Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh drops out of Florida House race
Just days after the state received paperwork indicating her intent to run for the House District 73 seat, Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said she will no longer run for state office.
On Wednesday, Baugh told the Bradenton Herald that "family" was her reason why she was no longer running..
She had sent her paperwork to Tallahassee on April 2, which was received by the state elections division on Monday.
Baugh, from Lakewood Ranch, has been representing the area since she was elected in 2012. She said she would remain as commissioner until her second term ends in 2020.
She previously told the Herald that her six years of experience made her a "perfect fit" for the state House seat, which state Rep. Joe Gruters currently holds.
Gruters has indicated his intent to run for state Sen. Greg Steube's seat, who in turn is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Vanessa Baugh has been a champion of Manatee County," Gruters said. "I’m sure she’ll continue to serve as a commissioner in a way that we could all be proud of."
Also on Wednesday, Republican Melissa Howard announced her candidacy for the House District 73 seat. "You trade one successful Manatee County female for another," Gruters added.
"Vanessa and I mutually decided that I was going to be the person to run," Howard said.
Howard, a small business owner, said her experience as a guardian ad litem gives her a unique edge, as the families she has helped have been affected by the opioid epidemic. She said the "most important thing" about being a legislator is the ability to convince others to support bills, and added that she believes she will win over fellow Republican Tommy Gregory, a Sarasota attorney.
Democrat Liv Coleman is also a candidate for House District 73 seat, which represents parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Hannah Morse: 941-745-7055, @mannahhorse
This story was originally published April 11, 2018 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh drops out of Florida House race."