Author: Gary Nager

On Tuesday, August 18, local firefighter, Realtor and community activist Michael Pultorak will try to accomplish something few recent political candidates in Pasco County have been able to do — unseat a Republican incumbent. 

Pultorak is running for the Republican nomination against Florida House District 54 Representative Randy Maggard. 

He says he entered the race believing that his attempt to unseat Maggard would be an Open Primary, meaning that all voters in the District — regardless of party affiliation — would be eligible to cast a ballot to choose between the two Republican candidates because there was no Democrat or third-party candidate registered to run for the seat. 

But, on June 12, the last day to qualify to run, Paul Bybee, who also is a registered Republican and who does not live in Dist. 54, qualified as a write-in candidate for the November 3 General Election ballot. Bybee’s name will not appear on that ballot — there will only be a space to write in his name — but his last-minute qualifying as a write-in closed the August 18 Primary Election, so that only registered Republicans in Dist. 54 will be eligible to choose between the two-term incumbent Maggard and Pultorak, the political newcomer. 

And, with there being a very likely possibility (based on his history) that Bybee will drop out of the race once the results of the primary are known, that means that only Republicans will have ended up choosing the next Dist. 54 Rep. 

According to the Florida Division of Elections, as of July 10, Maggard’s campaign had raised $145,000, while Pultorak’s campaign had raised only $3,900 and Bybee has not reported raising any campaign funds for his write-in campaign for House Dist. 54 this year 

Bybee also ran as a write-in candidate for Pasco County Commission’s Dist. 4 in 2024 — but withdrew following the closed Republican primary that saw appointed incumbent Lisa Yeager elected to fill the last two years of the late Gary Bradford’s four-year term. 

The Neighborhood News sent both Pultorak and Maggard a series of questions and both responded by email for this story. We did not reach Bybee at the phone number listed on the Florida Division of Elections website, which did not list an email address for him. Bybee’s Facebook page makes no mention of his candidacy and only shows him campaigning for Republican Sheriff Chris Nocco’s campaign to replace retiring State Senator Ed Hooper and Republican candidate for State House Dist. 53 John Carroll. 

Pultorak has been endorsed by Defending Rural Florida, the Florida League of Republican Voters and the Florida Republican Liberty Caucus. 

Michael Pultorak 

Neighborhood News (NN): Tell me about your background — where you grew up, went to school, your work experience and your family. 

Michael Pultorak (MP): We get to pick where we make and call home, but we don’t get to pick where we were born. I was born and raised in Michigan, spending almost every day playing sports or in the outdoors, and learning to be a steward of the land. I moved to Florida to attend USF in 1996, fell in love with Wesley Chapel and decided to make this home. Most of your readers probably know me from real estate or coaching youth athletics. But, I became a firefighter well before graduating USF. This is my 30th year in the fire service and I am starting my 27th year with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and my 14th year as a Captain. With my wife Aimee being a St Leo alumna, we fell in love with the Wesley Chapel and San Antonio areas and decided this was the right place to raise our children. We have cattle, chickens, and pigs on our ranch. Our children Grace and Joshua have really connected us as coaches and mentors to the local community. 

NN: How did you become — whether intentionally or not — a community activist? 

MP: I appreciate that, but honestly, I don’t consider myself an activist. I am a USF alumnus from the Muma College of Business (GO BULLS!), a successful business owner and have been blessed investing in real estate. I have graduate degrees from Liberty University and the University of Phoenix. Activist? No. Problem solver? Yes. I just cannot accept the status quo that is not working, or merely hope things are going to get better. If we can make things better, let’s do it! Strong leaders fix big problems. That won’t always settle well with everyone, but it is the right thing to do. I took a pledge decades ago to build the bridge others behind you will travel. Sometimes to my own [detriment], I stand up to what is wrong or isn’t working. So many of the problems around us can be solved, it just takes good people willing to sacrifice to make things better for those that travel behind us. In turn, that means we are building a better place for our children to raise their children. 

NN: What made you decide to run for public office? 

MP: I never intended to run for office. But I have seen how Tallahassee is giving our tax dollars to developers to pave over Pasco pastures and turn them into parking lots. I realized that the new developments are not helping our current residents. The new developments and 4-story apartments are not utilized by our residents; they just keep moving more people into our community. The businesses that promise high-paying employment keep moving their own workforce in with them, so our residents keep getting overlooked, while the allure of additional tax revenue keeps getting them approved. The additional pressure has overwhelmed our infrastructure, and it is driving up the cost of living for all of our families. 

