Phil Ammann
Not all Republicans are alike, says a new flyer from State Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart.
By taking a closer look, Northeast Florida voters will see a “clear difference” between GOP candidates in the race for Senate District 6, so proclaims Renuart’s latest direct mail piece.
The flyer, set to hit mailboxes starting this Tuesday, is the first campaign ad to contrast directly Renuart’s business, political and voting record with that of his chief GOP opponent — state Rep. Travis Hutson.
“We need a proven conservative leader in the Florida Senate,” the mailer says, before presenting a laundry list of differences between the two, starting with the 20-year age difference: Renuart is 50; Hutson is 30.
On the surface, both would appear to be successful Republican standard bearers. Each candidate currently serves in the Florida House from solidly GOP districts — Renuart since 2008, Hutson since 2012.
However, with a more detailed examination, the flyer concludes a seemingly insurmountable ideological gap.
Renuart starts by recounting his military career, 20 years of service and three combat tours, retiring as a full colonel. He also highlights his medical experience, as a physician “in the same practice within the Senate District” for two decades.
Hutson’s expertise, the flyer observes, consists only of managing charitable donations at one of his father’s companies, Hutson Companies Charitable Trusts.
However, the flyer really kicks into high gear when reaches the political differences between the two, hammering home which of the pair is the “real conservative.”
According to the state division of elections records, the Renuart says, Hutson donated (either personally or as a company shareholder) to a number of “Democrats” – a word highlighted in bright red for effect.
The list includes State Reps. Denise Lee, Mia Jones, Bill Heller, Tony Sasso, Debbie Boyd, Luis Garcia, Martin Kiar, Ron Saunders, Keith Fitzgerald, Kelly Skidmore and Reggie Fullwood, as well as $5,000 to Alex Sink’s gubernatorial campaign.
The flyer also connects a Hutson donation to “Democrat/Republican/Independent” Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio in the 2010 U.S. Senate race.
In contrast, Renuart served as president of the Ponte Vedra Republican Club, a member of St. Johns Republican Executive Committee and as an alternate Delegate to 2012 Republican National Committee for St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia Counties.
Renuart also hits Hutson hard on his legislative voting record. First, the flyer points out his support for House Bill 113 as a member of the Education Committee, legislation that would have “increased taxes by $1.2 billion” (also highlighted in red).
In highlighting another, particularly damning vote, the flyer illustrates a vote sure to appeal to the SD 6 conservative base. In 2014, Hutson co-sponsored the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, a bill to prohibit discrimination for sexual orientation or expression, “including cross-dressing,” in the workplace.
“We need “Doc” Renuart,” the mailer closes. “Soldier. Doctor. Legislator.”
Renuart, Hutson and Dennis McDonald will face off Jan. 27 in the Republican primary to succeed former state Sen. John Thrasher, who resigned in November to become president of Florida State University. District 6 covers St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and a portion of Volusia County.
