Hugh H. Gibson
Hugh H. Gibson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 42nd District | |
| In office November 7, 2000 – November 4, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Everett A. Kelly |
| Succeeded by | H. Marlene O'Toole |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 6, 1941 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Evelyn J. Gramenzi |
| Children | Hugh H. IV, Tracy Williamson, John |
| Residence(s) | The Villages, Florida, U.S. |
| Education | Camden County College |
| Occupation | Retired firefighter |
Hugh H. Gibson (born November 6, 1941) is a Republican politician who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 42nd District from 2000 to 2008.
Early life and career
Gibson was born in Camden, New Jersey. He was a police officer for twelve years in New Jersey and served as the Chief of the Cherry Hill Fire Department before moving to Florida in 1992.[1]
In 1995, Gibson ran for the Lady Lake Town Commission in Ward 1 against incumbent Commissioner Ron Thomas.[2] Gibson won in a landslide, winning 67 percent of the vote to Thomas's 33 percent.[3] He was re-elected without opposition in 1997.[4] In 1998, while still serving as a member of the Town Commission, Gibson was elected to the Leesburg Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, defeating David Harden with 77 percent of the vote.[5] He was elected by the Town Commission to serve as Mayor from 1999 to 2000,[1] and was re-elected to the Commission in 1999 unopposed.[6]
Florida House of Representatives
In 2000, Republican State Representative Everett A. Kelly was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Gibson ran to succeed him in the 42nd district, which was based in Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties, and included Bushnell, Mount Dora, and The Villages.[7] He faced former Center Hill Police Chief Will Pruitt in the Republican primary,[8] and defeated him in a landslide, winning 60 percent of the vote.[9] In the general election, Gibson faced Democratic nominee John Martin, the Chairman of the Marion County Planning Commission and a retired Lockheed Martin executive, and Libertarian nominee John Wayne Smith.[10] Gibson defeated both by a wide margin, receiving 55 percent of the vote to Martin's 42 percent and Smith's 3 percent.[11]
Gibson ran for re-election in 2002, and was only challenged by Libertarian nominee Fred Levin, who ran for office as part of a statewide effort by the Libertarian Party of Florida to recruit candidates.[12] Gibson easily defeated him to win a second term, receiving 82 percent of the vote.[13] In 2004, Gibson again only faced a Libertarian challenger, John Wayne Smith, and defeated him in a landslide, winning 75 percent of the vote.[14]
In 2006, Gibson ran for re-election to a fourth term, and he was challenged by Democratic nominee Robert Thompson, a former teacher at East Ridge High School.[15] The Orlando Sentinel criticized Gibson as a "lackluster" state legislator who "has languished in representing District 42[.]"[16] Gibson ultimately defeated Thompson, winning 58 percent of the vote to Thompson's 42 percent.[17]
Gibson was term-limited in 2008 and unable to seek re-election.[18]
References
- ^ a b "Hugh H. Gibson". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ Stanfield, Frank (October 24, 1995). "Lady Lake Town Hall pits Ward 1 incumbent, challenger". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 5. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Clark, Lesley (November 8, 1995). "Newcomers topple Leesburg veterans". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 45662. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lady Lake will swear in 3 commissioners tonight". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. November 17, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fernandez, Don (January 15, 1998). "Sullivan wins 2nd LRMC term". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Sargent Jr., Robert (October 30, 1999). "Lady Lake's campaign trail nears end". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 4. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Damron, David (January 2, 2000). "New faces enter political fray". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 45669. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Scott, Monica (August 19, 2000). "GOP House candidates debate value of political experience". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "September 5, 2000 Primary Election - Republican Primary - Official Results - State Representative - District: 42". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2000. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ Scott, Monica (November 2, 2000). "Race is down to the wire". The Lake Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "November 7, 2000 General Election - Official Results - State Representative - District: 42". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2000. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ Sargent Jr., Robert (September 16, 2002). "Levin has run quiet campaign against Gibson". Orlando Sentinel. p. G1. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "November 5, 2002 General Election - Official Results - State Representative - District: 42". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2002. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ "November 2, 2004 General Election - Official Results - State Representative - District: 42". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2004. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ "Ex-teacher to run for office". Orlando Sentinel. February 2, 2006. p. X6. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "A better choice". Orlando Sentinel. November 4, 2006. p. A18. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "November 7, 2006 General Election - Official Results - State Representative - District: 42". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ Show, Christine (October 16, 2008). "Once past write-in foes, she can settle into office". Orlando Sentinel. p. J4. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.