Drew Wilson
Land O’ Lakes Republican Ardian Zika is rolling out a new ad touting an endorsement from Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco in the Republican primary for House District 37.
“I’m Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and in this election, I’m standing with Ardian Zika for state representative,” Nocco says in the ad. “Ardian stands with our first responders, that’s why he is endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.
“I hope you join me and the men and women who wear the badge and so many others in our community and vote for Ardian Zika for state representative,” Nocco concludes.
Zika, a businessman, faces Elle Rudisill and Ryan Patrick Boney in the Aug. 28 Republican primary to succeed term-limited House Speaker Richard Corcoran in the Pasco-based House seat. The winner of that contest will go up against Land O’ Lakes Democrat Tammy Garcia in the Nov. 6 general election.
Through July 20, Zika had cracked the $200,000 mark in total fundraising and had more than $164,000 in the bank. That puts him far ahead of the combined total of his challengers.
In addition to his strong fundraising and law enforcement support, Zika has locked down endorsements from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, Senate Majority Leader Wilton Simpson and former House Speaker Will Weatherford.
HD 37 covers the majority of inland Pasco County, including the communities of Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, Heritage Pines, Shady Hills, Meadow Oaks and Moon Lake.
Corcoran never faced an Election Day challenger in his four campaigns in the House, three of which came after HD 37 was redrawn. The seat is a Republican stronghold that voted plus-27 for Donald Trump two years ago.
Zika’s ad is below.
