Phil Ammann
Ed Hooper, the former Republican State Representative and Clearwater City Commissioner, will be featured at a high-profile fundraiser Wednesday in his bid for Florida Senate.
Hooper is seeking to succeed term-limited Jack Latvala in Senate District 16, which covers much of north Pinellas County.
A reception will begin 5 PM at Mugs ‘N Jugs, 40737 U.S. Highway 19 N. in Tarpon Springs.
Hosts of the event, which currently number about 70 influential Tampa Bay-area political leaders, include Brian Aungst Jr., Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, former Pinellas County Commissioner Neil Brickfield and Mari Riba of Safety Harbor, among others.
A former firefighter who served four terms in the House before being term-limited, Hooper lost a combative race in 2014 for the Pinellas County Commission to Democrat Pat Gerard, and has since maintained a public profile in local GOP circles.
Just over a year ago, Hooper filed for the District 16 seat, when redistricting resulted in an opening after Pasco County’s former state Sen. John Legg choosing not to run against Latvala, who is a popular figure in Pinellas County politics.
During his time in Tallahassee, FloridaPolitics.com reported Hooper received several “A” ratings from the Florida Chamber of Commerce Honor Roll, Florida Education Association, and the Florida Home Builders Association.
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