For Florida House District 71, we recommend Ocean Fitts

The Florida House District 71 race features Republican Jordan Varnadore, Democrat Ocean Fitts, and NPA candidate Joseph Hoolihan.

Ocean Fitts is a 27-year-old, seventh-generation Floridian studying Public Policy at St. Pete College. He has been actively engaged in local politics and demonstrates a strong command of state-level policy issues. He has clearly articulated a platform to restore home rule, better protect our wetlands and other environmental resources, and invest in infrastructure and quality public school education that is not politicized.

We believe Fitts would work hard for Manatee County citizens frustrated by the constant roadblocks special-interest, one-party rule has created in these important areas of public policy.

Jordan Varnadore is Vice President of Marketing at GarrettRichard, a Palmetto-based commercial insurance and PEO brokerage co-founded by his father.  Florida GOP leadership installed Varnadore as Secretary of the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee after it disbanded the local REC after the results of the 2024 primary.

Varnadore’s campaign has received maximum contributions from several Political Committees, including from the Parents First PC, which is chaired by Manatee School Board Member Chad Choate, as well as from Unifying Leadership for Florida, Protecting Florida's Progress, Conservative for Florida, United for Florida, and Conservatives Standing Proudly for Common Sense, all of which are PACs chaired by Thomas Piccolo of the Tampa-based political consulting firm, SIMWINS.

His campaign also received contributions from additional PACs, including the Associated Industries of Florida PAC, the Conservatives for Florida Agriculture PAC, and the Floridians United for a Sustainable Economy PC, chaired by Jon Mast, CEO of the Suncoast Builders Association.  

We have no doubt that Varnadore would be little more than just another reliable vote for the developer-influenced RPOF machine that continues to attack home rule, passing an onslaught of preemption bills that prevent local governments from enacting legislation best suited for their communities so that developers and other special interests can profit at the expense of our communities. 

Joseph Hoolihan works in real estate, and while he admits to being something of a newcomer to politics, we found him to be a thoughtful, deep-thinking candidate. While his command of relevant issues did not seem as strong as Fitts, we believe he would be a much better representative than Varnadore. As an NPA candidate, Hoolihan faces a major uphill battle as a grassroots candidate in a state where so many citizens vote straight ticket.

Podcast interviews with Fitts and Hoolihan are available below. Mr. Varnadore declined to participate in our interview process.