Phil Ammann
Term-limited state Rep. Charles Van Zant could be replaced by his wife, Katherine Van Zant, in 2016.
On Tuesday, the 53-year-old Keystone Heights Republican filed paperwork for House District 19, which covers Bradford, Putnam, Union and part of Clay counties. Katherine said she worked closely with her husband while in office and her experience on water policy and the prison system fueled her interest in running.
To date, Van Zant is the only candidate to file for the race.
As a water and wastewater engineer, her experience on water policy puts her in a position to address one of the top priorities in the upcoming legislative session. The St. Johns River is a big concern in HD 19, she said, as are water issues in Keystone Heights and other regions.
“A lot of people don’t realize this area is the water recharge area for North Central Florida,” Van Zant said, adding that she spent hundreds of hours as a volunteer in the prison system, a major employer in Bradford and Union counties.
