Tuesday's primary election determined that the race for the newly created Florida House of Representatives District 7, which includes parts of Leon and nine surrounding counties, will be between a Crawfordville businessman and current Liberty Co. Clerk of Courts. In a district that covers more land area than any other in the state, the Democratic candidate received more votes than all of his Republican challengers combined.
Liberty Co. Clerk of Courts and Administrator, Robert Hill, won the Democratic nomination with more than twice the amount of votes as his Republican challenger, Halsey Beshears. Hill says voters appreciate his experience.
“The job that I have now has given me a unique insight as far as the needs and issues of the people of rural counties," he says.
In November, Hill will face Beshears, of Crawfordville, in Wakulla Co. He is CFO and president of a plant nursery and landscaping company.
"I’m a common-sense guy from a rural district that can listen with the best of them. I’m a small business owner that knows what it’s like to write a paycheck but also understands what it’s like to go out and work," he says.
Beshears says he looks forward to knocking on more doors to spread his message.