Rich Tatem, retired United States Air Force Colonel* and School Board member in Manatee County, filed to run for Southwest Florida’s House District 72.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2024
Contact: Matt Doster
Phone: (850) 222-8156
Email: [email protected]
Bradenton, Fla. — Today, Rich Tatem, retired United States Air Force Colonel* and School Board member in Manatee County, filed to run for Southwest Florida’s House District 72. The incumbent, State Representative Tommy Gregory, has been named the new President of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota and will not be seeking re-election.
“Tommy Gregory has been a strong leader for Florida and an effective leader for House District 72, and it is no surprise that he has this new opportunity,” said candidate Rich Tatem. “It is imperative that we elect someone who will carry on his legacy of conservative leadership that has helped brand our state as the Free State of Florida. After a lot of prayer, discussion with my wife, and encouragement from key supporters, I have made the decision to become a candidate for state representative and to continue that legacy.”
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Colonel Tatem is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Academy. Colonel Tatem had an extensive 30-year military career in the United States Air Force as a pilot, assistant professor at the United States Air Force Academy, and as a leadership educator and executive coach. Additionally, Colonel Tatem had assignments managing hundreds of millions of dollars in Air Force assets and worked on intergovernmental task forces. After retiring from the Air Force, Tatem continued his leadership education work, wrote the book “Interviews With The Founders: the way America is now – and the way America is supposed to be” and hosted a patriotic radio show and podcast. On the Manatee County School Board, he has been a strong advocate for school choice and safety, parental rights and input, decentralization, and classical education.
Tatem added: “Our nation is currently experiencing the catastrophic result of the radical, liberal agenda: mass illegal immigration, a devaluation of our money supply, and a scheme for cultural indoctrination that opposes every value fundamental to American greatness. Running for State House is an opportunity for me to stand with Governor DeSantis and our next President Trump to push back on that liberal agenda and to continue to empower our school boards to do the same.”
*Use of military rank and photographs in uniform do not imply DoD or USAF endorsement.
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Paid by Rich Tatem, Republican, for State Representative
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