Reps. Danny Burgess and Heather Fitzenhagen plan for 2016 elections

A pair of Republican state representatives have filed for re-election and opened campaign accounts. Rep. Danny Burgess of San Antonio and Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen of Fort Myers have made their intentions official ahead of elections in 2016, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

The 28-year-old Burgess takes over a House District 38 seat last held by outgoing Speaker Will Weatherford. He cruised to victory over retired high school social sciences teacher and Democrat Beverly Ledbetter last month, collecting 60% of the vote in the Pasco and Hillsborough based district. It is the first time serving in Tallahassee for the former mayor of Zephyrhills. At the age of 18, Burgess was elected to the Zephyrhills City Council, the youngest elected official in the State of Florida at the time.

Fitzenhagen was handily re-elected in November, running unopposed in a Republican primary before defeating independent write-in Bates Haney with over 99 percent of the vote. First elected in 2012, Fitzenhagen represents a large inland swath of Lee County. read more...