Congressional Candidate Troy Stanley Finishes Bike Tour of District

Over the years, political candidates have taken attempted to gain some attention by crossing Florida. Lawton Chiles, who was virtually unknown, made headlines by walking across the state in his successful bid for the U.S. Senate in 1970. In 1916, gubernatorial candidate Sidney Catts gained attention by driving across the state in his Model T Ford.

On Friday afternoon, conservative Troy Stanley, a businessman and Navy veteran who is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, finished up a four-day bicycle ride across the congressional district which stretches from the First Coast over to Tallahassee. Stanley, who is running with no party affiliation, seemed upbeat despite logging more than 200 miles over his four-day ride and talked to Sunshine State News on the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee.

Asked about what voters he talked to during his trip, Stanley said that he received encouragement for his bid. Theyre ready for something different, he said. Theyre happy to see a new face in the race.

Stanley added that voters were frustrated about high taxes, government spending and politicians being out of touch in Washington. He noted they were wanting to implement term limits. The candidate said that people were worried about unemployment which continues to remain high.

A supporter of the Fair Tax program, Stanley said that everyone he spoke to either backed the measure or came out to support it after they learned more about the proposal.

Conceding that he would not be able to run television commercials, Stanley said that he had a strong grass-roots team in place and that he had a radio spot already produced.

Stanley said he hoped his campaign would be lifted by the anti-incumbent mood evident in election results across the county.

This is the year independent and third-party candidates will have a shot at it, said Stanley.