Meet The Candidates: Florida House District 53 Primary

The candidates in this Primary race will only appear on the ballots of Republican residents that reside in District 53. Each candidate was given the opportunity to provide a 150-word bio and respond to our questions within 700 words. Democrat candidate Keith Laufenberg will run against the winner of this race in November.

JEFF HOLCOMB (REP)

BIO:
Jeff Holcomb has given 8 years of distinguished service to Hernando County. In 2019 he served as the Chairman of the County Commission, and he also served as Chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee from 2018 – 2020.
LT Holcomb also serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves as an Intelligence Officer with over 16 years of decorated service. In 2016, he deployed to the Middle East to fight ISIS in Operation Inherent Resolve. He was part of the Combat Ops Team planning air missions in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan where he earned a Navy Commendation Medal and a Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal.
Jeff has lived in Hernando County for over 20 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from University of MD, Baltimore County. He has a master’s degree in Intelligence Studies from American Military University. He has been married for 22 years and has 2 daughters and is currently a realtor.

What are the critical statewide issues that you will focus on if elected?
Creating jobs and strengthening the economy, fixing our insurance industry, improving education, meeting Florida’s infrastructure needs, and taxes

What are the critical local issues you will support if elected?
Securing funds to improve and expand roads in Hernando and Pasco Counties (County Line Road), an ADA hurricane shelter, a baker act facility for kids and a training facility for our first responders.

What is your motivation for running for office?
I want to defend our conservative values in Tallahassee. I believe it is critically important to have representation in Tallahassee that stands for more jobs, keeping taxes low, improving our schools, and protecting our rights.

Please describe some upcoming or ongoing projects that will improve the area you will represent.
(see list above)

What are your areas of expertise?
Infrastructure, veterans’ affairs, tax structure, transportation, and County government

What besides your experience makes you especially suited for this office?
I have a proven track record of supporting our first responders. Making tough personnel decisions, including bringing in a new County Administrator and cutting taxes. As a veteran, I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and the rule of law. I am also a husband, father, realtor, and longtime resident of the community, which allows me to understand the needs and concerns of House District 53.

ANTHONY KOCOVIC (REP)

What are the critical statewide issues that you will focus on if elected?
1. The Suncoast Parkway Rural Tax eating at the budgets of Rural Floridians, Anthony Kocovic (R) will work to extend the Pinellas commuter plan to all west coast Florida. A 50.00 per year plan that will allow rural residents to reduce the congestion on local roads Barclay Ave and Anderson Snow Road and the millions it will cost to expand them when we have the Suncoast Parkway just second from those roads.
2. Energy, Florida must become an Energy Producer, Florida Centric Energy Policy that protects
Florida Citizens from the budget-crushing price of energy
3. The State of Florida needs to refund all Uninsured motorist’s insurance expenses since it is the state that manages the DMV.

What are the critical local issues you will support if elected?
1. Water Utilities will build Reservoirs for storage and recreation opportunities, Rain Collection for New developments
2. Bed Tax to reallocate 25% state-wide for Industrial lands. Anthony Kocovic (R) will work on the economic development of 3 properties in district 53 up to 300 acres each dedicated for Industries. Hernando County has mostly Lease Land available in the industrial park.
3. Insurance corporations need predictability. It will require establishing up to 10-year policies. Citizens cannot run anything with the unpredictability of the 6-month policy.

What is your motivation for running for office?
Anthony Kocovic (R) has an actual plan, not a copy and pastes platitudes provided by consultants.
1. End the Rural Toll Tax, Suncoast 589 With the expansion of the Pinellas Commuter plan (visit your sunpass account).
2. Require water utilities to Secure Abundant clean water supplies, not just wait for Rain!
3. Florida State Amphitheater in district 53 for Income opportunities.
4. Fix the School Pickup and Drop-off problem by implementing statewide bussing to 1/2 mile.
5. A Florida CDC to ensure the health of Floridians.
6. Term limit needs to mean NO MORE Government JOBS, the people need a break from recycled office holders.
7. Anthony Kocovic (R) will set up the district 53 office as a community Learning office for updates and help residents and businesses to access the state budget allocations.

Please describe some upcoming or ongoing projects that will improve the area you will represent.
1. Income to the region and the State. The Florida State Amphitheater sports and conference center to be located in District 53 at the State Owned 50 Acres located in the Anderson Snow Road area of Hernando County District 53
2. Saving lives and money with Road Repairs, potholes must be repaired to keep the infrastructure in mint condition with the best repair technology.
3. Income opportunities with Recreational reservoirs for enjoyment and provide fresh water when needed.
4. NEW Cars will have a CMPG (Congestion Miles Per Gallon)

What are your areas of expertise?
1. Anthony Kocovic (R) was part of the Inspiration In November 2014, the Hernando County School District lost the support of the community, and the half-cent sales tax funding for school repairs was defeated at the polls. The school board was pondering the closures of school campuses, and the morale of the district was at an all-time low. Anthony Kocovic and Jimmy Lodato met at Panera Bread located on SR 50 and the plan to implement a special election began to take shape. The ‘Say Yes’ campaign to reinstate the half-cent funding in 2015 was one of the most successful campaigns in Florida.
2. Realtor
3. International Author, Publisher.
4. Leadership Hernando 2001
5. Member of the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce.

What besides your experience makes you especially suited for this office?
1. The Constitution was written by the Founding fathers, so any citizen is suited for all offices, we are all required to participate in our government. These offices are NOT Jobs they are how we manage our community. Office holders and administrators should have a 10 Year term Maximum and they cannot serve in government at any level for 10 years. The people need to put an End to the Political Elites by electing Anthony Kocovic District 53.

Editor’s Note: We did not receive a bio from Mr. Kocovic.