Three Former House Speakers Come to Holder’s Aid in Senate Race

Former State Rep. Doug Holder is showing he’s ready to compete hard for the Florida Senate in 2016 if State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, leaves early.

Holder is having a fundraiser on Thursday at The Francis in downtown Sarasota that will have three former Florida House Speakers on the host committee.

Former Speakers Larry Cretul, Dean Cannon and Will Weatherford are all part of the host committee, which also includes current state Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton.

That comes just a few months after one of his likely top rivals for the senate, state Rep. Greg Steube, had his own local fundraiser for his state House re-election campaign that included current Speaker Steve Crisafulli, future House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Boyd on the host committee.

Holder and Steube are not the only one’s eying the seat Detert has held since 2008. State Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, former State Sen. Pat Neal and former Sarasota county commissioner Nora Patterson are among others who have said they are considering a potential campaign for the Senate.

By Jeremy Wallace , Herald-Tribune