George Gainer
George Gainer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jackson County, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, automobile dealer |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Known for | Member of the Florida Senate (2016–2022), Bay County Commissioner (1968–1972, 2002–2016) |
George Gainer is a Republican politician from the United States who held a seat in the Florida Senate representing the 2nd district from 2016 through 2022. His jurisdiction included the counties of Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington, as well as a portion of Okaloosa in the Florida Panhandle. Prior to his tenure in the state senate, he served two separate terms as a commissioner for Bay County, covering areas such as Tyndall Air Force Base and other southern regions of Bay County between 1968–1972 and later from 2002 to 2016.
History
Born in Jackson County, Florida, Gainer pursued education at Gulf Coast Community College. He embarked on his career in the automotive industry starting in 1966 and presently owns several dealerships: Bay Lincoln Mercury Dodge Hyundai, Bay Suzuki, and Bay Ford located in Blountstown, Florida. His professional affiliations include membership in the Panama City New Car Dealers Association and previous leadership roles within the Chrysler and Ford Dealer and Advertising Councils. At just 24 years old in 1968, he earned distinction as the youngest individual elected to the Bay County Commission.[1] After stepping away to focus on expanding his business ventures, he returned to serve on the commission beginning in 2002.
Florida Senate
Gainer declared his candidacy on September 8, 2015, for a Florida Senate seat that was being vacated by Don Gaetz due to term limits. Initially, Gaetz’s son, Matt Gaetz, was also contending for this seat but withdrew on March 21, 2016, to pursue election to Florida’s Florida's 1st congressional district after Congressman Jeff Miller announced his retirement.[2] Gainer secured election in 2016 without facing opposition during either the primary or general elections.[3] On February 21, 2017, Senator Gainer introduced SB1096, legislation aimed at prohibiting individuals from blocking or interfering with traffic during protests or demonstrations; it included criminal penalties and provided exemptions protecting vehicle operators from liability for injuries or fatalities caused under specific circumstances involving obstructing persons.[4]
References
George Gainer Campaigns for Florida Senate Seat Archived 2016-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
Matt Gaetz Announces Congressional Run
External links
- Bay County Commissioner Profile Archived 2016-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ 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.Template:Fix/category[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Senate Bill 1096 (2017)". Archived from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2017-02-24.