With state Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, foregoing another term to run for Lake County elections supervisor, state Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, is setting his sites on that Senate seat.
Baxley had been running for the seat currently held by Sen. Charles Dean, R-Inverness, but, after the latest round of redistricting, he decided to shift further seat. Under the latest map, Baxley would run in a district representing all of Lake and Sumter counties and the southern part of his home base in Marion County. The district leans Republican with former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass. taking more than 61 percent of the vote here during the 2012 presidential election.
On Thursday, Baxley, who served as mayor of Belleview, stressed his ties to the district.
“This district is my home,” Baxley said. “It is where I have done business, raised children, and served the public. I am honored to have the opportunity to now represent them in the state Senate. Florida is on the verge of a new era of prosperity, and this district needs a senator who has the experience and leadership skills to make sure that our area is not left behind. I believe that I am the person best prepared to be that leader.
“Many candidates for this seat will claim that they can create jobs with government policy, but I’m the only one who has actually done it as a businessman,” Baxley added. “I know the best way to bring prosperity to our region is to protect our natural resources and, other than that, keep government out of the way.”
First elected to the Florida House in 2000, Baxley moved up the leadership ladder, eventually serving as House speaker pro tempore. He resigned his seat in 2007 to run in a special election for an open Senate seat but lost out to Dean. In 2010, Baxley bounced back and won an open House seat after state Rep. Kurt Kelly ran for Congress. A social conservative, Baxley served as the executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida. During his time in the House, Baxley has been one of the leading defenders of “stand your ground” laws.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
