Republican candidates will be converging on the Space Coast on Sunday to face the voters in a forum hosted by the Republican Liberty Caucus of Central East Florida (RLCCEF) with Sunshine State News playing a major role.
RLCCEF Chairman Bob White announced over the weekend that two Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls--U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and businessman and Army veteran Todd Wilcox--will attend the forum in Viera. There will also be a straw poll for the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and for state legislative races.
U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., will also be on hand though he won’t be taking part in any of the forums since, as of now, he is not facing a Republican primary challenge.
"Bill is a great friend and a supporter of liberty in Washington DC,” White said. “We are very pleased to have him give the welcome and opening remarks.”
Besides the U.S. Senate race, the GOP primary for an open Florida Senate seat will also be in the spotlight. Two Florida House Republicans facing term limits in November--Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach and Ritch Workman of Melbourne--are now running for the Senate. So is Brevard County Republican State Committeeman Mike Thomas. All three candidates are scheduled to attend the event in Viera.
A host of Republicans running for the Florida House will also be featured at the event on Sunday including George Collins and Chadwick Hardee running in HD 50; Tim Tumulty in HD 51; Brian Hodgers, Monique Miller and Fritz Van Volkenburg in HD 52; and Randy Fine in HD 53.
"This will be a great opportunity for Brevard citizens to get to know not only these candidates for the U.S. Senate, but also the candidates running to represent them in the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives,” White noted. "Brevard County voters will get to see these candidates on stage together answering questions and debating the issues."
John Hallman, the legislative affairs director for Liberty First Network, and Sunshine State News’ own Kevin Derby will be moderating the forums.
The forums and straw poll will take place at 2 pm on Sunday at the Viera Holiday Inn Business Center.
