Republicans Line Up To Replace Traviesa In District 56 Race

The lure of an arguably certain election victory is proving a strong temptation for a number of Republicans lining up to replace Anthony "Trey" Traviesa as the party's nominee for the State House District 56 seat.

Traviesa stunned the party faithful and political observers when he withdrew from the race Tuesday. He said he's bowing out because he can't balance family, business and political responsibilities while meeting his own expectations to excel at all three.

State law gives responsibility for finding a replacement to the executive committee of the Hillsborough County Republican Party.

Party Chairman David Storck said Wednesday several people already have expressed interest in replacing Traviesa. He has asked potential candidates to provide him with a written letter of their intention to seek the nomination.

Storck declined to identify those who have contacted him.

Longtime Republican leaders and loyalists Sandra Murman, Mark Proctor, Ron Pierce, Jamie Wilson and Earl Lennard all confirmed Wednesday they are interested in pursuing the nomination.

Storck said he and the Hillsborough GOP's state committee woman, Carol Carter, will interview all of the candidates before choosing a nominee. The party's state committee man, A.J. Matthews, normally would participate, but he is away serving in the military.

Proctor, a Brandon real estate broker and longtime civic leader, said the process should produce a well-qualified candidate.

"It is not like a primary, where there would be a big fight," he said. "Everyone will put their credentials on the table."

Storck said if he gets official notice from the state today that Traviesa has pulled out, the filing deadline for would-be replacements would be Monday afternoon and candidates would be interviewed Monday night.

He and Carter will have 12 days to tell the Florida Secretary of State who will represent the Republican Party in the District 56 race.

Local political consultant Todd Pressman said the pool of potential candidates is impressive.

"You have a number of folks with long roots and connections to the community, the party and the executive committee," he said. "The edge will be party loyalty, service and relationships."

"It is going to be a call-in-every-chip-you-got situation," Pressman said.

Whoever replaces Traviesa will face Lewis Laricchia, a Democrat from Valrico, in November's general election. Laricchia could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Murman held the District 56 seat from 1996 to 2004, when term limits forced her out. She now is a consultant at a Tampa law firm and a civic activist. Proctor is a past president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and a current community and party activist. Pierce was a legislative assistant to Murman and former state Sen. Tom Lee and is a lobbyist for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Wilson was an assistant to former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack and executive director of the state Republican Party. He is a political consultant for the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute. Lennard is a former county school district superintendent and now is chief executive officer of the Brandon Community Advantage Center.

Preston and Storck agree the eventual nominee will be heavily favored in November. Previous elections have shown a Republican electoral predominance in District 56.

"There are a lot of very conservative Republicans in the district. It is a huge Republican area," Storck said. "We want someone who is compatible with that constituency."