George Gainer is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Florida Senate from 2016 until 2022. He represented the 2nd district, encompassing Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington, and part of Okaloosa Counties, in the Florida Panhandle. He previously served as a Bay County commissioner, representing Tyndall AFB and other parts of southern Bay County, from 1968 to 1972 and 2002 to 2016.
George Gainer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 2nd district | |
| In office November 8, 2016 – November 8, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Jay Trumbull |
| Bay County Commissioner | |
| In office 2002–2016 | |
| In office 1968–1972 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 26, 1942 Jackson County, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Charla Janice Gainer |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Gulf Coast Community College |
| Profession | Small business owner |
| Website | http://www.georgegainer.com |
History
editGainer was born in Jackson County and attended Gulf Coast Community College. His career in the automobile business began in 1966 and he is currently owner of Bay Lincoln Mercury Dodge Hyundai, Bay Suzuki, and Bay Ford in Blountstown. He is a member of the Panama City New Car Dealers Association and past officer of the Chrysler and Ford Dealer and Advertising Councils. In 1968, at age 24, he became the youngest person elected to the Bay County Commission.[1] Gainer then took time off to develop his businesses, and returned to the commission in 2002.
Florida Senate
editOn September 8, 2015, Gainer announced his campaign for a Florida Senate district being vacated by Don Gaetz, who was term-limited. Gaetz's son Matt Gaetz was in the race for the seat too, but withdrew on March 21, 2016, to run for Florida's 1st congressional district after Congressman Jeff Miller announced his retirement.[2] Gainer was elected in 2016 without primary or general election opposition.[3] On February 21, 2017, Senator Gainer filed SB1096, "Prohibiting a person from obstructing or interfering with traffic during a certain protest or demonstration; providing criminal penalties; exempting a motor vehicle operator from liability for injury or death to a person who is obstructing or interfering with traffic under certain circumstances".[4]
References
edit- ^ Baumgarten, Kelly (2016-11-01). "Community says goodbye to two Bay County Commissioners". WJHG. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ Clark, Kristen (March 21, 2016). "Matt Gaetz launches bid for Congress, handing fathers state Senate seat to George Gainer". Miami Herald.
- ^ "George Gainer elected to Florida Senate". Jackson County Floridan. June 25, 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-12.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Senate Bill 1096 (2017)". Archived from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
George Gainer Pursuing Florida's Senate Seat Archived 2016-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
External links
edit- Bay County Commissioner Bio Archived 2016-06-07 at the Wayback Machine