So, I started any way possible to hold developers accountable for the roads, parks and promises they made to the community. Looking around, we need a lot of change with our elected officials. The decisions being made at the local and state levels are not benefiting our current residents. So, if we have a problem, it is time to solve it. That means it is time to engage at the next level. These issues are mainly caused by state legislation, so that is where we must focus to create change and protect Pasco. 

NN: What made you choose the State House District 54 race? 

MP: Our incumbent has voted repeatedly to give tax incentives to the data centers we are working to prevent. That is not OK. He protected NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) between government officials and data center developers in this current session. That also is not OK. Since he has taken office, 31 pieces of pro-developer state legislation have been enacted, and he voted YES every time. That is not OK. 

He has been in office for 7 years, and all I see is Pasco County getting paved over and our cost of living skyrocketing. Our kids can’t afford to live and raise their children in our communities. That is a problem! If you see a problem, try to solve it and I am trying to solve the problem. That means it is time for a new voice to represent Pasco residents in Tallahassee. 

NN: What do you feel Rep. Maggard has or hasn’t been doing enough to help the people living in the district? 

MP: He has both done far too much and far too little. He has done far too much to incentivize developers to bring in data centers, apartments and new communities our residents cannot afford. At the same time, he has done far too little listening to his constituents who don’t want these things to happen to their community. 

NN: What do you think about Paul Bybee entering the race as a write-in candidate? Do you believe that his entry into the race was orchestrated by the Republican Executive Committee (REC) of Pasco? And if it was, if you’re also running as a Republican, why would the REC attempt to not allow anyone other than Republicans to vote in this primary? 

MP: Paul who? Oh, that guy. Well, there are a lot of games played in politics to keep power, and I would be speculating as to any details about his candidacy. But, when he is out campaigning, maybe he should start promoting himself for his race if he is a serious candidate. 

NN: If elected, what are your goals as far as what you would like to accomplish in your first term in the State Legislature? 

MP: First, I will prevent ANY legislation that looks anything like my opponent’s bill he tried to pass twice (2023, 2026) that would have removed local protections for our water and conservation areas. It is so crazy I can’t even make this stuff up. Second, data centers need to be up north in cooler climates that do not have a sensitive aquifer. We need a full state moratorium. Third, Senate Bill 102 that allows high-density apartments to be constructed on ANY property zoned commercial needs to be repealed so that we can grow employment instead of the population. Finally, House Bill 1080 from this 2026 session allowing developers to use outside consultants for rezoning must be repealed. The tax funding for home ownership programs needs to be reestablished because it is now being used for low-interest loans for developers to build apartments. That is all tied up currently in these bills I’ve identified. 

NN: What do you feel are the biggest needs for the people of District 54? 

MP: 1) Address the over-development of Pasco, which includes new residential, new commercial and data centers developments. 

2) Address the flood risks we have in Dade City and Zephyrhills from that development 

3) WE MUST TACKLE AFFORDABILITY. Our cost of living is driven by the cost of housing. Supply & demand says you keep moving in labor forces and they will add to the demand of available homes in the area. 

4) We need transparency out of Tallahassee! I am tired of finding out what new laws will be thrust on us on July 1 of each year. It is time we got someone up there that will provide accountability to the residents of Florida. 

5) STOP wasting our tax dollars! If the state and county would stop wasting our tax dollars, maybe our county budget and cost of living would stop going up every year. 

NN: Since you’ll also have to vote about many things that have little or nothing to do with District 54, what State House committees would you like to serve on and what do think are the biggest needs for the State of Florida? 

MP: The committees that interest me the most are the Budget Committee, Select Committee on Property Taxes and Health & Human Services. The biggest needs for Florida residents are to rein in spending, make sure property tax reform does not turn into a series of loopholes that punish the working class and create transparency so that we can all hold our representatives accountable for whom they are truly representing in Tallahassee. 

NN: Why should the people of District 54 vote for you? 

MP: We have some big problems locally that are going to need a leader with bigger solutions. I understand how the problems were legislatively created and I know how we can start solving them, but it must happen in Tallahassee. 

The interests of Pasco County residents drive my political aspirations and decision making. I have no interest in representing special interests. While my opponent has received 277 PAC (Political Action Committees) donations during his time as a State Rep., I have received none. While your utility bills were going up, he was taking donations from all of the providers. 

I will never accept campaign donations that are from public services dependent on politicians voting to raise your rates. State legislation prevented oversight of developers in our area and, not surprisingly, many residents feel they did not get the communities they were promised. 

It is time to get to work fixing these issues, but we need a change in the voice we are sending to represent us. Let’s send a message by changing the messenger in this Primary Election! 

Randy Maggard 

State House District 54 incumbent Randy Maggard is a lifetime Pasco County native who has been married to his wife Colleen for 41 years. The couple has three children and five grandchildren. 

