Howard Holley is definitely in. So is Paul Renner and two other unknowns in Flagler. Trevor Tucker is out. Dave Sullivan is almost out. Donald O’Brien, who teetered in, appears out after all. And there’s no telling who else might be jumping in or out.
The special election to fill Travis Hutson’s Florida House seat in District 24, made up mostly of Flagler County, is turning into a combination of musical chairs band feeding frenzy.
What’s certain is that Holley is running again, this time as a Republican. Holley just came off a stinging loss against Frank Meeker in a race for Flagler County Commission (Meeker won with 59 percent of the vote despite Holley outspending by far all other local candidates). Holley ran as an independent.
On Tuesday, when he was still “thinking about it,” Holley said his chief interest was that Flagler had a “consensus candidate” who has the chance to seize the seat and give the county representation it hasn’t had in more than 40 years. “That’s the only hope that we have,” Holley said. “If that can be achieve, then I’ll support whoever it is.”
By Wednesday, Holley had decided to be in. “I’ve made the decision to run for the state House of Representatives for District 24,” he said in a brief interview with WNZF, suggesting that his platform will mirror the one he put forth in his county commission run: economic growth, jobs, a positive business climate balanced with preserving quality of life.
“Clearly,” Holley said, “the campaign has put my name out there, it’s associated me around the things that I just talked about, and I think it’s very appropriate now to take that to the state House and continue that type of dialogue and continue this type of value to the district.”
Holley on Tuesday had said he would not participate in a feeding frenzy, should the race turn into that. But it’s not far from one. So far three other Republicans have declared for the seat: Sheamus MvcNeely and Ronald Sanchez of St. Augustine, and Paul Renner, one of Palm Coast’s newest residents: he just took a place at Canopy Walk, moving down from Jacksonville, where earlier this year he lost a primary House race by two votes after spending $283,000. Renner, an attorney, is expected to spend heavily in this race again.
“The difficulties are going to be around the financial end of it,” Holley said. Renner did not respond to a message left with his campaign treasurer, and his listed campaign phone did not take messages.
One Democrat has declared for the seat: Thomas Morley of St. Augustine.
The special elections for the two other seats in the domino effect that ex-Sen. John Thrasher’s resignation triggered are a bit less frenzied, at least so far. Hutson is contesting the Senate seat against fellow-House member and Republican Ronald Renuart. The winner will face David Cox, a Democrat who lost in his first race against U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who won with 63 percent of the vote (59 percent in Flagler). Since Renuart resigned his House 17 seat, that race has drawn two Republicans so far, but it’s only in St. Johns County.
In Flagler, Dave Sullivan, the local Republican Executive Committee Chairman (for a few more weeks, anyway), had said he’d run for the House 24 seat, but as others have discussed running, or decided to run, he’s pulled back. He favors an O’Brien candidacy, but he also favors a focused candidacy from one Flagler candidate, and said he would support Holley. Neither Holley nor Sullivan consider Renner a Flagler candidate as much as a candidate who’s moved to Flagler. On Thursday, Sullivan was still under the impression that O’Brien would run. O’Brien, the chief financial officer at Hayward Brown Flagler Insurance, did not respond to calls to his office and cell phone. He had declared a run for the seat two years ago, only to abruptly pull out “due to family and business commitments.” A source close to O’Brien today said O’Brien was deciding against running for similar reasons.
“My basic thought still stands,” Sullivan said. “It is to our advantage in Flagler County in order to support the person from Flagler to win that race.”
The consensus among local officials is that a Flagler candidate can win the race only by mustering the support not only of a solid plurality of Flagler Republicans, but of Democrats as well. Flagler represents 60 percent of the House district’s population, with the rest split between St. Johns and Volusia counties. If more than one local resident runs for the seat, the vote will be split, likely favoring a non-Flagler candidate.
The primary is scheduled for Jan. 27. The general election is scheduled for April 7.
Seminole Pride says
I don’t think a candidate should be allow to change party hats so soon after running under a different party in a recent election. They should be required to sit out of politics for about 5 years. That’s was one of the reasons I didn’t vote for Charlie Crist. His non commitment to his party.
YankeeExPat says
Ronald Reagan was a liberal Democrat until 1962 when he switched parties. And don’t forget he was a union boss himself as he was president of the Screen Actor’s Guild. Tell these facts to the Tea party types and you will get the same uncomfortable reaction as when you remind a Southern Republican that President Lincoln was from their party.
Will says
Parties change. Ideologies change. Republicans used to be the liberals.
Howard Holley was a Republican before he approached the commissioner race as an NPA candidate. It didn’t work for him, but if you look at the registration numbers in the county, it made sense to give it a try. I haven’t looked at the results to calculate which group didn’t go the polls the most – compared to registration – but someone might do that – Rs – Ds – or NPAs.
Holley is a very bright guy in a county that needs bright guys. He can probably get more done for Flagler than any other candidate I know, IF he gets to go to Tallahassee. I can’t vote in the R primary, but I’d happily vote for Holley in the general to secure a state house seat for a long time Flagler resident. I certainly don’t want the cynical guy from St. Johns who just bought a condo in Palm Coast so he could say he lives here for the campaign.
Sherry Epley says
I would certainly vote for a person of integrity who stands strong for their principles and ethics. . . before I would vote for anyone who tows the “party line” no matter how radical that line gets!
Jim Greene says
Mr. Holley never switched parties he simply run as a NP candidate.
Derrick R. says
This Guy is starting his attempt at being a career politician. He failed locally so instead of lining up his ducks (facts & ideas) for another try next time to help the people he wanted to serve and fix what was broken locally. He’s abandoning us for a bigger slice of the pie without ever clearing off the table.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
I kind of wish Hutch King or Jim Darby would come back and run. It sure would be nice to have experienced elected officials go to work for us once again who have a track record for getting things done in Flagler County.
Lancer says
Flagler’s most experienced and finest need to cultivate the next group of verifiable and successful Flagler county residents to move into leadership roles. I like Holley, Sullivan, etc., but it very may well be time to pass responsibility to the next generation.
There are quite a few deserving younger people that need to be nurtured, introduced and mentored. That means cultivating contacts in South St. Johns and Northern Volusia counties, as well as Flagler. The aforementioned people could have a greater impact in that regard.
Elsewise, you will continue to get exactly what is currently happening: An outside, well financed, candidate will move into the area and buy the election.
Barbara says
Be very careful of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Before you support Mr. Holley talk to people around him. Talk to past employees. He may not be who you think he is…..