Scott Powers
Former U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner will be the honored guest at a campaign fundraiser coming up for Republican Scott Sturgill‘s bid in Florida’s 7th Congressional District.
Boehner will be appearing at a $500-per-person event set at the home of Gary and Barbara Bryant of Longwood, on March 1.
Sturgill, a Sanford businessman, is in a Republican primary battle with state Rep. Mike Miller of Winter Park and Vennia Francois of Orlando. They all are seeking a primary nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy in November.
Boehner, an Ohio Republican, served as speaker for nearly five years, and as U.S. House minority leader for four years before that. He was challenged for the speaker’s job in late 2015, and was succeeded by Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Boehner then resigned from Congress in October, 2015.
“I’ve known the speaker for a number of years. I saw him a few months ago. He knew I was running. He said he’d love to assist in any way possible,” Sturgill said regarding Boehner’s backing. “He generally doesn’t engage in primaries, especially for challenger races. But he knew this was a top-five targeted race [for Republicans to win] in a district we can take back. So he said he would do whatever he could to help me win.”
In addition to the Bryants, the host committee includes former Sanford Mayor and former Orlando-Sanford International Airport Director Larry Dale; Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, retired Judge Carmine Bravo, former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary, and Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma. In addition to the $500-per-person reception, a VIP reception is being offered with a maximum donation of $2,700. Reservations are being arranged through Sturgill’s campaign.
