Former U.S. Congressman Steve Southerland
Tallahassee, Fla. – Former United States Congressman Steve Southerland (R-FL-2) today announced he has endorsed Panama City Surgeon, U.S. Army Veteran and Republican Candidate Neal Dunn for Florida Congressional District 2.
“This is not just another former congressman endorsing a candidate,” said former Congressman Southerland. “I have examined the field thoroughly and feel strongly that Neal Dunn is the best conservative Republican candidate and is the only candidate I have endorsed for this race. He and his wife, Leah, are conservative Christians with a long family history of military service and sacrifice. He also has a distinguished career as a surgeon treating many thousands of North Florida families. He knows firsthand the failures of Obamacare and is the candidate most capable of repealing and replacing that broken system with one that is patient centered and market based.”
“Neal and Leah are business owners who know how hard it is to start and run a successful business, meeting payroll, growing jobs and working through the maze of government regulations,” continued former Congressman Southerland. “Neal's background in the military, medicine and business is crucial to these times. His life perfectly qualifies him to speak for and fight for North and Northwest Florida families. Neal is a conservative with solutions that work and because of our shared belief in hard work and honest dealings, I stand behind Neal Dunn 100 percent.”
“I thank my dear friend, Steve Southerland, for his support of my campaign,” said Dr. Dunn. “I share former Congressman Southerland’s sentiments about North and Northwest Florida and just how important it is for our district to be well represented in Washington by strong conservative leadership. I know what it takes to make our community healthier and our economy stronger, and the need to repeal and replace Obamacare and for businesses to thrive and grow. And, I pledge, if elected, to help restore America’s faith in Congress. We must get government out of the business of health care and stop putting mandates on our business community that hamper job growth and economic prosperity. I am also concerned about the growing threat posed to our families by the dark shadow of terrorism. My lifetime of experience has prepared me to address this.”
U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller
Panama City, FL – Republican Candidate Neal Dunn today announced that Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL-1) has endorsed his campaign for Florida Congressional District 2.
“North Florida needs a conservative who is committed to serving our veterans, shrinking the size and scope of the federal government and safeguarding our Second Amendment rights,” said Congressman Miller. “Neal Dunn shares the same conservative values as many of us in our community, and he has demonstrated a commitment to the ideals and principles of the Founding Fathers. I believe his background as a veteran and surgeon makes him uniquely qualified to represent the Second District of Florida in Congress.”
“Congressman Miller is a staunch advocate for veterans issues; and, as a veteran, I applaud his dedication, as well as his accomplishments,” said Dr. Dunn. “Congressman Miller and I also agree that our current tax system impedes economic growth, and we must do all that we can to encourage small business growth, and reduce and remove excessive and burdensome government regulations. With Congressman Miller’s support, I look forward to continuing to spread our conservative message in Congressional District 2 and fighting for a better North Florida.”
Since announcing his candidacy for Florida’s Congressional District 2, Dr. Dunn has been endorsed by former U.S. Congressman Steve Southerland, former Speaker Allan Bense, former Senate President Don Gaetz, former Speaker Will Weatherford, and Representatives Dennis Baxley, Jay Trumbull and Elizabeth Porter.
Florida Speaker Allan Bense
Dr. Neal Dunn, a Panama City surgeon, announced in Tallahassee his candidacy for the 2nd Congressional District in 2016, pledging to focus on the economy and national security and to “reform and replace” the federal Affordable Care Act.
Dunn, introduced at the Florida Press Center by former Speaker of the Florida House Allan Bense, described himself as “an unapologetic conservative Republican.” He earlier announced his candidacy for the U.S. House last week in Panama City.
He predicted the GOP will control the Senate, House and the White House after the 2016 election and said their first priority will be an overhaul of Obamacare. He said to do so, Congress will need members “who have represented patients, not bureaucrats.”
