Kathleen Peters: Difference between revisions

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| alma_mater=[[St. Petersburg College]] (A.A.),[[Associate of Arts|AA]])<br>[[Eckerd College]] (B.A.[[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])

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'''Kathleen M. Peters''' (born February 27, 1961) is aan American politician of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and a former member of the [[Florida House of Representatives]], representing the 69th District, which includes southern [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]], stretching from [[Redington Shores, Florida|Redington Shores]] to [[St. Pete Beach, Florida|St. Pete Beach]], sincefrom 2012 to 2018.

In 2012, following the reconfiguration of Florida House districts, Peters opted to run in the newly created 69th District. She faced David Phillips and Jim Dobyns in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary, campaigning on education reform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kathleen-peters-wins-republican-state-house-district-69-primary/1245812|title=Kathleen Peters wins Republican state House District 69 primary|date=August 14, 2012|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|first=John Woodrow|last=Cox}}</ref> She ended up comfortably defeating both of her opponents, winning 51% of the vote to Phillips's 36% and Dobyns's 13%. Advancing to the general election, she faced Josh Shulman, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee and a financial planner. Peters was endorsed by the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'', predicting that she would be a "moderate Republican voice in Tallahassee" and praising her for her political experience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/for-a-better-florida-house/1257108|title=For a better Florida House|date=October 18, 2012|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref> She ended up narrowly defeating Shulman, winning 52% of the vote to his 48%.

Following the death of Republican [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Congress]]man [[UnitedBill StatesYoung Congressman]](Florida [[politician)|Bill Young]] on October 18, 2013, a [[Florida's 13th congressional district special election, 2014|special election]] was held to replace him. On November 19, 2013, Peters announced that she would run to replace him, declaring that she would fight "the weak-willed, the preening and the posturing men" responsible for the dysfunction of the federal government. At her campaign's kickoff, she was introduced by, among others, Young's son, Bill Young II, and [[Florida Senate|State Senator]] [[Jack Latvala]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/state-rep-kathleen-peters-announces-campaign-for-district-13-congressional/2153158|title=State Rep. Kathleen Peters enters Pinellas congressional race, creating a GOP contest|date=November 19, 2013|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|first=Curtis|last=Krueger}}</ref> In the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary, she faced [[David Jolly]], a former aide to Young, and retired General [[Mark Bircher]]. During the course of the campaign, Peters received the support of a number of serving members of [[Congress]], including [[Diane Black]], [[Lynn Jenkins]], and [[Ann Wagner]], all of whom sought to increase the amountnumber of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] women in their caucus, and who helped Peters fundraise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/house_gop_women_gamble_in_florida_special-229950-1.html?pg=1&dczone=politics|title=House GOP Women Gamble in Florida Special|date=January 6, 2014|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Roll Call]]|first=Abby|last=Livingston}}</ref> She received the endorsement of the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' in her bid, which noted that, following Young's death, "[T]he best-known and best-qualified potential candidates declined to run," but that Peters "has the local experience and temperament to succeed even though she has a lot to learn about federal issues."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/times-recommends-kathleen-peters-for-us-house-gop-primary/2157297|title=Times recommends: Kathleen Peters for U.S. House GOP primary|date=December 16, 2013|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref> The ''[[Tampa Tribune]]'', meanwhile, endorsed Jolly over Peters, criticizing her for having a "knowledge of the issues facing Congress" that "only skims the surface," though praising her for her "reputation for doggedness" and for her efforts in "pushing through a measure that eliminated a tax inequity affecting condominium owners."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-editorials/tribune-endorses-david-jolly-for-district-13-gop-primary-20131222/|title=Tribune endorses David Jolly for District 13 GOP primary|date=December 22, 2013|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|archive-date=December 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224095827/http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-editorials/tribune-endorses-david-jolly-for-district-13-gop-primary-20131222/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ultimately, however, Peters was defeated by Jolly, who had consistently performed better than her in public polls and in terms of fundraising, and she received 31% of the vote to Jolly's 45% and Bircher's 24%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tbo.com/tb/sections/jolly-captures-dist-13-republican-primary-20140114/|title=Jolly captures Dist. 13 Republican primary|date=January 14, 2014|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Tribune]]|first=Kate|last=Bradshaw}}</ref> Jolly would go on to win the election against [[Alex Sink]], the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee and the former [[Chief Financial Officer of Florida]].

[[Category:MembersRepublican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives]]

[[Category:People from PinellasSouth CountyPasadena, Florida]]