East Bradenton small business owner to run for Florida House seat

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A Manatee County small business owner is throwing her hat in the ring for the Florida House of Representatives seat being vacated by Rep. Tommy Gregory.

East County's Alyssa Gay, owner of AG Creative, a marketing and branding firm, has filed for the seat in District 72, which encompasses eastern Manatee County.

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Gregory is stepping down to accept the appointment as president of State College of Florida.

Gay will face Republican and current School Board of Manatee County member Richard Tatem and Republican Bill Conerly. 

Gay said she decided to run after she saw “an opportunity so clear,” with Gregory not running for reelection. 

"I decided to bale hay while the sun shines," she said.

Gay, 32, has lived in Manatee County all her life. She said despite never running for office before, her experience in starting a business will serve her well in Tallahassee. “Starting a business, working with clients, learning to work with people,” are all qualities a legislator needs, she said.

She said she's always been passionate about democracy and takes the responsibility of participating in it seriously. 

Gay said she will focus on bringing appropriations to Manatee County to improve infrastructure, such as the widening of Fort Hamer Bridge and work on State Road 64.

 “We’re grateful we have a bridge, … but a lot of our workforce lives in Palmetto and Parrish and have to travel to Bradenton to work,” she said.  

She also said she would work to reduce red tape for businesses in Florida and be a voice for workers in Manatee County.

“I understand the issues that my neighbors and I face on a daily basis. Skyrocketing prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump are forcing hard-working Floridians to make difficult choices,” she said.

Gay said she will fight what she describes as “out-of-control cost-of-living increases” and the “housing and insurance affordability crisis issue by issue to ensure that Florida remains the No. 1 place where people not only want to live but will thrive.”

If elected, she said being one of the younger lawmakers in Tallahassee will be an asset. 

“You want fresh, future-minded people in the House; you want younger people to be involved in the process," Gay said.

Gay is a graduate of State College of Florida and the University of Florida online. While in college, she was an intern for Rep. Greg Stuebe during his service in the Florida House. Seeing how the legislature works was an invaluable experience, she said. 

"It opened my eyes to the opportunity our legislators have to truly work for the people," Gay said. 

Age: 32

Current occupation: Small business owner — AG Creative, marketing agency

Resident of the district? I was born and raised in Manatee County.

Why are you running for office?

As a Manatee County native and small business owner, I understand the issues that my neighbors face on a daily basis. I’m running for Florida House District 72 to give our community a voice in Tallahassee. I want to serve the people who make this community great and ensure that the community that has provided me with so many opportunities continues to thrive into the future.

I am a third-generation entrepreneur, and my experience in building a successful business and delivering tangible results makes me the best choice to advocate for not only our region, but Florida’s business community in Tallahassee. 

From championing conservative values and small business interests to prioritizing conservation and workforce excellence, I am dedicated to implementing common-sense policies that pave the way for a prosperous future for all Floridians.

What makes you more qualified for this House seat than your opponents?

Three qualities that I possess that enable me to be a strong leader include organizational leadership, resilience and boldness. My unique experience in being a native to Manatee County, starting and building a business, and history of community involvement, make me uniquely qualified to represent the people of Manatee County in the Florida House. 

I also believe that being a true representative means listening to the people who live in HD72. I am not beholden to any big developer special interests that are dominating Manatee County.

If elected, what three legislative initiatives would you champion?

The three legislative issues I would champion would be attacking the cost-of-living crisis, investment in infrastructure (roads, bridges, underground utilities and more), and workforce education and development.

What do you see as the some of the biggest public policy challenges facing Florida?

Rising costs of goods, insurance and services across Florida. We have a lot of people in my district who live paycheck to paycheck, and they simply cannot afford the out-of-control price increases. This is not only affecting our young students and families but is especially true for our older residents who survive on fixed incomes.

What is your position on Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana? 

I do not support Amendment 3 and will vote against it November.

What is your position on Amendment 4 — “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider”?

I am a pro-life conservative and support the existing regulations in Florida. I am opposed to Amendment 4 and believe it is extreme.

The cost of home insurance has transformed Florida into no longer being a low-cost state in which to live. What can the Legislature do to help make home insurance more affordable?

We cannot afford to wait another 18 months as we have heard year after year. It is time for the Legislature to hold insurance companies accountable. There should be no reason that we have homes with tarps on their roofs from two years ago; and we must do a better job of qualifying insurance companies that come into the state to protect our residents and ensure they do not close up shop and leave the state after a natural disaster leaving our residents helpless.

What can the Legislature do to help increase the supply of work-force housing?

Public-private partnerships have generally proven very successful, resulting in efficiency, job creation and significant savings for taxpayers. The Legislature should also consider other avenues to meet demand, such as reducing red tape so that construction can be efficiently permitted and built to meet demand.

The Legislature consistently has passed legislation in recent years to give “sales tax holidays” for a variety of special categories. In the 2024 session is approved sales tax holidays for disaster preparedness; back-to-school supplies; power tools; and summer-fun items and admission to museums. Do you agree or disagree with giving sales tax breaks to special categories as opposed to lower the sales tax rate for everyone?

These sales tax holidays are a great benefit for hardworking Floridians. We are fortunate to live in a state that balances its budget and is fiscally responsible. 

As a state that relies heavily on tourism, visitors contribute greatly through our state’s sales tax, and the sales tax holidays are a great way to provide some needed relief to Florida residents.

Gov. DeSantis is committing at least $227 million of taxpayer dollars over the next five years to transform New College of Florida into a conservative, Hillsdale College-like liberal arts college. Is that a good use of taxpayer money, and if so, why or why not?

While it is important to invest in our higher education system and it has made great strides over the past decade to become nationally recognized, it would be in the best interest of our state to expand cross-sector collaboration to specifically target workforce needs, as well as creating greater research and development opportunities to increase innovation and economic diversification.

What taxes or tax rates should be changed in Florida?

As property values continue to rapidly increase, this is affecting everyone from the homeowner to the agricultural community. We must look for ways to hold local governments accountable. I would support looking at increasing the homestead exemption to keep pace with inflation and protect taxpayers from local government overspending.

Is health care for all a right?

As a fiscal conservative, I do not believe that health insurance for all is a right. Statements like that avoid directly addressing the cost and accessibility issues surrounding healthcare for boiler plate rhetoric. We need to be constantly working to improve our healthcare delivery. 

Two ways to alleviate rising healthcare costs include increasing competition through market-based, innovative policies as well as direct primary care. 

The state should focus on economic development to attract businesses that are able to offer health insurance to their employees and leveling up the workforce to be able to attain these jobs that offer such benefits.

Lawmakers must make choices. Which would you rank a higher priority — expanding Medicaid or increasing the funding for Florida’s transportation needs?

I oppose Medicaid expansion in Florida as this would create an unreasonable burden on taxpayers and remove focus from other state priorities such as economic development, education, infrastructure and more. 

Florida’s infrastructure needs and what the state currently has in budget is leaving Florida severely underfunded and creating serious economic consequences, such as lost jobs and lost exports, as well as impacting the quality of life of our residents.

What is your philosophy on taxation?

I do not support new taxes and see no reason to contemplate such a move unless all other options are exhausted.

What is your philosophy on the role of government?

Generally, the best government is the one that is closest to the people. However, when a south Florida town tramples the rights of its citizens, contrary to Florida values, we have to reel them in. From straw bans to mask mandates, we need less government regulation.