East Bradenton small business owner to run for Florida House seat

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.