Ed Hooper, in his bid to return to Tallahassee, picked up a major endorsement Wednesday from Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano. Fasano, a former Republican state lawmaker, has been a longtime political force in West Pasco County. Hooper, who served in the House from 2006 to 2014, is running in Senate District 16, covering parts of Pinellas and Pasco counties.
Looking to return to Tallahassee next year in a Senate seat, former Rep. Ed Hooper, a Clearwater Republican, raised $51,400 in August, according to a newly filed finance report.
Former House Speaker Will Weatherford is backing Ed Hooper for the state senate seat being vacated by Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala, who terms out in 2018.
When the history of the 2025-26 Legislative Sessions is written — undoubtedly Tallahassee Democrat reporter Bill Cottrell will be on his sixth retirement by then — what transpired July 25, 2017, may play a definitive role.
Ed Hooper received two key law enforcement endorsements, as both the Florida Police Benevolent Association and Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association are supporting his bid for Florida Senate. Hooper, a retired fire Lieutenant who served on the Clearwater City Council before spending eight years in the Florida House, is seeking to replace term-limited Republican Sen. Jack Latvala in Senate District 16.
Ed Hooper has received the endorsement of Florida’s Professional Firefighters. The organization announced during its 73rd annual convention in Sarasota this week it was backing Hooper, a Clearwater Republican, in his Senate District 16 race in 2018. In a statement, Jim Tolley, the organization’s president and CEO, said it was honored to have worked with Hooper during his time in the Florida House and looked forward to the “same relationship in the Florida Senate.”
Ed Hooper has now received the endorsement of every Oldsmar city elected official in his bid for Florida Senate. Hooper, a retired fire Lieutenant who served on the Clearwater City Council before spending eight years in the Florida House, is seeking to replace term-limited Clearwater Sen. Jack Latvala in 2018.