Mitch Perry
Bill Gunter, a pastor of the Redeemer Community Church in New Port Richey, will make a second run for the Florida Legislature, seeking the House District 37 seat being vacated next year by term-limited Richard Corcoran.
“Our great President Donald J. Trump has inspired me with his leadership and direction over the past year,” Gunter said in a statement. I will fight for the issues important to my fellow citizens if elected to serve in Tallahassee.”
Gunter won a GOP primary election in 2013 in the special election to replace Mike Fasano in House District 36 but ultimately lost to Democrat Amanda Murphy in the general election.
Gunter is the second Republican to announce their candidacy to succeed the current House Speaker in 2018. Earlier in the day, Elle Rudisill, an assistant state attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit in Pinellas/Pasco counties, announced that she, too, would be running in the GOP primary to succeed Corcoran.
He is staking out his claim as the true conservative in the race, saying that his plan includes protecting second amendment rights, a strong immigration policy, lowering taxes and “decreasing excess government.”
Gunter grew up in Bradenton and played football under coach Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida in the early 1990’s.
