Republican Sen. Travis Hutson today announced that he has qualified by petition to run for re-election for the Florida Senate District 7 seat he won in a special election last year.
District 7 includes all of Flagler County, portions of Volusia County and of St. Johns County. Its boundaries were redrawn somewhat last year by court order, and the district re-numbered, from 6 to 7, shedding Putnam County and picking up more of Volusia County. The net result is a slightly less Republican district, though it is still solidly Republican.
Hutson faces no opponent in the Aug. 30 primary so far. Qualifying does not end until June 24. One Democrat has filed to run, Curtis Ceballos of Palm Coast.
For Hutson, this represents the fourth election in four years. He’s won his previous three. His first two were for the House seat that includes Flagler County, in 2012 and 2014. He won the special election last year to replace John Thrasher, who resigned the seat to become Florida State University’s president. Hutson defeated Daytona Beach’s David Cox in the special election.
Hutson needed 1,552 signed petitions to qualify. His office said that so far 1,570 petitions have been verified. Absent petitions, he would have had to pay 6 percent of his salary at the senate, or $1,781.82. Money has not been an object for Hutson: he’s taken in $61,535 so far in contributions.
PCer says
Stop voting the party line and you MIGHT get my vote. Nothing worse than a politician who lets the party do their thinking for them.
anonymous says
I was hoping to get another senator in there. Anytime, I’ve called that representativea office, I was spoken to by his assistant Danielle. She was as rude as the day is long. I got absolutely no help from this office in time of need.
anonymous says
I will vote the worst one out.
James Marsala says
I have worked with several people from Senator Hutson’s office and mostly with Danielle and I have no idea what the person above is talking about. Danielle has been more then helpful, she has also been incredibly patient, kind, compassionate and extremely respectful. During what has been the most difficult period of my life, she has helped me navigate through several state agencies and found ways to get me answers when others along the way (not in the senator’s office) had simply passed-the-buck. In the past I never would have thought to call my state senator and only did so as a last resort and at the prompting of a friend who also found help and answers there. In retrospect I wish I had reached out to the Senator’s office sooner because it would have literally saved me a year of wasted time, energy and money.
I will also say that I rarely find common ground with any politician but the more I learn about Senator Hutson the more I realize that I’m grateful that he’s there representing us. He will not only have my vote, but my family’s votes as well.
I’m also not afraid to put my name next to what I have to say,
James Marsala
Palm Coast, FL
Merrill Shapiro says
Too bad that Hutson voted, in the Senate’s Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee to prohibit the Flagler County Commission and the city councils of Palm Coast, Bunnell and Flagler Beach from stopping fracking within their borders! He’d rather destroy our water and our air, ruin our environment and torpedo our local tourist industry than to give in to the oil and gas industry that contributes so heavily to his already swollen campaign coffers!
See CS/HB 191: Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources
GENERAL BILL by State Affairs Committee ; Rodrigues, R. ; Pigman ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Broxson ; Hill
Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources; Preempts to the state regulation of matters relating to exploration, development, production, processing, storage, & transportation of oil & gas after specified date; revises DEP rulemaking authority; prohibits department from issuing permits for high-pressure well stimulation until rules and study on the issue are completed; deletes provisions requiring Division of Resource Management to get certain approval from municipal governing bodies; requires division to consider additional criteria when issuing permits; requires DEP to conduct study; requires applicants & operators to provide surety; increases maximum amount for civil penalties; requires DEP to designate national chemical registry as state’s registry; requires service providers, vendors, & well owners or operators to report certain information to DEP; requires DEP to report certain information to registry; provides appropriation. APPROPRIATION: $1,000,000.00
PCer says
He is at the bottom rungs of his political career and has higher aspirations. Hold his feet to the fire now so he does not turn into another do boy of the GOP.
confidential says
He did not and will not get my vote. I was very dissapointed when Melissa Holland lost for such a small margin against him. He does not represent our needs but the ambition of the oil companies to try and start their rigs in front of our Atlantic beaches..No way!
Curtis Ceballos will be my candidate and this election should be about “we the people going to the ballot box” and NOT the GOP wealthy supporters going to “their wallets”. Lets get out and vote.