentum is building for conservative Frank White and I am proud to join this all-star team as we work to build on his lead in the weeks ahead,” said Stone. “Frank’s team has run a disciplined campaign built on his conservative values and proven record and there is no doubt he is best positioned to capture the Republican nomination for attorney general.”
On the Democratic side, state Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, is the favorite to win his party’s nomination in next month’s primary. Shaw faces Central Florida attorney Ryan Torres in the Democratic primary.
