With Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, set to retire in 2012 due to term limits, Republicans from across the state have rallied behind former Rep. Aaron Beans bid to replace him.
With the Senate leadership behind his candidacy -- coupled with previous fund-raising efforts -- Bean will be a heavy favorite to keep the seat, which currently represents parts of Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, though this can change in redistricting next year, in the Republican fold.
Bean -- whose previous experience includes serving as mayor of Fernandina Beach in Nassau County and four terms in the House from 2000 until facing term limits in 2008 -- has won the backing of a number of the Floridas most prominent Republicans, includingCFO Jeff Atwater, Senate President Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island, Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, Wise, and Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville, the former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. They, along with a number of other Republican members of the Senate, will be holding a fund-raising reception for Bean on Tuesday.
As we begin the campaign for the district that my friend Senator Wise currently represents, I am honored that President Haridopolos and former president and current CFO Atwater are joining with these Senate Republicans to support my candidacy, said Bean.
Other Republicans in the Senate backing Bean include Senators J.D. Alexander of Lake Wales, Thad Altman of Melbourne, Greg Evers of Crestview, Don Gaetz of Destin, Rene Garcia of Hialeah, Alan Hays of Umatilla, Joe Negron of Palm City, Steve Oelrich of Gainesville, Garrett Richter of Naples and David Simmons of Altamonte Springs.
As of the end of December, Bean had posted impressive fund-raising totals, bringing in more than $240,000 and keeping his powder dry with more than $190,500 in the bank at that time. Some of that money comes from Beans brief bid in the special election for the seat held by the late Senate President Jim King. While Bean briefly threw his name in the hat, he quickly backed out and supported Thrasher, who went on to win the seat.
Beans efforts have already paid off to some extent. The only serious Republican threat to Bean was former Rep. Dick Kravitz, a veteran of Jacksonville politics, who pulled the plug on a Senate bid to run for Duval County tax collector.
Despite having an open field for the moment, Bean insists that other candidates will emerge and that he is not counting his chickens before they hatch.
With any open seat for the Legislature, we know it is going to be competitive, said Bean. But we have already developed an outstanding team and we plan to outwork, outhandshake and outhustle the competition.
Bean, who currently works for Shands Jacksonville and operates two small businesses, added that he is looking forward to returning to the Legislature.
I look forward to campaigning hard for the honor of continued public service on behalf of the people of Northeast Florida, said Bean.
Reach Kevin Derby at derby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
