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NRA endorses Lawrence McClure in HD 58

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Republican candidate Lawrence McClure, running in the special election for House District 58, has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association to replace previous state Rep. Dan Raulerson.

McClure, a Hillsborough County Farm Board Bureau board member from Dover, is running against Plant City businesswoman Yvonne Fry in the GOP primary, which takes place Oct. 10.

“Lawrence McClure has an ‘A’ rating and is the only candidate in this race endorsed by the NRA and he is the only candidate who honestly supports Second Amendment rights,” said the statement from the NRA’s Political Victory Fund.

Fry has opposed open carry of weapons and carrying guns on state university campuses, citing the recommendations of law enforcement officials who opposed those proposed bills in Tallahassee.

“I am and have always been pro-gun,” said Fry when asked about the NRA’s backing of her opponent. “I will work everyday to preserve and protect the 2nd Amendment.”

McClure has raised a total of $107,205 since entering the contest. Fry has raised $68,765 for her own campaign, and an additional $35,000 in her political committee, Florida Leadership Fund. Plant City Mayor Rick Lott contributed $25,000 to that committee.

The winner of the GOP primary will be the favorite in the general election with takes place on Dec. 19. Democrat Jose Vasquez, Libertarian Bryan Zemina and non-party-affiliated Ahmad Saadaldin are also on the ballot.

Raulerson, a Republican, stepped down last month with a full year left in his term, citing health reasons.

 

Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served as five years as the political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. He also was the assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley. He's a San Francisco native who has now lived in Tampa for 15 years and can be reached at [email protected]

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