Florida House, District 17

After the redistricting process earlier this year, Florida House District 17 now covers the northern half of St. Johns County, including St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the populated areas of in the northwest section of the county.

Incumbent Ronald "Doc" Renuart dispatched two Republican challengers in the primary and will face independent candidate Rebecca "Sue" Sharp in the November General Election.  Angela Casey also qualified in this race as a write-in candidate.

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Scroll down to read about the candidates on the ballot.

Ronald "Doc" Renuart


PARTY: Republican

AGE:  48

HOMETOWN:  Ponte Vedra Beach

FAMILY:  Married to the former Tamara Ferrell; seven children

EDUCATION:  University of Florida - AA, BS, Certificate in Florida Studies; Nova Southeastern University- Osteopathic Medical Degree; University of Florida/Shands Jacksonville - Internal Medicine Residency

OCCUPATION:  Internal Medicine physician and retired military veteran who as a full colonel served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Florida Army National Guard (1990-2010)

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:  Elected to the Florida House of Representative in 2008 and 2010; chairman of the St. Johns Legislative Delegation (2011-2012 and 2009); appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the Florida Medicaid Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee (2005-2008); member of the Republican Executive Committee of St. Johns County (2006-present); president of the Republican Club of Ponte Vedra (2005-2007); elected as the alternate delegate to Republican National Convention (February 2012)

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE TOP THREE ISSUES IN THIS RACE?

  • "Jobs and the economy are still the greatest issue we face especially here in St Johns County. Because we have so little industry in the county, the tax base is heavily reliant on residential taxes. We must continue to attract businesses to move to St Johns by competing with other counties and states. We provide the best public education for our children, but we have limited job opportunities for them to apply their knowledge and skills in our community.
  • "St Johns County's representation in Tallahassee has been reduced significantly as a result of redistricting. The Count's delegation has been reduced from 3 State Senators and 3 State Representatives to just 1 Senator and 2 representatives. Unless we elect strong experienced leadership, this will impair the county's support for issues that are specific and important to us.
  • "We continue to face challenges balancing the budget to provide adequate funding for education, health care, and other core state responsibilities. Health care and education account for 2/3rds of the state budget. The state must stand up to the Federal government and refuse to concur on the Medicaid expansion mandates that will bleed money from all other sections of the budget including education, public safety, and transportation."
  • HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP VOTERS IN A WAY OTHERS IN THIS RACE CAN'T?

    • "As the only candidate in either Florida House race in St Johns that has served in state government, I provide the leadership and experience to represent the county's needs. I am the only physician in all of the state government that is eligible for re-election. With all the tough decisions directed to the state after the US Supreme Court decision on President Obama's National Health Care Plan, I am one of a limited few legislators that possess a patient care background and an expertise on health care issues. I have the backing and support of the incoming Speaker of the House and I have established relationships with other state legislators to form a concensus for issues critical to us."

    WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR ACCOMPLISHING AFTER SERVING IN THIS OFFICE?

    • "As I run for my third term, I continue to promote smaller government, fewer taxes, and more individual freedoms. Having balanced the budget the last four years facing unprecedented reductions in revenues, my legislative colleagues and I have held government to living within its means just as Florida family must do. I personally have passed important legislation that has protected school athletes from concussions, allowed children with cystic fibrosis to take their medications while attending school, provided protections for deployed reserve service members from adverse child custody decisions and protection of their jobs while away, created a new general officer position for the Florida Army National Guard, and created a consortium for prostate cancer research. In 2012, I was also the legislative voice for the city of St Augustine in the debate that would have allowed unrestrained eminent domain without local oversight."

    CAMPAIGN WEBSITE:  VoteDocRenuart.com | Facebook.com/KeepDocRenuart

    Rebecca "Sue" Sharp


    PARTY:  No Party Affiliation

    HOMETOWN: Ponte Vedra Beach

    AGE:  55

    FAMILY:  Daughters, Carrie, 31, Angela, 27; 1 granddaughter, Adriana, 9; grandsons, Connor, 4, and Grandson, Luka, 9 months

    OCCUPATION:  Advanced structural rehab specialist

    EDUCATION:  Ph.D., Masters; bachelors in theology; A.A. in accounting; A.S. in computer science; A.S. in nursing

    POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:  Worked in campaigns of Sen. Pat Neal, Judge Nancy Donnellen and Jacksonville Beach Mayor Fland Sharp

    WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE TOP THREE ISSUES IN THIS RACE?

  • "Education-improving quality of both students and teachers, increase teachers salaries, putting taxpayers dollars back into the classroom, reducing the waste. Allow for vouchers and statewide charter for virtual schools
  • "Balancing the Budget, eliminating fraud and waste. (I have a BIG RED PEN I AM TAKING TO THE BUDGET) Restoring fiscal responsibility by spending wisely.
  • "Stopping Agenda 21 and Islam Terrorists from building further "cells and pockets" in Florida. Making sure the Consititution (both U.S. and Florida) is the only law relied upon in Florida. No Sharia Law"

  • HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP VOTERS IN A WAY OTHERS IN THIS RACE CAN'T?

    • "I help them every day as it is by making trips to Tallahassee on a regular basis to stop the passage of bills that will hurt Floridians. Successfull at "killing" HB213, SB1890 and SB670 from becoming law as it would have turned Florida into a "Non-Judicial State" vs. what it is now, a Judcial State. Also stopped the progression of the legislators moving forward a bill that would give themselves, past legislators and their staff/past staff absolute immunity from the law. My lobbyists and special insterest groups are Floridians. I take no money from any groups, lobbyists or corporations. I am a patriot, not a politician and I work everyday to protect our precious Consititution and I am Madame Chair of The Republian Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida. A group formed to protect "WE THE PEOPLE" liberties, an ever growing job without end in site."


    WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR ACCOMPLISHING AFTER SERVING IN THIS OFFICE?

    • "I believe in Term Limits and plan on only one term unless my constituients insist on a second one. Then I am out, hoping to accomplish the things I have listed. 'She did what she said she would and she didn't sell us out, she is a true patriot!'"


    WEBSITE:  ForeclosureWarriors.ning.com

    Qualified write-in candidate: Angela Casey