Mike Hill (politician)

Mike Hill
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
Assumed office
March 4, 2014
Preceded by Clay Ford
Personal details
Born Walter Bryan Hill
(1958-06-02) June 2, 1958
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Greta Hill
Children Joshua, Jessica, Jonathan
Alma mater United States Air Force Academy (B.S.)
University of West Florida (M.B.A.)
Profession Insurance agent
Religion Christian

Walter Bryan "Mike" Hill (born June 2, 1958) is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 2nd District, which includes southern Escambia County and parts of Gulf Breeze in Santa Rosa County, since 2013.

History

Hill was born at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, and attended the United States Air Force Academy, from which he graduated in 1980. Following graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, serving from 1980 to 1990. While serving, Hill received the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, and was named the Armament Division Company Grade Officer of the Year in 1988. He moved to Florida in 1985 and attended the University of West Florida, graduating with his Master of Business Administration in 1988. He then worked as an insurance agent for State Farm Insurance, while serving as a board member for Okaloosa Walton Community College from 1991 to 1996 and West Florida Hospital from 2003 to 2009. Hill also served as the President of the Northwest Florida Tea Party movement from 2010 to 2013.

Florida House of Representatives

Following the death on March 18, 2013, of Republican State Representative Clay Ford, who had represented the 2nd District since 2007, Hill ran in the special election and defeated Ed Gray, Mark Taylor, Jack Nobles, Scott Miller, and David Radcliffe in the Republican primary with 42 percent of the vote. He was endorsed in his primary campaign by the Pensacola News Journal, which declared that his "military experience, passion for open government, and business experience" made him the best candidate.[1] In the general election, he faced Jeremy Lau, the Democratic nominee and a labor union official. Lau received the support of Ed Gray, whom Hill had defeated in the primary, and attacked Hill for not living in the district.[2] However, owing to the district's strong partisan lean, Hill defeated Lau comfortably, having won 58 percent of the vote, which enabled him to become the legislature's only African-American Republican member.[3]

In his campaign for re-election in 2014, Hill faced Lau once again. Hill campaigned for re-election with the full support of the Republican Party of Florida, which declared, "Mike Hill knows what his constituents want. They want someone who will fight for increased spending in education, for reduced taxes, and regulations and that is what Mike Hill represents."[4] He ended up defeating Lau in a landslide once again, winning 65% of the vote to Lau's 35%.

References

  1. ↑ "RECOMMENDATION: Mike Hill in Dist. 2". Pensacola News-Journal. May 3, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ Cooper, Louis (June 1, 2013). "Hill vs. Lau for Florida House District 2 seat". Pensacola News-Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ Giunta, Eric (June 11, 2013). "Mike Hill Wins Florida HD 2 Race, Becoming Legislature's Only Black Republican". Sunshine State News. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  4. ↑ Schorsch, Peter (June 21, 2014). "With qualifying over, Jeremy Lau eyes rematch versus Mike Hill in HD 2". SaintPetersblog. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
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