Two GOP District 7 candidates emerge to replace Rep. Halsey Beshears in the Legislature

Two Republican candidates are set to stage a pugnacious primary battle for a soon-to-be-vacant seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

Port St. Joe’s Jason Shoaf opened a campaign account this week and wasted no time before going after his likely opponent, Panacea’s Mike Watkins, as an out-of-touch Tallahassee insider.

Watkins responded that he is an authentic north Floridian by his marriage to the 1992 Wausau Possum Festival Queen and roots that date back eight generations.

Watkins and Shoaf are the only announced candidates for the District 7 seat currently held by Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello. Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has tapped Beshears to lead the Department of Business and Professional Regulations. Beshears would have been term-limited in 2020 and Watkins, CEO of Big Bend Community Based Care, has been raising money all year for a 2020 race that now will be held in 2019.

“I think my opponent is in the Tallahassee beltway bubble,” said Shoaf about Watkins, who has raised more than $100,000. “Special interests have lots of money and when they have someone who is one of them, they certainly throw that money at them.”

Back story:Mike Watkins wants a seat in the Florida House

District 7 takes in south Leon County as it stretches through 10 counties along the Gulf Coast from Taylor County at the Big Bend to Gulf County, 100 miles west of Tallahassee. Perry with 7,100 residents is the largest municipality in a district dotted with a national forest and wildlife refuge and a state forest, preserve and three wildlife management areas.

Shoaf is a vice president at the St. Joe Natural Gas Company and owns a property management company and a storage business. He is the nephew of former Gov. Wayne Mixson and the grandson of Cecil G. Costin, who served in the Florida House from 1953 to 1962.

Watkins and Shoaf will face off in a Republican primary to represent the GOP-leaning district.

“I find it highly ironic for the silk-stocking son of Gulf County to say I am disconnected from the district,” said Watkins.  

The one-time stand-up bass player in a bluegrass gospel band that played annually at the Chipley Watermelon Festival, Blountstown Pioneer Day and the Mayo Goat Festival laughed when his north Florida credentials were questioned.

“I would challenge anyone who runs for this seat to (go) against my cultural experience in the district,” said Watkins.

Both candidates place Hurricane Michael restoration efforts as a key plank in their platforms. Shoaf, who served on the Triumph Gulf Coast Board to distribute BP oil spill money, also wants to focus on job creation.

He said economic development is difficult for sparsely-populated regions with limited resources. Efforts to bring high-wage jobs to Gulf County, he said, died due to a lack of a skilled workforce.

“It made me realize we’re going to need to develop that workforce pipeline,” said Shoaf. “So, my focus is to bring these industry certifications and vocational training to all our schools. Welding, auto mechanics, high-tech drones. You can appeal to the interests of all kids, provide better opportunities and change lives.”

Beshears, who has held the seat since 2011, has yet to submit his resignation from the House. When he does, the governor will call for a special election. 

The qualifying period, primary and general election can all be scheduled within a five-week period before the start of the 2019 legislative session in March.

Reporter James Call can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com.