Davis, Hartpence file to run next year in Florida House District 48
Two candidates have filed to run next year as Republicans for the Florida House in District 48. Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, currently holds the seat but will be barred by term limits from seeking reelection.
Chad Davis of Winter Haven entered the race last week, joining Kenny Hartpence of Auburndale, who had previously filed to run.
On the run: Judge declares Pollock a fugitive after Lakeland resident fails to appear for trial in D.C.
Legislative preview: Polk lawmakers support main priorities of DeSantis, Republican leaders
Davis, 40, served as senior legislative assistant to former Florida Sen. Kelli Stargel from 2014 until she left the Legislature last year because of term limits. A native Floridian and fourth-generation Winter Haven resident, Davis holds a master's of public policy and a law degree from Pepperdine University in California and is currently a staff attorney for Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid.
“I believe I have the experience and the roots in the community to best serve our community,” Davis said in a news release. “Serving in the Legislature is first and foremost a job that requires certain knowledge and skills. With term limits in place, we need someone with experience in the legislative process who won’t waste time with on-the-job training.”
Davis is a past president of the Republican Club of Lakeland and a founding board member of the Chesterton Academy of Orlando, a private, classical Christian school.
“I have been given the opportunity to work and observe the legislative process in Tallahassee, and I believe I can make an impact,” Davis said in the release. “There are big issues we face like quality school choice options for all families, managing and supporting our growing population, and keeping Florida the free state we are blessed to call home.”
Hartpence, 31, ran last year in the Republican primary for U.S. House District 18, receiving 5.7% of the vote to finish fourth. He said he is a Polk County native who attended Polk State College and holds a law degree from the University of Oslo.
Hartpence said he has led three companies and is in the process of founding a data analytics firm based in Polk County.
In describing his motivation for running, Hartpence mentioned the decline in Polk County's citrus industry. He said his grandfather and neighbors grew oranges and that he previously worked for a citrus company and lamented that so many local groves have disappeared as the industry copes with citrus greening and other challenges.
"Citrus has been a big part of my life, and it hurts me and pains me to know that there will be generations of Floridians that are going to grow up that won't know that, and for no other reason than for politicians not caring," Hartpence said. "And to me, that's completely inexcusable. There are a myriad of ways you could attack that problem. You can create financial incentives. You can create pressure in a multitude of ways to fix the problems. And that's one of the things I intend to do."
The address listed on Hartpence's campaign documents is in District 51, the district of state Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City. He said he recently sold a house and is waiting for market conditions to improve before relocating in District 48.
State election laws require Florida House candidates to be living in their district "upon taking office."
Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland; Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade; and Tomkow have all filed to run for reelection in 2024.
Gary White can be reached at [email protected] or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Davis, Hartpence file to run next year in Florida House District 48
