Former Navy JAG officer, businessman join race to replace Paul Renner in House District 19

A recent Navy JAG officer and a lawyer-turned-small businessman have joined the race to replace Rep. Paul Renner in Florida House District 19.

The two new candidates are Sam Greco of unincorporated St. Johns County and Matthew Nellans, who lives at an Ormond Beach residence on the Flagler County side of the border with Volusia County.

Greco, 31, is a Navy reservist who recently completed a five-year stint as a judge advocate general, prosecuting military cases. He lives in unincorporated southern St. Johns County with his wife Elanda, and intends to focus on campaigning until the primary, after which he will seek civilian work, perhaps as an assistant state attorney.

Nellans, 46, is a former lawyer who remains licensed by the Florida Bar but says he stopped practicing in 2016. He runs what he calls a "small financial company," and has businesses registered as MKN Management, Inc., and Mises Ventures, LLC. He is married and when contacted Friday, he said he was not prepared to provide a photo.

Greco and Nellans will compete with retired physician James St. George and former legislative aide Darryl Boyer in the Republican primary. Adam Morley, a businessman and boat captain, has filed as a Democrat for the seat, which comprises all of Flagler County and part of St. Johns.

Greco's concerns: Keeping Florida free, delivering for Flagler, St. Johns

Greco acknowledged his Jan. 31 separation date from the JAG Corps required him to start campaigning later than St. George and Boyer, who each filed last May, but believes his military background makes him "a unique candidate." Through Dec. 31, the latest figures available, St. George had raised more than $305,000, while Boyer had nearly $34,000.

“I think of things in the context of ... whether it keeps Florida free or whether it delivers for St. Johns and Flagler counties," Greco said in an interview Friday. "If I get a piece of legislation that doesn’t seem to do one of those two things, I’m going to come to it with a little bit of skepticism.”

He identified the pace of development, infrastructure and property insurance as the three most pressing issues.

“I plan to talk to folks about how we can use the state Legislature to assist this heavily growing area with infrastructure that’s being overwhelmed, much of it is obsolete by the time it’s finished. We have schools in Flagler County and St. Johns that by the time they are completed, they’re already overwhelmed and using modular classrooms on Day 1.”

Renner has done a “fantastic job” in delivering in the budget for Flagler and St. Johns counties, Greco said.

“Whoever goes to Tallahassee next is going to have to be able to continue that work,” he said.

To stem the tide of skyrocketing property insurance rates, Greco said Florida must attract more insurers into the market, in part by enticing those who left to return.

“Some great progress was made with tort reform in the last session, which I think long-term will have a positive effect in bringing more insurers back to the state. But first, that needs to work its way through the system, and second, there’s more work to be done., he said.

Nellans aims to 'do what the average Trump voter wanted'

Nellans' focus is on matters beyond Florida borders: immigration and pushing back against federal regulations.

The Indiana native and longtime Floridian is a graduate of the University of Florida School of Law. He said in an interview Friday he was tired of posting on Facebook and decided to get more directly involved, so he filed for office on Feb. 14.

“Normal people that like the country, those who say ‘America First,’ or whatever, don’t seem to have any sway in the state Legislature," he said. "And I think that’s kind of sad, considering our governor is probably the most ‘America First’ governor in the country. Probably the best governor in my lifetime.”

Nellans believes the biggest issue facing Americans is immigration, and state legislators should challenge the federal government, despite the fact that courts have long ruled immigration powers rest with the feds.

“Some people will say they have been negligent. I don’t think so. I think it’s malicious,” he said.

It’s “fairly obvious” the feds “intend to overwhelm the voting public with new people,” he said.

So states with Republican trifectas – control of the Governor’s Office, House and Senate – need to “either provoke people who are here illegally to leave the state or deport them, and certainly to make it so that they don’t come here,” Nellans said.

He opposes federal regulations such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards, designed to raise fuel efficiency and reduce pollution that harms public health and the climate.

“Our states and Florida should take the lead in this, should start pushing back and say ‘we’re not going to obey these rules,’” Nellans said.

“You talk to people and they wonder why does it cost $55,000 to have a truck?" he said.

“Because I remember when I was a kid you could buy a Ford Ranger for $7,000-8,000 that ran just fine and was perfectly safe. But you can’t really sell those anymore because of CAFE standards," Nellans said. "I don’t know what the big deal is.”

While some larger and electric pickup trucks cost in the $55,000 range and more, Ford Motor Company lists the base price for a 2024 Ranger XL starting at $23,815. Also, the website CarGurus.com states the MSRP on new Ford Rangers in 1987 ranged from $6,793 to $13,062.

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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 2024 election: Two Republicans enter Florida House District 19 primary