MANATEE COUNTY—Another candidate has entered the Florida House District 72 race. The seat was formerly represented by Republican Tommy Gregory, who, in April, was named President of the Manatee-Sarasota State College of Florida. Bradenton resident and attorney Richard Green is the latest to announce his candidacy to succeed Gregory.
Green, a Republican, is a senior attorney with Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., a law firm with offices in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and West Palm Beach. Green’s legal focus includes residential and commercial real estate with litigation experience in environmental matters such as environmental permitting, environmental contamination, and construction litigation. Having represented public and private entities, Green has represented clients in acquisitions, sales, and probate.
A recent campaign press release noted that Green’s legal work and professionalism have earned him recognition from Tampa Magazine, BestLawyers.com, and Florida Super Lawyers Magazine.
“As a dedicated husband and father,” Green stated in a press release, “I am deeply invested in ensuring that our community remains a place where families can thrive and prosper. We need new, bold, conservative voices representing our values in Tallahassee. I will bring a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to the challenges facing our district, and I look forward to working tirelessly on behalf of all residents.”
Green and his wife are parents to three children. According to his press release, they also share a “close friendship” with former state representative Gregory and his wife. The campaign’s press release described Candidate Green as a “political newcomer with deep ties to Manatee County.”
“We don’t need just another politician to occupy a seat in Tallahassee,” Green said. “We need a principled leader and conservative outsider that will guide our district into the future.”
Green serves on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center and is a ministry leader at Bayside Community Church, running on a “limited government, pro-family” platform.
Green joins three other Republican candidates who have filed for the District 72 seat.
Richard Tatem
Manatee County School Board Member Richard Tatem was the first candidate to file for the seat. Tatem, a retired Air Force Colonel, was elected to the school board in 2022. Despite the school board race being nonpartisan, Tatem was one of many candidates across the state to receive an endorsement from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In a press release announcing his candidacy for the house seat, Tatem said, "Our nation is currently experiencing the catastrophic result of the radical, liberal agenda: mass illegal immigration, a devaluation of our money supply, and a scheme for cultural indoctrination that opposes every value fundamental to American greatness.”
He added, “Running for State House is an opportunity for me to stand with Governor DeSantis and our next President Trump to push back on that liberal agenda and to continue to empower our school boards to do the same.”
Tatem informed supporters of his 2022 campaign for the Manatee County School Board that his bid for the state house means an eventual resignation from the school board before the general election in November.
Bill Conerly
Longtime county resident, Navy Veteran, and former Manatee County Planning Commission member Bill Conerly announced his candidacy for the state house seat last month.
A Lakewood Ranch businessman, Conerly is a licensed engineer, shareholder, and vice president of Kimley-Horn and Associates. He is also a husband and father of three children.
While serving as chairman of the Manatee County Planning Commission, Conerly was one of two votes in support of recommending county commissioners pass a controversial Comprehensive Plan text amendment that would roll back local wetland protections. While the planning commission voted 4-2 not to recommend the action, Manatee County Commissioners passed the measure 6-1.
“Florida is at a crossroads,” Conerly said in a campaign announcement. “We can continue to kick the can down the road, year after year, on issues like immigration, insurance, and our quality of life, or we can act. I am running to take quick action, just like President (Donald) Trump.”
According to his campaign’s press release, Conerly’s platform includes tackling climbing insurance rates and illegal immigration. On the latter, Conerly promises to work toward “giving local law enforcement the means to deport illegal aliens and cutting off taxpayer-funded programs that benefit illegals.”
Alyssa Gay
The lone female to have entered the race, Republican Alyssa Gay is a lifelong resident of Manatee County, a marketing professional, and a small business owner.
Gay has volunteered in community organizations, including Realize Bradenton and the North River Care Pregnancy Center, and is a graduate of the Leadership Manatee program. She has also served on the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization.
On her campaign website, Gay describes herself as a “proud pro-life conservative.”
“As a Manatee County native and small business owner, I understand the issues that my neighbors and I face on a daily basis,” Gay said in a campaign announcement. “Skyrocketing prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump are forcing hardworking Floridians to make difficult choices.”
In her campaign’s press release, Gay pledged that as a representative of Florida’s 72nd District, she would make herself available to hear from her constituents, prioritize addressing the increasing cost of living in Florida, and “hold special interests accountable.”
Gay graduated from the State College of Florida before later attending the University of Florida as an online student, where she graduated summa cum laude.
“I’m a problem solver with a proven track record of success in business, and I have been heavily involved in local community causes. From championing conservative values to prioritizing affordable housing and workforce excellence, I am dedicated to implementing constitutional, common sense policies that ensure Floridians have a bright future ahead.”
“I’m a problem solver with a proven track record of success in business and I have been heavily involved in local community causes,” Gay said in a campaign press release. “From championing conservative values to prioritizing affordable housing and workforce excellence, I am dedicated to implementing constitutional, common sense policies that ensure Floridians have a bright future ahead.”
Other Candidates
According to the Candidate Tracking System available through the Florida Division of Elections, only one Democratic candidate has filed to run for Gregory’s former house seat.
Lakewood Ranch resident and Democrat Lesa Miller filed to enter the race on Friday, May 3, but no campaign filing documents were available on the FDOE website. While Miller’s candidate status is listed as “active,” no campaign website was provided, and no additional details were available about the candidate or her campaign.
TBT attempted to reach Miller by phone Tuesday afternoon but did not receive a response to our voicemail before our publication deadline.
The four Republican candidates in the race will face off in the Republican primary on Aug. 20. All candidates for the seat must qualify by June 14 at noon.
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EPG2002
None of the above.
Wednesday, May 8 Report this
rjckeuka4
Not much "wheat" there and a lot of "chafe." All sound like Desantis "yes" folks. Is there a good Dem out there??
Wednesday, May 8 Report this