Scott Powers
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King is expanding his campaign’s presence in the I-4 corridor with the appointments of regional directors from Tampa Bay and Brevard County, the campaign announced Thursday.
Lisa Perry, a leader in Tampa Bay area progressive activism, will serve as the King campaign’s Tampa Bay regional director. Before joining the King campaign, Perry served as Pinellas County chair for Women’s March Florida, mobilizing thousands of volunteers and activists around key progressive issues. Perry also organized for the Florida Immigrant Coalition and the “Fight for $15” movement.
Tess Martin, a grassroots organizer for progressive causes and organizations across Florida, will serve as Central Florida regional director. Martin is co-founder and president of “Speak Out Brevard” and managed Sanjay Patel’s campaign in Florida’s 8th Congressional District earlier this year.
King faces former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in seeking the August 28 Democratic primary nomination to run for governor. His campaign points out he is the only Democratic candidate from the I-4 corridor, though Graham, from Tallahassee, has set up campaign headquarters in Orlando.
“We’re excited to grow our capacity in the crucial I-4 corridor to help spread Chris King’s message of fresh ideas and new leadership that rejects the conventional politics of the past,” King’s campaign manager Zach Learner stated in a news release. “Tess and Lisa will help share Chris’s bold, progressive solutions with Democrats in Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area who want leaders with the courage to stand up to special interests like Big Sugar and the NRA.”
