The Race for 39

Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association endorses Bankson in State House District 39 election

Posted Wednesday, July 20, 2022 10:18 pm

From Staff Reports

Apopka City Commissioner Doug Bankson has received the endorsement of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association’s (CFHLA) PAC and PC this week in his bid to become the State House Representative for District 39.

Bankson is running against Republicans Charles Hart and Randy Ross and Democrat Tiffany Hughes. District 39 is newly-formed and has no incumbent. It includes Apopka, parts of northwestern Orange County, western Seminole County, and parts of Winter Garden, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Zellwood, and Wekiva Springs. It's projected as a battleground district that does not heavily favor a Democrat or Republican.

Doug Bankson is running for the State House District 39

"We are very pleased to be endorsed by the CFHLA and believe that it is a key industry and a tremendous employer group bringing stability and jobs to many families in our district," Bankson said. "Our list keeps growing as we have had the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to representing our district at the state level. I say “we” and “our” purposefully because it is the people's seat and I look forward to the opportunity to be our voice in Tallahassee."

Bankson has also received endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police, Conservative Ministers of Orange County, the West Orange Political Alliance (primary), Florida Realtors, Florida Republican Assembly of Orange County, and Republican Liberty Caucus.

The CFHLA released the following statement on the endorsement:

“CFHLA PAC and PC are extremely excited to support this diverse and passionate group of bipartisan candidates throughout the 2022 election cycle,” said Jay Leonard, General Manager of the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area, and the Chairman of the CFHLA PAC and PC. “Each of these pro-hospitality candidates understands the importance of tourism and is eager to help find solutions to the challenges that we face as a region and as a state.”

Robert Agrusa, president and CEO of the CFHLA went on to say, “We are confident that if elected, each of these candidates will seek policy solutions that not only support the hospitality industry and its workforce but the continued vitality of our state and local community. We are proud to stand with each of these candidates and we strongly encourage our members to do the same on August 23, 2022.”

The CFHLA's mission is to advance tourism and the community through hospitality. As the world’s largest regional lodging association, CFHLA represents approximately 80 percent of the more than 129,500 hotel rooms in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties, and nearly 500 "supplier" organizations that do business with the hospitality and tourism industries.

For more information on the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, please visit www.cfhla.org.