Candidate Profile: Steve Vernon (State House, Dist. 73)

BRADENTON – Steve Vernon is running for the Republican nomination for the Florida House District 73 seat, which represents parts of both Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Vernon was born in Chicago and raised in the suburbs, north of the city. After retiring to Florida, he's made his home in Lakewood Ranch for the past 15 years.

Vernon, who has long been active with the Manatee Tea Party, is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having joined after High School and serving from 1965-1967.

He received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Chicago and a Masters of Business Administration from DePaul University in Chicago.

Vernon spent 15 years as a contracts negotiator with IBM. Prior, he spent three decades in banking, culminating with six years as a Section Chief for the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC), negotiating troubled assets from failed banks.

Vernon is the President of the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club and has been on the LWRRC Board for four years and a member for six. Previously, he was the President of Tea Party Manatee and on their Board for seven years.

Vernon faces longtime Sarasota County Republican boss Joe Gruters in the two-man primary. The winner will face Democrat James Golden, who is running unopposed.