Meet Matt Gaetz: Congressman hosting cookout for grand opening of campaign headquarters

FORT WALTON BEACH — Northwest Florida's wandering congressman is coming home, and it appears he's doing so to let the world know he's decided to put up a fight to hold on to his seat in the U.S. House.

Rep. Matt Gaetz will host a cookout Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of a campaign office in Fort Walton Beach. The event is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. at the office location, 24 Hollywood Blvd.

"I'll be manning the grill, but I also look forward to meeting the community, so I hope you'll stop by to say hello," Gaetz told invitees in a text message. He also promised to "discuss policy and hear the opinions of constituents."

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Tickets to the event can be obtained at www.eventbrite.com/e/matt-gaetz-office- opening-tickets-290961683227

Gaetz has been seldom seen in his district since about a year ago when he held a political rally in his hometown of Niceville, where he told a group of ardent supporters that he was considering stepping down from his seat and getting out of Washington, DC.

"I'm not going to be a lifer in this job," he said. "I will not be here decades. ... I may not stay eight years. Six years has a good ring to it. I hope you're not disappointed in me if I don't stay more than a decade."

Gaetz's announcement that he'll open a campaign headquarters is the first real indication he's provided that he will run for re-election this year.

He is listed by the Florida Division of Elections as having pre-filed in December 2020 to run this year. The pre-filing paperwork was filled out not long after Gaetz was re-elected by a wide margin to his third term.

But in his sixth year in office Gaetz has not been the active presence in Northwest Florida that he had been.

The day after the speech in Niceville, the New York Times published a story about Gaetz being under investigation for possible sex trafficking and engaging in sex with a 17-year-old girl.

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No charges have been filed in the case, but all indications are that the investigation remains active. A former Gaetz associate, Joel Greenburg, has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor girl and is reportedly cooperating with authorities in the case in which Gaetz has been implicated.

Last August, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported that Gaetz hadn't made an announced public appearance in the four counties he serves — Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton — since his appearance in Niceville last March 29.

He dropped in at a few local venues shortly before and after the article was published, but spending records from his Friends of Matt Gaetz campaign account continue to indicate the congressman is spending a great deal of time away from his district.

Records show the Gaetz campaign has continued since June 30 of last year to spend tens of thousands of dollars on lodging, dining, rental cars and airfare, with stops in California, Texas, Washington state, New York, Arizona, Connecticut, Oregon and Georgia.

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They also show thousands have been spent in Florida at locations like West Palm Beach, Clearwater, Edgewater Beach and Melbourne. A $225 disbursement for lodging in Pensacola Beach stands out as unique.

Federal Election Commission records show that between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021, disbursements from the Friends of Matt Gaetz account exceeded contributions by $300,000. Disbursements were at $4.4 million and contributions at $4.1 million.

While traveling the country, Gaetz has continued to raise his national profile and strengthen his self-styled image as a "firebrand."

His controversial style, absence from his district and legal troubles have not gone unnoticed in Northwest Florida. Six opponents — Republicans Bryan Jones, Robert Jones, Jeremy Kelly and Greg Merk — along with Democrats Rebekah Jones and Peggy Schiller have signed on to oppose him this year.

Of the six, only the Democrat Rebekah Jones carries high name recognition. Jones came to national prominence during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic after she was fired from her position with the Florida Department of Health.

It is highly likely that if Gaetz is charged as a result of the ongoing sex trafficking/obstruction investigation, the number of candidates jumping into the race will increase exponentially.

Last August, Pensacola state Rep. Michelle Salzsman said that while Northwest Florida Republican party leaders aren't discussing a life after Gaetz, donors and business people are weighing their options.

"The idea is really to consolidate efforts so that we have a good candidate, a solid candidate," she said. "It has nothing to do with what Matt Gaetz is doing or his state of affairs. It's smart political discussion to look at options."

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Gaetz opening Fort Walton Beach campaign office, hosting cookout