Two Republican candidates on Monday jumped in the 2016 battle for the open congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla. Murphy is running for the U.S. Senate.
Decorated veteran Brian Mast, who lost both of his legs to an IED blast during his service in Afghanistan, launched a bid for the Republican nomination. Mast called for less federal regulation, lower taxes and increased educational opportunities.
“Our nation is at a crossroads and our democracy is desperate for both leadership and decisive action on a wide range of issues that drive our economic future and national security,” said Mast. “The American people deserve better than they have gotten from our federal government. Once in Congress, I plan to lead the way to increase educational opportunities for our young people and prosperity for our families.
“Whether you are in a combat zone, or trying to find a job or a better life for your family -- there is plenty of adversity out there that must be overcome -- our government should be working to remove barriers to opportunity, not create them," Mast added. "The adversity I have faced in my life has only intensified my desire to serve and to ensure that the people of our great nation have every opportunity to rise as far as their talent and hard work will take them.”
Republican leader Rick Kozell also entered the fray on Monday, which was first reported by Saint PetersBlog. An attorney who has been active with the local GOP and the National Republican Lawyers Association, Kozell worked for the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission in Washington, D.C.
“Today, Congress seems more focused on growing the bureaucracy than on solving problems,” Kozell said on Monday. “It’s time we fix Washington and restore America’s reputation abroad.
Promising to fight for more economic opportunity, the new candidate vowed to stand up against President Barack Obama.
“For the past year, I have fought the Obama administration’s attempts to increase the reach of government into our local communities and small businesses,” Kozell said. “Now it’s time to take the fight to Congress.”
Mast and Kozell join an increasingly growing field of candidates running in what is expected to be one of the most competitive congressional races in the nation. Former state Rep. Carl Domino, who Murphy easily dispatched last year, St. Lucie County Commissioner Tod Mowery and Martin County School Board member Rebecca Negron are already running for the Republican nomination. Conservative leader Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who ran for Congress and the U.S. Senate in Maryland, congressional staffer Bill Castle, state Rep. Gayle Harrell, pundit Noelle Nikpour, Martin County Commissioner Doug Smith and businessman Gary Uber are looking at running for the Republican nomination.
On the Democratic side, two members of the Palm Beach County Commission -- Melissa McKinlay and Priscilla Taylor -- are already running. So is engineer Juan Xuna. Other possible candidates on the Democratic side include state Sen. Joe Abruzzo and St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
