While his district has shifted farther south, state Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, looks in excellent shape as he seeks to continue his career on the Florida political stage.
Thrasher, who served as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), has traditionally been based out of the First Coast. His current Senate district, to which he was first elected in 2009 in a special election following the death of Sen. Jim King, stretched the Atlantic Coast, including parts of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties.
But with the Legislature tackling redistricting earlier in the year, Thrasher loses the northern part of the First Coast -- including Jacksonville -- and extends to a new county altogether. The new district, SD 6, contains all of St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia County.
While earlier this summer Thrasher spiked his plans to compete for the Senate presidency after the 2016 election, he remains one of the leading Republicans in the state and has been active with Mitt Romneys presidential campaign and Connie Macks bid for the U.S. Senate.
Thrasher has compiled an impressive campaign war chest. So far in this election cycle, he has raised more than $450,500 including more than $22,000 in the second quarter of 2012. Thrasher has kept around $280,000 on hand after spending almost $47,000 in the second quarter. So far in the election cycle, he has spent more than $170,500.
Democrats had high hopes of defeating Thrasher in 2010 when they ran Deborah Gianoulis, who is well-known on the First Coast for her decades as a local news anchor. While Gianoulis looked to focus the race on education issues, Thrasher buried her in a landslide, taking more than 60 percent of the vote.
This time out, retired teacher, proud union member and Democratic activist Kathleen Trued stands in Thrashers path. Trued entered the race in June during the last days to qualify and she has started off slowly with fundraising, bringing in little more than $500 and relying on more than $3,150 through in-kind donations in the first month of her campaign.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
