Peter Schorsch
Former House District 72 lawmaker Ray Pilon is holding a fundraiser next month for his comeback campaign.
The April 12 event will be held at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Sarasota, 7051 Wireless Court from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The host committee for the event lists more than two dozen names, including several business leaders, Fort Myers Republican Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, Sarasota Republican Rep. Joe Gruters, who is running for state Senate in 2018, and St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, who Pilon recently endorsed for re-election over his daughter-in-law, Democrat Carrie Pilon.
RSVPs can be made via an email to [email protected] or by calling 941-539-8646.
Pilon represented HD 72 from its creation until 2016, opting to run for state Senate rather than re-election to the Sarasota County district.
His successor, Alex Miller, held the seat for less than a year before stepping down to “spend more time at home.” The seat flipped to Democrat Margaret Good in the ensuing special election.
So far Pilon is the only Republican who has filed for the seat. Buchanan opted to run in neighboring HD 74, which is opening up due to Republican Rep. Julio Gonzalez’ congressional bid, rather than give District 72 another shot.
Also running against Good is Libertarian Alison Foxall, she, too, ran in the special election and pulled about 3 percent of the vote.
Pilon ran up the score in past elections to HD 72, but it remains to be seen whether the so-called “blue wave” that pushed Good past Buchanan will be present come November.
The fundraiser invite is below.
