Florida state Rep. Kurt Kelly (R) filed the paperwork Tuesday for a campaign to take on Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), joining a wide, though not particularly prominent, field of Republicans vying for the chance to knock off the liberal firebrand.
Kelly, whose district covers part of Grayson’s 8th district, has been eyeing the race since the fall, but was waiting to see how the field shaped up.
“I am grateful and excited about the encouragement and support that I have received district wide,” Kelly said in a statement, noting early endorsements from local state Reps. Stephen Precourt and Eric Eisnaugle, Lake County Commissioner Jimmy Conner, and former House Speaker Pro-Temp Dennis Baxley.
The self-described “conservative businessman” is serving his second term in the state House, and is also the CEO of a company that conducts background searches for employers.
Kelly joins seven other Republicans who have formed campaign committees for the race, including attorney and conservative activist Todd Long, retired pilot Dan Fanelli, physician Ken Miller and Armando Gutierrez Jr., a wealthy restaurateur and developer.
Republican officials have been working to recruit Orlando businessman Bruce O’Donoghue, who has indicated he is likely to get into the race.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:36 am
I think we are ready for some fresh faces in our Nation’s Capital.Patricia Sullivan is not a rich lawyer or a career politician. She is a concerned citizen that will fight to limit government, show fiscal responsibility, find free market solutions to our economic woes and to honor and adhere to our Great Constitution of the United States of America. Do not dismiss her and omit her from serious discussion when talking about sending Grayson Packing at the end of this year.
January 8th, 2010 at 11:05 am
The author of this article has done the voter a disservice in not mentioning one of the leading candidates, Patricia Sullivan. Her wins in many of the straw poll party have solidified her position. Why are so many people backing Patricia Sullivan? It’s simple. We in the 8th district are tired of the same “Good old boy” representation by lawyers, real estate developers, and career politicians who view us a annoyances to be ignored in favor their personal agendas and party. Patricia Sullivan is a fresh, new, courageous voice who, when elected in November, will make representation of and for the people in her district her main objective.
January 8th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Patricia Sullivan is running for this seat also. I don’t know why the media fails to mention that. Maybe they are afraid that the people may rise up and elect someone who is a regular person like us who wants to reform Washington. That is what you will get with Patricia. She is a home schooling mother who does not want to pass on to her children and grandchildren a country that is bankrupt and corrupt. She wants to restore the Constitution to the governing document of our great USA by actually following what it says and not just giving lip service to it as an ideal. She wants smaller government and vows to represent the people and not the lobbyists. She will bring the common sense approach to spending that you and I have to follow every day – if you don’t have the money, you don’t spend it. No more spending our children and grandchildren’s future. Born and raised in this district, she loves the people here and will not make us the laughing stock of the country by rude and divisive comments. If that is the kind of person you want representing you in Washington find out more about Patricia and let your friends know also. If you want to continue with the same career politicians who buy your Congressional Seat then you get what you paid for!
January 8th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Looks as though you’re missing a very key player in the 8th District race: Patricia Sullivan of Eustis.
As the first woman from Lake County to run for Congress, and the first candidate from Lake County to run for the Eighth District, Patricia is making history. Hopefully you won’t forget this dynamic new candidate in your next article about the 8th District race! You can learn more about her at: http://PatriciaSullivanForCongress.com
January 8th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Would you please show us that you care enough about reporting the complete news to mention the NAMES of all the “other” candidates rather than just lumping them all together. The people of the 8th district don’t want another career politician or another carpetbagger who has enough money to buy the seat. We’re more interested in someone who will return control of the government to the people & adhere to the Constitution, serve one or two terms & come back home when the job’s been done. Patricia Sullivan is the candidate who fits the description & the media should stop ignoring her. She’s the people’s choice & we expect to be heard.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
You missed Patricia Sullivan. Of all of the candidates running against Grayson, Patricia is absolutely the best Republican alternative. Patricia is true conservative and Not a Politician. On all of the “straw” votes she is a leader. You should go to patriciasullivanforcongress.com and see for yourself.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I agree with Richard’s comments, that the author of the original post did not do his homework. Patricia is an excellent example of the grassroots citizen candidates that are rising up across the country to reform our government by bringing the voice of the people, real people, to DC
January 8th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
I am appalled. How could anyone doing any writing about the slew of candidated miss Patricia Sullivan? She is the only breath of fresh air we have been offered thus far in the political arena we live in…the 8th district where we have tolerated Mr. Disgrayson long enough.
Ms Sullivan, a home schooling mom who quotes from our constitution verbatim during her forthright talks around town, is a courageous, strong, well grounded, spiritual woman. Her love for our country steers her thought process and her rhetoric is infused with paltitudes about America, the country we are blessed to live in. She has no agenda, but to work hard for the people who live in our district. To actually represent US and not her own gain nor position in life. She IS ONE OF US ! Having had the pleasure of meeting her I would support her in any bevy of candidates no matter what their personal wealth, position, nor connections provide them. A true heart gets my vote anyday.
January 8th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
It seems that the Patricia Sullivan staff have been very busy. I am curious why I have not heard of her! What is she polling?
January 11th, 2010 at 9:45 am
@ admin, Patricia came in #1 in Bud Hedinger poll and #2 in the Orlando Hob Nob straw poll at the end of last year.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Seriously…. Why do I have to have the same name as Patricia Sullivan? What a beautiful name and now some putz housewife thinks she is a brilliant leader and is going to ruin the name.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
O’Donoghue is a huge jerk. He would sell his own mother. He has no integrity. He does this stuff for power. He is a country club Republican. He is associated with Mel Martinez and he is politically the same if not worse. It is offensive that he runs under the tea party banner. There must be a true conservative that can beat Grayson. Throw O’Donoghue overboard.
And to speak frankly and honestly, this guy doesn’t have a prayer against Grayson. Orlando is a blue district. He is so vanilla and lifeless, he won’t capture any interest. He doesn’t have a tenth of a percent of the personality and charisma that Grayson has.
February 7th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I’ve met and gotten to know Dan Fanelli who is in the race also. Retired Navy P-3 pilot and airline pilot…seems to be the real deal and a stand-up guy…doing this for “all of us” not himself!
February 17th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
I have heard of Patricia on the radio. She did an interview locally and was impressive. She took on the train fiasco and got it stopped. We didn’t want that train either. Now that it is part of the crapulous plan, I guess the powers-that-be are going to cram a high speed rail system that only 3500 people are going to use and we are all going to have to take on the liablility and pay for down our throats. Is there any way we can stop that thing? I can’t believe people actually think it is a good idea…well, maybe for some of their pocketbooks! We can’t afford to maintain it or take on the liability of the tracks that the trains using it will avoid. Our state government thinks we are completely stupid!! Vote them all out and let’s start over with some people who have some common sense!
February 17th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Oh, that was Paula Dockery I was talking about, wasn’t it! Paula has my vote. I don’t get a vote on Patricia, but it seems reasonable to consider voting for a mom who has to run a budget and has common sense. I am still very much against the high speed rail issue though.