Gov. Rick Scott on Monday called a special election for legislative seats representing parts of Northeast Florida.
With Republican John Thrasher resigning his seat in the Florida Senate to take over as president of Florida State University last week, a special primary has been set for Jan. 27, 2015, with the special election to be held April 7. Two current members of the Florida House are running for that Senate seat, meaning their House seats will also be up for grabs on those dates.
The Senate seat represents all of Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties and part of Volusia County. Already there are three Republican candidates aiming for it. The district is solidly Republican.
On Monday Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast, announced he would run for the seat. In his announcement, Hutson attempted to claim the mantles of Thrasher and the late former Senate President Jim King.
I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Florida Senate, said Hutson on Monday. Like the senators who represented this area before me -- Sen. John Thrasher and the late Sen. Jim King -- I hold a deep passion for our Northeast Florida communities and want nothing more than to see our businesses and community members thrive for years to come.
Today, I pledge to serve with the same integrity and utmost respect as I did in the Florida House, Hutson added. I also want to thank my family, especially my wife, Tanya, for their continued support and encouragement, as they know how much giving back to our community means to me. It is with great honor that I embark on this campaign, and I look forward to having an opportunity to serve in the Senate and continue the great legacies that have come before me.
Having represented three of the four counties within Senate District 6 in the Florida House, I feel I am uniquely qualified to serve this district in our states Capitol, Hutson said in conclusion. I already have a working knowledge and understanding of the district and what our slice of Northeast Florida is looking to enhance and accomplish in Tallahassee.
Hutson becomes the third candidate to run for the seat. Rep. Doc Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, has already filed to run and has changed his websites to note he is running for the Senate and not the House.
While Hutson stressed his career in the private sector in his announcement Monday, Renuarts early campaign efforts have focused on his service in the military.
As our state struggled through a deep and prolonged recession, I focused on putting our economy back on track and Floridians back to work, Renuart notes on his new Senate campaign website. As a physician, I spend my days talking with real people who have serious concerns -- good paying jobs and making ends meet are at the top of the list. To strengthen our economy, Florida must continue to attract job creators by cutting government red tape and creating a climate that allows businesses to begin and grow.
I am also a veteran of three tours of duty in the global War on Terrorism with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Renuart added. Retiring as a colonel, I was honored to serve this country for over 20 years in the military. I have worked tirelessly to give our veterans the honor and support they have earned.
Renuart painted himself as a proud veteran, a practicing physician and, above all, a proven conservative" who will continue to advance the causes and address the concerns we share.
Derek Hankerson, the Putnam County Tea Party chairman, has also filed to run for the seat. Hankerson challenged Thrasher in the Republican primary back in August and pulled in 30 percent of the vote.
Three Republicans have already filed to run for the seat Renuart is vacating: St. Johns County Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson; attorney and Navy vet John Capra who ran for the Florida House in 2008, taking 12 percent and losing to Renuart in the Republican primary; and businessman Mike Davis who took on Renuart in the Republican primary back in 2012, taking second in the three-candidate race with 31 percent.
No candidates have filed so far for the House seat vacated by Hutson. The seat represents all of Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties. Like the seat vacated by Renuart, it is generally seen as a safe seat for Republicans.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN.
