Phil Ammann
Republican state Rep. Charlie Stone on Monday endorsed first-time candidate Mary Thomas in her bid for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District.
Thomas is running for the seat held by Democrat Gwen Graham, and if elected would be the first Indian-American woman to serve in Congress. She is a Tallahassee lawyer who had worked in the administration of Gov. Rick Scott and was general counsel for the Department of Elder Affairs.
Before she faces Graham, though, Thomas must get past Panama City urologist Neal Dunn in the Republican primary.
Stone, an Ocala Republican, is seeking a second term for House District 22, which includes Levy County and southwestern Marion County.
“I am pleased to endorse conservative Republican Mary Thomas for Congress,” Stone said in a prepared statement. “Mary shares the same conservative, family values as me and the constituents I represent in Marion and Levy counties.
“I believe Mary will bring true conservative change to Washington to lower taxes and reduce the size and scope of the federal government,” he said.
Stone’s endorsement comes after a recent announcement from 3rd Judicial Circuit Court of Florida State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister, who also formally backed Thomas.
Thomas thanked Stone by pledging to “organize a grassroots conservative movement” across the Panhandle, in both North and North Central Florida and along the Nature Coast.
“Everywhere I travel, the people tell me that it’s time to elect a new generation of conservative leaders, not another lobbyist,” Thomas said. “I thank Representative Charlie Stone for his endorsement and I look forward to fighting for our shared conservative principles of lower taxes and less government.”