“Given the importance of this issue, I think it makes sense for the people of North Florida to send someone to Washington who actually understands the complexities of health-care delivery and the importance of the patient physician relationship,” he said.
Dunn, 61, served 10 years as a U.S. Army surgeon before spending 25 years as a surgeon in Panama City. He is the founding president of the Advanced Urology Institute, a practice with 45 doctors and more than 400 employees in North Florida, and he founded Panama City Urology Center & the Bay Regional Cancer Center.
He serves as chairman of the Bay Cares program, a nonprofit that annually provides $30 million of free specialty care to the working poor. Last year, the Bay County Health Department named him a public health hero, Bense said.
Florida Speaker Will Weatherford
Tallahassee, Fla. – Republican Candidate Neal Dunn today announced that former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Will Weatherford has endorsed his candidacy for Florida Congressional District 2.
“As exemplified by his service in the military, as well as the medical practice he built, Neal Dunn has shown Floridians that he is a dedicated leader and, above all else, a true public servant,” said former Speaker Weatherford. “Through his experiences, Neal understands the issues that are important to Floridians, including health care, the economy and the importance of the military to our national security.”
“I truly believe Neal embodies the conservative principles that North Florida possesses and is the voice that Congressional District 2 needs serving as their representative in Washington; and, I am happy to lend him my support,” continued former Speaker Weatherford.
“I am grateful to receive former Speaker Weatherford’s endorsement in my bid for Congressional District 2,” said Dr. Dunn. “As a staunch conservative who shares many of my same beliefs, former Speaker Weatherford is the epitome of a leader in Florida politics. As I continue to campaign on the three issues most important me – health care, national security and the economy – receiving the support and encouragement from him is humbling.”
Florida SENATE PRESIDENT DON GAETZ
Tallahassee, Fla. – After making his way from Panama City to Tallahassee to announce his Republican candidacy for Florida Congressional District 2, Panama City Surgeon and United States Army Veteran Neal Dunn today announced that former Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) has endorsed his candidacy.
“Neal Dunn is one of us here in North Florida,” said Senator Gaetz, who served as President of the Senate from 2012 to 2014. “In his own military career and the military service and sacrifices of his family, he personifies the values and needs of our retired military and the communities that host our bases and missions. In his distinguished career as a medical doctor caring for thousands of North Florida families, he knows firsthand the health care issues that affect our communities. In his successful business career, he faces the same struggles as the rest of us in meeting payroll, growing jobs and working through the maze of government regulation.”
Senator Gaetz continued, “Neal's life perfectly qualifies him to speak for North Florida and to fight for North Florida. He is a conservative with solutions that work. I am honored to support him for Congress.”
Rep. Dennis Baxley,
rep. Jay Trumbull & Rep. Elizabeth Porter
Neal Dunn, Republican candidate for Florida Congressional District 2, today announced that Florida House Representatives Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala), Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) and Elizabeth Porter (R-Lake City) have endorsed him in his campaign.
“As a physician, Neal Dunn has been a leader in conservative health care policy here in Florida,” said Representative Baxley. “No one is better prepared to help lead the repeal of Obamacare than Neal. I am happy to lend him my support.”
“Neal is an advocate for issues that matter to Floridians, including supporting our military, growing our economy and repealing Obamacare,” said Representative Trumbull. “He is the conservative voice District 2 needs in Congress, and I am proud to support his campaign.”
“I am happy to join with my fellow Republican House members in endorsing Neal Dunn in his campaign for Congressional District 2,” said Representative Porter. “As a leader in his community, Neal has proven his dedication and commitment to our area, and I know that North Florida will be in good hands with Dr. Dunn.”
“I would like to sincerely thank Representatives Baxley, Trumbull and Porter for their support,” said Dr. Dunn. “I am grateful that these Florida House Representatives have put their faith in me, and lent me their endorsement as I continue to advocate for a conservative agenda on issues that matter most to our community, including helping to strengthen our economy, grow our workforce, support our military and repeal Obamacare.”
