Mel Ponder

Mel Ponder is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives. He was the mayor of Destin, Florida from 2014 to 2016. On August 30, 2016, Ponder won a close and contentious five-way primary to become the Republican nominee to represent District 4 in the Florida House of Representatives. Ponder was elected unopposed in the November general election. He succeeded State Representative Matt Gaetz, who was elected to the Florida 1st District U.S. House seat.