Yvonne Fry and Lawrence McClure are quickly assembling crews and gearing for an abbreviated run to the GOP primary in a special election.
The ink was hardly dry on State Rep. Dan Raulerson’s resignation letter before a then-unannounced special election to replace him had two viable republican candidates.
Local businesswoman and civic leader Yvonne Fry was the first to announce, launching her campaign July 26, the day after
Raulerson (R-Plant City) said he would be ending his term as the state representative for district 58 on Aug. 15.
Raulerson would have reached his term limit in 2020.
While Fry made her announcement official with a July 27 filing, there was speculation that another businessman with Plant City ties, Lawrence McClure, was considering a run. McClure filed his paperwork Aug. 1. That same day, Gov. Rick Scott announced that a special election would be held Dec. 19. Fry and McClure will have barely two months to run their campaigns before facing off in the Oct. 10 primary.
“I had put a lot of thought to when Dan’s term would be done and was interested in that,” Fry said. “I was surprised at his announcement and began to prepare to enter the race. I’m excited. We have a lot of work to do and a lot of people to reach.”
District 58 covers much of east Hillsborough County, including areas of Plant City, Dover, Mango Thonotosassa and Temple Terrace. Plant City currently has a population near 38,000, while the entire district has a population of around 160,000.
Fry, who owns, the Plant-City based marketing company Fryed Egg Productions, said her company’s name isn’t just a clever pun, but a reference and reminder of her upbringing in a Plant City family who raised chickens and farmed strawberries for many generations.
Fry, 45, has a long list of civic engagement including the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and the Plant City Economic Development Corporation. She has also been heavily involved in programs throughout Plant City Schools.
“Yvonne has laid the groundwork for her leadership in the statehouse for the last decade, serving the Chamber and countless boards for our city,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “She really is the pioneer for some major projects with our high school system that have really benefitted our kids.”
Fry said education would be a main area of focus were she to be elected. In Plant City, she has pioneered a number of organizations and events in schools, including the Future Fair, where students can link with area businesses to be prepared to enter the workforce. Preparing students to enter the workforce, she said, would be a priority in Tallahassee.
McClure, 30, also comes from a farming family with deep roots in the local area. His family goes back seven generations in Plant City and east Hillsborough agriculture, Judi Whitson, executive director of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Federation said.
A small business owner as well, McClure is a partner with environmental consulting firm Streamline Environmental and said he has spent a decade working closely with state legislators on legislation impacting the environment, as well as agriculture and small business communities. He is married to Courtney Newsome, who works for Astin Farms and also has deep roots in Plant City.
McClure said his focus in Tallahassee would be removing inefficiencies from government and marketing the assets of District 58.
“I’m a business owner that is fully invested with how government operates,” McClure said. “There are duplications of process and inefficiencies of government that happen every day. My business background and understanding of government allows for the experience to find effective solutions.”
Despite the race being in its early stages, both candidates have secured some major names. Fry has received the endorsement of Lott and the whole Plant City Commission. Whitson said McClure has her backing and is expected to be backed by the entire board of directors for the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau.
“He’s been involved in agriculture all his life,” Whitson said. “He’s also a small business owner. He’s very
common-sense. We need more of that in Tallahassee. We need more people who think like the rest of us do.”
Additionally, Fry has secured the backing of prominent area republicans Art and Mary Wood. Art was the chairman of the Hillsborough County Republicans during 2012 when the Republican National Convention was in Tampa. Mary, his wife, works for a credit union and will serve as Fry’s treasurer.
McClure has secured the services of Michael Millner, of Jensen Beach, as his treasurer. According to the Florida Department of State, Millner is linked to about one dozen active political action committees and electioneering communication organizations. Many of those organizations have been associated with negative campaign ads targeting political opponents. McClure said he plans to run a clean campaign.
“We absolutely intend on running a clean campaign based on what we can bring to the district,” McClure said. “We have a message and that’s what we’re focusing on.”
Fry said she has prepared her family for whatever might come her way.
“I’m sure there will be things I have to weather that will be ugly and hard,” she said. “I’m prepared for that. I am strong in my faith and resolved in my reasons that this is worth doing.”
As the race shapes up, both candidates said they are counting on strong support from the Plant City community.
Both candidates have also secured political consultants for the race. Tom Piccolo for McClure and Brock Mikosky for Fry.
While no democrat has entered the race, Shawn Gilliam of Plant City filed to run in 2018 prior to Raulerson’s resignation.
Raulerson declined to comment on the special election.
