Larry Ahern
Larry Ahern (Republican Party) was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 66. Ahern assumed office in 2010. Ahern left office on November 6, 2018.
Ahern (Republican Party) ran for election to the Pinellas County Commission to represent District 1 in Florida. Ahern lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Ahern was unable to run for re-election in 2018 to the Florida House of Representatives because of term limits.
Biography
Larry Ahern was born on April 26, 1955. Ahern's professional experience includes owning Larry Ahern Pool Remodeling and Tyrone Discount Pool Supplies. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years.
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Florida committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Education |
| • Public Integrity and Ethics |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ahern served on the following committees:
| Florida committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Local & Federal Affairs |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ahern served on the following committees:
| Florida committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Health & Human Services, Vice chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ahern served on the following committees:
| Florida committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Finance & Tax |
| • Collective Bargaining |
| • Legislative Auditing |
Issues
Presidential preference
2012
Larry Ahern endorsed Herman Cain in the 2012 presidential election.[1]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Pinellas County, Florida (2020)
General election
General election for Pinellas County Commission District 1 At-large
Incumbent Janet Long defeated Larry Ahern in the general election for Pinellas County Commission District 1 At-large on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Janet Long (D) | 50.6 | 272,905 |
 | Larry Ahern (R) | 49.4 | 266,624 | |
| Total votes: 539,529 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Janet Long advanced from the Democratic primary for Pinellas County Commission District 1 At-large.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Larry Ahern advanced from the Republican primary for Pinellas County Commission District 1 At-large.
2018
General election
General election for Pinellas County Commission District 6
Kathleen Peters defeated Amy Kedron in the general election for Pinellas County Commission District 6 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kathleen Peters (R) | 60.2 | 66,967 |
| Amy Kedron (D) | 39.8 | 44,221 | ||
| Total votes: 111,188 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pinellas County Commission District 6
Kathleen Peters defeated Larry Ahern and Barb Haselden in the Republican primary for Pinellas County Commission District 6 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathleen Peters | 47.9 | 12,034 |
| Larry Ahern | 35.6 | 8,937 | |
 | Barb Haselden | 16.5 | 4,137 | |
| Total votes: 25,108 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Florida House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 30, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 24, 2016.
Incumbent Larry Ahern defeated Lorena Grizzle in the Florida House of Representatives District 66 general election.[2][3]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 66 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Larry Ahern Incumbent |
58.33% | 47,764 | |
| Democratic | Lorena Grizzle | 41.67% | 34,116 | |
| Total Votes | 81,880 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections | ||||
Lorena Grizzle ran unopposed in the Florida House of Representatives District 66 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 66 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Lorena Grizzle (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Larry Ahern ran unopposed in the Florida House of Representatives District 66 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 66 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Larry Ahern Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Florida House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 20, 2014. Lorena Grizzle was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Larry Ahern was unopposed in the Republican primary. Ahern defeated Grizzle in the general election.[6]
Endorsements
In 2014, Ahern's endorsements included the following:[7]
- Associated Builders and Contractors
- Associated Industries of Florida
- Florida Chamber of Commerce
- Florida Medical Association
- Florida Retail Federation
- National Federation of Independent Business
- NRA-PVF “A” Rating
- Tampa Tribune
2012
Ahern won election in the 2012 election for Florida House of Representatives District 66. Ahern ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14, 2012, and defeated Mary Louise Ambrose (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Larry Ahern Incumbent |
53.1% | 40,764 | |
| Democratic | Mary Louise Ambrose | 46.9% | 35,951 | |
| Total Votes | 76,715 | |||
2010
Ahern did not have any opposition in the August 24 primary. He defeated incumbent Janet Long (D) and Victoria Torres (TEA) in the November 2 general election.[9]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 51 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Larry Ahern (R)
|
22,706 | 50.32% | ||
| Janet Long (D) | 19,922 | 44.15% | ||
| Victoria A. Torres (Tea) | 2,499 | 5.54% | ||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Larry Ahern did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Ahern's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[10]
Creating Jobs
- Excerpt: "Government does not create jobs – but it can create a stable economic climate. Florida must encourage its business owners and entrepreneurs by keeping taxes low, maintaining fiscal discipline and providing a diversified workforce – not relying on so-called stimulus funds."
Limiting Size and Scope of Government
- Excerpt: "We must return to limited government by reducing its size and embracing fiscal responsibility. We must prioritize spending and make sure we focus on government’s core missions: schools, public safety, transportation and those most vulnerable in our state."
Helping Students Succeed
- Excerpt: "Too often, bureaucracy in the education system robs both the educator and the student from accomplishing their goals. The state must focus its spending on things that will produce the best results in the classroom and be accountable for those results."
Freedoms and Values
- Excerpt: "Larry believes in the values and principles that bring honor and integrity to public office. He believes God gives all people, including the unborn, their individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Energy Independence
- Excerpt: "Larry is against any cap-and-trade program, which only taxes businesses and individuals and does little to improve the environment."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Florida scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the Florida State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 11.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on healthcare related issues.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 7 through May 8. There was also a special session from June 7 to June 9.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Florida State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 11.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 3 through May 1.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 3 through May 5.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 5 through May 3.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ahern and his wife, Maureen, have three children.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
- Official campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ Palm Beach Post, "Herman Cain's surge, Rick Perry's slide reflect Florida GOP free-for-all," October 4, 2011
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate listing for 2016 general election," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Florida Department of State, "Candidates and Races," accessed July 1, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Florida Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed September 22, 2016
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Candidate Listing for 2014 General Election," accessed June 23, 2014
- ↑ larryahern.com, "Endorsements," accessed October 24, 2014
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State Election Division, "Candidate List," accessed June 21, 2012
- ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "November 2, 2010, Election Results," November 2, 2010
- ↑ larryahern.com, "Issues," accessed October 24, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ben Albritton (R) |
Florida House District 66 2012–2018 |
Succeeded by Nick DiCeglie (R) |
| Preceded by Janet Long |
Florida House District 51 2010–2012 |
Succeeded by Steve Crisafulli (R) |
 |
State of Florida Tallahassee (capital) |
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