Mitch Perry
Tampa attorney Sean Shaw appears to be the consensus, establishment choice to take the House District 61 seat next month, and he received one of the most important endorsements of his campaign Tuesday when outgoing Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner announced she is backing him.
“Sean Shaw is the fighter we need in Tallahassee,” Sen. Joyner said in a statement. “He’ll stand up for working people and raising the minimum wage, he’ll stand up for our kids and more money for our public schools, and he’ll work to get more Floridians out of emergency rooms and into doctors’ offices by expanding Medicaid. Sean Shaw has dedicated his life to getting results for the people, and he’s not about to stop now. That’s why I’m proud to endorse his candidacy.”
Joyner is closing out her final term in the Legislature after 16 years in Tallahassee, the last two as Senate Minority Leader. The Tampa Democrat’s state Senate District 19 encompasses all of House District 61.
“Sen. Joyner has been fighting for the people in our district her entire career,” Shaw said. “Her leadership on Medicaid expansion, our public schools, and raising the minimum wage is inspirational. I look forward to continuing the work she started in Tallahassee and I’m honored to have her support.”
Shaw is running against fellow Democrats Dianne Hart and Walter Smith in the Aug. 30 primary, where the winner will be the overwhelming favorite to win the safe Democratic seat in November.
