Florida-1 U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) visited Pensacola Monday morning, and spoke with the media on a number of topics.

Gaetz emerged from a radio town hall meeting, which covered a number of issues.

“From gun control to the rising political violence in our society, the collapse of fatherhood, and also the provision of care from the [Veterans Administration],” said Gaetz.

Representative Matt Gaetz made a half-dozen stops across Santa Rosa County on Thursday to hear from his constituents, both supporters and opponents, dubbing it "Open Gaetz Day."

An overflow crowd greeted the Congressman at Grover T’s BBQ as he moved through the crowd in the parking lot, speaking with both supporters and opponents. Once inside, Gaetz moved though the main dining area greeting the lunchtime crowd, to the sound of competing chanters.

  Voters will go to the polls in November not only to make their choice for president, but also for the man who will represent the western Panhandle in Congress. 

Matt Gaetz and Steven Specht took different paths to their parties’ nominations. Specht had no primary opposition, and advanced to the general election. For Gaetz, it was a fight with seven other Republicans in which he collected 36 percent of the vote in the primary.

Qualifying is still three months away, but the jockeying for position to run for the U.S. House’s District-1 seat is beginning to get underway.

When Republican Jeff Miller announced last week he would not seek a ninth term, the names of potential candidates began flying about. One of those was Don Gaetz, who’s being term-limited out of the Florida Senate.