Kevin Meerschaert
Two state representatives are vying to likely take over the Senate seat of John Thrasher in Tuesday’s Special Primary election.
Thrasher resigned to take over the presidency of Florida State University.
Ronald “Doc” Renuart of Ponte Vedra Beach and Travis Hutson of Elkton are the top candidates for the 6th District Senate Seat in Northeast Florida.
Two Florida House primary elections are also being held on Tuesday to replace Renuart and Hutson.
While both candidates have similar stances on the issues, that hasn’t stopped the campaigns to turn negative, both attempting to tie their opponents to Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist.
Renuart’s campaign says the Hutson family has supported Democratic candidates in the past, while a group backing Hutson has run ads accusing Renuart of voting to raise taxes and fees. The vote was during the state’s recession and nearly all legislators also voted to approve the budget.
Both candidates say they would be hard-pressed to replace the influence Thrasher had in the Legislature.
Thrasher replaced the late Jim King in the Florida Senate, but there are concerns in Northeast Florida regarding who will be able to effectively fight for the legislative needs of the region.
Hutson has outraised Renuart in campaign financing, but Renuart won the endorsement of the Florida Times-Union.
The winner of the primary will face Democrat David Cox of Daytona Beach in the heavily Republican district.
