Jack Latvala
| Jack Latvala | |
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| Member of the Florida Senate from the 16th district 20th (2012-2016) 16th (2010-2012) 19th (1994-2002) |
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Assumed office November 2, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Charlie Justice |
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In office November 8, 1994 – November 5, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Curt Kiser |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 3, 1951 Oxford, Mississippi |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Stetson University (B.A.) |
| Profession | Publisher |
Jack Latvala (born November 3, 1951) is a Republican member of the Florida Senate, representing the Pinellas County area since 2010, and previously from 1994 to 2002.
He is a candidate in the Republican Party primary for Governor of Florida in the 2018 elections. In November 2017, six women, including both Republican and Democrat staffers, accused Latvala of groping them.
Latvala was born in Oxford, Mississippi, and moved to Florida in 1961, where he later attended Stetson University. He graduated in 1973 and later became the CEO of GCI Printing Services, which is based in Largo. He is generally regarded as a moderate.
In 1994, Latvala ran for the Florida Senate from the 19th District, which included northern Pinellas and western Pasco Counties, defeating Democratic nominee Chuck Lehr 59.7 to 40.3%. In 1996, he won reelection over Sue Humphreys by a similar margin, and was reelected without opposition in 2000. Latvala could not run for reelection in 2002 due to term limits.
In 2010, when Democratic State Senator Charlie Justice decided to run for Congress rather than reelection to his 16th District, Latvala opted to run in the Pinellas and Hillsborough County seat. He defeated Pinellas County School Board member Nina Hayden in the general election.
After the 2012 decennial redistricting, Latvala ran in the 20th District, which was based exclusively in northern Pinellas County. Latvala defeated business owner Zahid Roy in the Republican primary, and deaf child welfare advocate Ashley Rhodes-Courter in the general election. The Tampa Bay Times endorsed Latvala for reelection, calling him "the most powerful independent voice among the Republicans," citing several instances in which he vocally opposed his own party. Latvala won nearly 58% of the vote in the general election.
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