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?
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?
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