Rep. Travis Hutson has taken the fundraising lead in the Special Election for Florida Senate District 6. Hutson who faced no opposition in the 2014 election Thursday transferred $300,00 from his House campaign account to his Senate account.
The only other announced candidate in the race at this time is Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach. The seat became open when John Thrasher resigned from the Senate Sunday at to accept the position of president at Florida State University. Derek Hankerson who received 29 percent of the vote when he challenged Thrasher in the August GOP primary has said he intends to make another run for the seat. Gov. Rick Scott scheduled a Jan. 27 primary and an April 7 general election for the District 6 seat.
“We are excited to hit the ground running in my special election campaign for Senate District 6,” Hutson said in a release. “I am passionate about our district, and it is important to me to help us continue to thrive, as well as enhance the future of Northeast Florida.”
Senate District 6 takes in St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties. In the Florida House, Hutson represented District 24 which includes Flagler and parts of St. Johns and Volusia.
Thrasher described the voters of the Senate district as conservative, small-government types who support education. In the House, Hutson had focused on the economy and public safety and had a hand in the Career and Professional Education Act, designed to align public education with workforce needs.
