Tom Leek goes on air with first radio ad in SD 7

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 5/5/23-House Appropriations Chair Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, talks about the budget process, Friday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

The first radio ad for Tom Leek’s state Senate campaign started airing this week in Senate District 7.

The one-minute spot touts endorsements chiefly from the law enforcement world, as well as from U.S. Reps. Cory Mills and Michael Waltz, both Republicans.

“Filter out the static,” a narrator states. “Listen to conservatives you trust and vote for real conservative Tom Leek. Every Sheriff, America First Congressman and our State Attorney are all in for Tom Leek.”

Leek, a state Representative, announced last year that he would run to succeed state Sen. Travis Hutson, a Palm Coast Republican. Hutson cannot run again due to term limits.

Leek faces Gerry James, a former professional wrestler, in a Republican Primary. James challenged Hutson in 2022, where Hutson won the GOP Primary with 56% of the vote.

The sitting lawmaker wrapped up support from all four Sheriffs representing counties in SD 7, including Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly, Putnam Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach, St. Johns Sheriff Robert Hardwick and Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

State Attorney R.J. Larizza endorsed Leek earlier this month. Both Mills and Waltz also endorsed the Ormond Beach Republican in recent weeks.

The radio ad, up now in Jacksonville markets for listers as far south as St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, leads heavily on a law-and-order message, touching on political hot-button issues including immigration.

“Our Sheriffs called Tom Leek a man of integrity who shares our values, champions law enforcement and always backs the blue,” the ad’s narrator states. “They trust Tom Leek to crack down on illegal immigration, stop sanctuary cities and hold lawbreakers accountable.”

The winner of the GOP Primary is expected to face Democrat T Hill and independent Michael Gist in the General Election.

But the winner of the Republican Primary will likely coast to the seat. SD 7 leans heavily Republican. In the 2020 Presidential Election, more than 62% of voters there supported Republican Donald Trump. In 2022, nearly 68% of voters there supported Gov. Ron DeSantis’ re-election.