Phil AmmannFormer Senate President Don Gaetz is endorsing Panama City Republican urologist Neal Dunn in his bid for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District seat.
An endorsement from the longtime Niceville Republican should surprise few in North Florida. In 2014, Gaetz appointed Dunn in 2014 as the Senate’s representative on the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors, the public-private corporation that oversees economic development grants and financing.
Dunn, an Army veteran, faces political newcomer Mary Thomas for the seat held by first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham. Thomas is a Tallahassee lawyer who previously worked in the Rick Scott administration and was general counsel for the Department of Elder Affairs.
In a prepared statement, Gaetz called Dunn “one of us here in North Florida” as a conservative with “solutions that work.” Gaetz added he based his on Dunn’s medical practice, family values, and military service.
“He personifies the values and needs of our retired military and the communities that host our bases and missions,” Gaetz said. “As a medical doctor caring for thousands of North Florida families, he knows firsthand the health care issues that affect our communities. In his successful business career, he faces the same struggles as the rest of us in meeting payroll, growing jobs and working through the maze of government regulation.”
Thanking Gaetz for his support, Dunn discussed his 25-year practice as a surgeon in North Florida, where he raised a family with his wife.
“I am passionate about serving my home district and serving as an unapologetic conservative with specific ideas addressing three very important issues to me – health care, the economy and national security,” Dunn said. “I look forward to discussing these important issues on the campaign trail with my fellow neighbors.”
Dunn’s achievements include serving as founding president of the Advanced Urology Institute, a 45-physician practice with more than 400 employees in North Florida. He was also one of the creators of the Panama City Urology Center & the Bay Regional Cancer Center. Dunn also sits on the Governor’s Prostate Cancer Advisory Council and also on the Florida Blue Physician Advisory Board.
After graduating from Washington & Lee University, Dunn earned his medical degree from George Washington University. His urological residency was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
In his civic career, Dunn has been on the Board of Space Florida, which manages assets of space launch, manufacture and assembly facilities, now known as the busiest space launch facility in the world.
