Joe Pickens Backs Bobby Payne Over Leslie Dougher, Katherine Van Zant

Former Florida Rep. Joe Pickens, now the president of St. Johns River State College, announced on Monday he was backing Bobby Payne for the Republican nomination to replace term-limited Rep. Charlie Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights. 

“Years ago, I encouraged Bobby Payne to run for state representative because I know he has the knowledge and leadership skills necessary to be a strong and effective leader,” said Pickens. “He understands the struggles of the everyday working people who are the backbone of our district. He shares our conservative values, and I have no doubt that Bobby Payne will be an extraordinary representative for Northeast Florida. I am very happy that he is now able to offer himself as a candidate to lead our district forward.”

Payne worked for the Seminole Electric Cooperative for almost three-and-a-half decades. He is running in the Republican primary against former Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chairwoman Leslie Dougher and Katherine Van Zant, wife of the current incumbent.