Candidate for governor visits East County

Florida gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum joined East County residents for a “Breakfast with Bill" Tuesday morning at the Country Pancake House in San Marco Plaza.

The event gave residents a chance to discuss issues such as healthcare, education, the economy and energy with McCollum. More than 100 people attended.

“It was a wonderful turnout,” said Manatee County Commissioner Donna Hayes, who co-hosted the event. “Everybody was very enthused.”

McCollum, a former officer in the Navy JAG Corps., has most recently served as Florida’s attorney general. He also has 20 years experience in the U.S. Congress.

“He knows the importance of the state having a good coordination with the federal government for the benefit of Florida,” Hayes said. I’m looking forward to it because I can see we are going to need a lot of federal funding.”

The breakfast was hosted by Hayes as well as John and Pat Colon, David Garofalo, Kathy King, Jamie Miller, Don O’Nesky and Eric Robinson.