As many of you may have already heard, Rep. Nick Thompson has decided to run for Circuit Court and forgo re-election to the Florida State House. House District 73 is my home district and between Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres, I have resided in this district nearly my entire life. This presents a fantastic opportunity to offer my service to the community. As a result, I mailed the appropriate paperwork on Friday and am now a candidate for Florida State House, District 73. Becoming a candidate for public office will require the sacrifice of several responsibilities I have taken on over the last two years. Specifically, I will be resigning my position as Vice-Chair of the Lee County Republican Party at the end of this month.

 

I value highly the ideal of a citizen legislator and believe that many of our problems in Washington, D.C. are the result of allowing a permanent political class to occupy our highest offices. The Founding Fathers rejected princely titles in our land because they understood that this would bring our leaders to believe that they were better than the people themselves.

 

We face many issues as a community, state, and nation, but chief among them is a lack of trust in our leaders. Over the last decade, many on both sides of the aisle have run on promises to rise above and provide the leadership of statesmen. Most have failed and this has left us feeling not just betrayed, but questioning the very possibility of humble public service.

 

One of the central themes of this campaign will be conveying my deep respect for, and commitment to, that sacred trust between the elected representative and the voter. If I am blessed with the opportunity to serve this District in Tallahassee, it will only be because the voters lent me a portion of their God-given rights.

I anticipate a spirited contest in both the primary and general election and look forward to presenting my philosophy to each and every voter as I go door to door over the next ten months. I plan to qualify by petition and will be visiting each corner of this District, asking not only for a vote, but support to stand for election in the first place. My family and I were deeply honored by the support of our community in the previous election and I hope to have your same support this summer and fall.

 

Thank you. God Bless You and God Bless the Great State of Florida.