House District 67 GOP candidate Chris Latvala received an endorsement on Monday from Largo City Commissioner Curtis Holmes.
Latvala, the son of state Sen. Jack Latvala, is seeking to replace term-limited Rep. Ed Hooper for the district covering sections of Clearwater, Largo and Pinellas Park. Holmes is a two-term council member, first elected in 2009, and then again in 2012.
“It’s paramount that all freshman legislators know the system, especially if we want them to hit the ground running,” Holmes said in a statement released on Monday. “Due to his experience working with Representative Hooper, I’m confident that he can and will put in the effort and time necessary to do just that and be a strong conservative voice in Tallahassee.”
In addition to working three years as a legislative aide for Hooper, Latvala served in the 2014 Leadership Pinellas class. He currently is a member of the Pinellas MPO Citizen Advisory Committee, a board member of the PACE Center for Girls the Ruth Eckerd Hall Government Advocacy Committee and the Community Relations Committee for New Life Solutions.
“Commissioner Holmes is a dedicated public servant and leader in our party and community,” Latvala responded. “He has great knowledge about the City of Largo and is a tireless leader, passionate about helping his constituents within the city. It is an honor to have his endorsement, and I look forward to working with him throughout the campaign and as the next Representative for District 67 in the Florida House.
Holmes joins the growing groundswell of GOP support for the first-time candidate, including Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Reps. Hooper and Larry Ahern, the Fraternal Order of Police, Clearwater City Council members Hoyt Hamilton, Paul Gibson and vice-mayor Doreen Hock-Dipolito, and former Pinellas County School Board Member Glen Gilzean.