Maggard is a member of San Antonio Community Church and also is the co-owner and vice president of Sonny’s Discount Appliances in Dade City. He is a past chair of the Pasco County Republican Party and serves in Republican leadership in the Florida House, including as Deputy Majority Leader since 2024. 

According to his website and campaign ad materials, Rep. Maggard has been endorsed by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis, State Senator Danny Burgess, Pasco tax collector Mike Fasano, Pasco property appraiser Mike Wells and by the Florida Professional Firefighters, the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. 

Although he didn’t elaborate on any of these items in our question-&-answer exchange below, his website says that he “passed major insurance reform that eliminated frivolous lawsuits that raise rates” and “sweeping property tax reform with Gov. DeSantis to bring relief to Pasco families, retirees and residents.” 

On illegal immigration, Rep. Maggard says he “stood with Pres. Trump and Gov. DeSantis to pass sweeping immigration reform. He will keep illegals off our streets and stand by the rule of law!” He opposes “woke ideologies” and “strongly supports law enforcement, the rule of law and increased penalties on individuals who harm law enforcement officers.” 

NN: What do you believe are your biggest accomplishments since first being elected to the Florida House? 

Randy Maggard (RM): I am really so proud of so many things we have done to promote conservative governance in Florida. We are proudly called the Free State of Florida for a reason! We have made Florida more business-friendly for entrepreneurs. We are cutting property taxes. We defended life and our constitutional rights. I am particularly proud of the work we achieved with autism reform to help support the families with autistic family members. 

NN: What are your main objectives, if re-elected, for the next four years? Is there any particular legislation that you’re sponsoring or that you support? 

RM: Should I be reelected, my priorities will be to ensure individual rights and free market affordability, safety, education and the protection of our natural resources. 

NN: What is your opinion of the Property Tax legislation headed to this year’s November ballot? What, in your opinion, can and should Pasco County do to guarantee that things like the Sheriff ’s Office, Fire Rescue/EMS and the School District don’t have to cut essential services and jobs if the legislation passes? 

RM: I supported the property tax amendment measure in the Legislature. Should it be adopted by the voters, the Legislature will need to pass an implementing bill where additional details will be worked [out]. I am confident that local municipalities will do the right thing and adjust their budgets to relieve the burden of taxes on our citizens. Government needs to set priorities and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. 

NN: What are the biggest needs, as you see them, of your District? How do you plan to help the people of District 54 over your next four years in office? 

RM: If reelected, I will be serving my last two-year term. Cost of living for expenses such as property insurance, health care and autism support will be my main focus. 

NN: What is your opinion of hyperscale, large-scale and SMR (Small Modular Reactor) data centers? Should Florida allow any of them to come into our state? Can (and/or should) the State government implement a permanent ban on them? 

RM: I oppose AI data centers. Earlier this year, in conjunction with Governor DeSantis, the Legislature passed a bill to empower local governments and to protect consumers and our natural resources when it comes to AI data centers. I am proud of our bill, which is tough. Frankly, it is so tough that I doubt data centers will even want to come to Florida. 

NN: Have you publicly come out in support of any of the candidates for Florida’s next Governor? Do you plan to after the Primary Election? 

RM: I have personally and publicly endorsed Congressman Byron Donalds [for Governor]. I believe he has the best vision for our state, but I know and respect several other Republicans running. I urge all Republican voters to research the candidates and make their own decision, but agree that we must unite after the primary is over on August 18th to defeat the Democrat nominee. 

NN: What do you think of the Republican Executive Committee of Pasco County continuing to add registered Republican Write-In candidates to the ballot — including in your race — when the Write-In candidates 1) do not live in the districts in which they are running, 2) have literally no chance of being elected and 3) have no intention of still running once the “closed” Primary election ends? 

I know it’s technically not “illegal” for such candidates to be added to the Primary Election ballot , but is it ethical? And, can the State Legislature enact a new law preventing such candidates from being added to the Primary Ballot in the future and would you support such a measure? 

RM: I’m not aware of what the local parties may be doing regarding so called “Write-In” candidates. I personally believe in a primary system whereby only registered Republicans are choosing the Republican nominee. If the Democrats want to be a viable party outside of the big cities, they need to recruit and train candidates. 

NN: Is there anything else you would want me to include for your constituents in this story? 

RM: I’ve lived my entire life here in East Pasco County. I am a husband, father, grandfather and small businessman who knows what a special place it is that we call home. I am proud to say it’s a place where faith, family and freedom flourish. I do not take public service lightly and I would be honored to once again earn the trust and support of the voters in East Pasco County (District 54).