Phil Ammann
Citing leadership skills and an understanding of the district, former State Rep. Joe Pickens is endorsing Republican Robert “Bobby” Payne for the House District 19 race.
District 19 covers all of Bradford, Putnam, and Union Counties, as well as the southern and central portions of Clay County. Payne, a native of Palatka, is seeing the open seat currently held by term-limited Keystone Heights Republican Charles Van Zant, whose wife Katherine has also filed for the seat.
Pickens, a Palatka Republican, represented much of the same largely rural district in the Legislature from 2000 to 2008, leaving a strong record on education and agriculture issues.
“Years ago, I encouraged Bobby Payne to run for state representative because I know he has the knowledge and leadership skills necessary to be a strong and effective leader,” Pickens said in a statement. “He understands the struggles of the everyday working people who are the backbone of our district. He shares our conservative values, and I have no doubt that Bobby Payne will be an extraordinary representative for Northeast Florida.
“I am very happy that he is now able to offer himself as a candidate to lead our district forward.”
The Pickens endorsement follows the recent support of Payne from State Rep. Kelley Smith. Payne has raised $4,750 in June, for a total of $33,450 so far in the HD 19 race. Katherine Van Zant collected $4,655 last month, for overall fundraising of just over $30K.
Payne is a 34-year employee of Seminole Electric Cooperative, and serves on numerous boards and committees, including as past Chairman of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and past President of Sunrise Rotary.
Former Republican Party of Florida chair and current Clay County Chair Leslie Dougher is also running in HD 19.
