GOPAC announced its 2019 class of emerging leaders and a Republican legislator from the Florida Panhandle was included.
State Rep. Jayer Williamson, R-Pace, was named to the GOPAC class on Thursday, making him the only Florida Republican included in the group which includes more than 25 other legislators from around the country.
“We welcome being a part of the success that this year’s Class of Emerging Leaders will achieve. These men and women will contribute much to our mission to build a roster of Republicans ready to lead in their state legislatures and run for higher office,” said GOPAC Chairman David Avella.
“The Emerging Leaders program is a year-long initiative to coach and develop state legislators from across the country on how to be effective legislative leaders,” GOPAC noted.
Williamson will take part in GOPAC’s Emerging Leaders summit held in South Carolina in June.
Currently the chairman of the Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee and the vice chairman of the Workforce Development and Tourism Subcommittee, Williamson represents parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties in the Florida House. He first ran House in 2012, challenging then-freshman Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Milton, in the Republican primary. While Broxson prevailed, Williamson took more than 40 percent of the vote. After a stint on Santa Rosa County Commission, Williamson bounced back to win the House seat in 2016 as Broxson went on to the Florida Senate.
Williamson has deep political roots in the Panhandle. His father Jim Williamson served on the Santa Rosa County Commission until his death in 2014 and on the Milton City Council before that. Williamson’s grandfather -- W.L. Butler -- served on the Santa Rosa County Commission back in the 1970s.
