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Hart enters race for state representativeThe field of contenders vying to fill the seat of term limited State Representative Aaron Bean added a new contender Tuesday, when Robert "Bobby" Hart filed his candidacy paperwork with the Secretary of States Office in Tallahassee.
Hart, a Republican, has taught at West Nassau High since 2000 and has been involved in the public school system for almost 30 years. He is also a major in the Army Reserve and has served two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, returning most recently in April, 2007. Reached for comment in North Georgia where he is currently participating in two weeks of Warrior Training with his National Guard unit, Major Hart said, "It is true. I have filed to run on the Republican ballot for the state representative seat for the North Florida area." "I don't think anyone knows this district and the people in it better than I do," said Hart, a sixth generation Floridian who has strong ties with all six counties within the district. "Obviously, education is my first love, but I will be more than a one-issue candidate. I'm concerned and have experience in the plight of working families, providing the best security for our citizens, veteran affairs and in general making Florida the kind of state we want to live in and one we want to leave for our children." Some of Hart's key career accomplishments include:
One key that Hart sees in representing District 12 is the geographic size of the district. "I intend to have a mobile office that will travel around the district and I'll spread my staff throughout so we can better meet the needs of our citizens," he said. Hart is a strong proponent of home rule over governmental issues. "I think one problem we have in Florida is the wide disparity of needs and wants throughout the state," he said. "What is good for South Florida may not be good for us in North Florida. District 12 is the same on a smaller scale, so I think locally elected officials should decide what is best for their communities." Hart, who ran for the District 12 seat in 2000, said, "People talked to me about running for the state house again, and I told them no. Then someone reminded me that just by the natural course my life has taken, I have been running for this job every day my entire life," Hart said. He added that he was first approached by state Republican party leaders while deployed on active Guard duty to Baghdad last year. "At that time, I declined because I knew Bob (Bradford County Sheriff Bob Milner), was going to run and he would have done a good job." "There were a lot of encouraging calls and support from all through the district. I thought about it, prayed about it and then decided it would be a good thing to do," he said. Hart's family includes wife Cheryl, a first grade teacher at Westside Elementary school in Glen St. Mary for 31 years and former Board of Directors member at Lake City Community College; two sons: Air Force Capt. Dustin M. Hart and Jonathan Hart, both graduates of the University of Florida; daughter-in-law Tyleen and two grandsons, Rylan and Shayne. For more information or to be part of the campaign, call (904) 655-1523 or email Hartbeat4@aol.com.
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