Ryan RayA pair of Republican state Representatives have filed for re-election and opened campaign accounts. San Antonio Rep. Danny Burgess and Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen of Ft. Myers have made their intentions official ahead of elections in 2016, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
The 28-year-old Burgess takes over a House District 38 seat last held by outgoing Speaker Will Weatherford. He cruised to victory over retired high school social sciences teacher and Democrat Beverly Ledbetter last month, collecting 60% of the vote in the Pasco and Hillsborough based district. It is the first time serving in Tallahassee for the former mayor of Zephyrhills. At the age of 18, Burgess was elected to the Zephyrhills City Council, the youngest elected official in the State of Florida at the time.
Fitzenhagen was also handily re-elected in November, running unopposed in a Republican primary before defeating independent write-in Bates Haney with over 99% of the vote. First elected in 2012, Fitzenhagen represents a large inland swath of Lee County.
Fitzenhagen and Burgess will both sit on the Rulemaking Oversight & Repeal Subcommittee during the 2015 and 2016 sessions.
The move allows both candidates to raise campaign contributions.
