After months of campaigning, we are excited to celebrate the culmination of our efforts after tomorrow’s election.  We recognize that this journey would not have been possible without the help, support, encouragement and prayers of so many of you, and we would like to show our thanks at an Election Night Celebration tomorrow night.  If you are able to attend, we would love to have you join us!

Park Square Cellar 16132 Churchview Drive Lithia, FL 33547 7:30pm until the results are in!

Thanks,

Jake, Melissa & Jackson

Published Friday, October 19, 2012

State Representative District 57

Democrat Bruce Barnett is a Florida native, veteran, holds an MBA and manages logistics for a trucking company. He is smart and very progressive. He would oppose corporate tax cuts and use the revenue to boost Florida’s education system. He would push to collect the taxes due from internet sales and then eliminate the non-defensible sales tax exemptions.

Barnett is a compelling candidate. He’s even a little more liberal than us, believing college tuition should be free. ...]]> By Patrick Manteiga

Published Friday, October 19, 2012

State Representative District 57

Democrat Bruce Barnett is a Florida native, veteran, holds an MBA and manages logistics for a trucking company. He is smart and very progressive. He would oppose corporate tax cuts and use the revenue to boost Florida’s education system. He would push to collect the taxes due from internet sales and then eliminate the non-defensible sales tax exemptions.

Barnett is a compelling candidate. He’s even a little more liberal than us, believing college tuition should be free. He is certainly more liberal than most of his district, which covers Fish Hawk, Valrico, and the southeast corner of our county.

His Republican opponent is Jake Raburn. He is also a Florida native. He is the grandson of former Tampa City Councilman and Tampa Fire Chief Ronnie Mason and the son of Buddy and Susan Raburn, who both served as principals of local schools. He married into the Hinton family, who are well-known farmers.

Raburn seems poised to live up to his great pedigree. He wants to strengthen Florida farms. He wants to improve Florida schools. He is open to learn about what he doesn’t know, but also brings to the table expertise on his district’s number one economic engine – agriculture.

He is a conservative who is reasonable, responsible and smart. Raburn is a good match for his district.

La Gaceta strongly endorses Jake Raburn for State House District 57.

Republican Jake Raburn has the edge over another political newcomer in this race to represent the southeastern Hillsborough County communities of FishHawk, greater Sun City Center and Wimauma.

Raburn, 27, is a Hillsborough County native who has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and works at his family’s farming operation, and that experience would be useful in Tallahassee. Raburn also has a broader agenda for job development. He supports investing in the state’s infrastructure, including deep-water ports. He would re-evaluate standardized testing in public schools and ...]]> District 57

Republican Jake Raburn has the edge over another political newcomer in this race to represent the southeastern Hillsborough County communities of FishHawk, greater Sun City Center and Wimauma.

Raburn, 27, is a Hillsborough County native who has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and works at his family’s farming operation, and that experience would be useful in Tallahassee. Raburn also has a broader agenda for job development. He supports investing in the state’s infrastructure, including deep-water ports. He would re-evaluate standardized testing in public schools and bring more attention to career and technical training. Raburn said the state needs to give students more opportunities to build a life and a career in Florida.

Bruce Barnett, 49, entered the race out of concern over state funding for education, especially to universities. The Democrat opposes the use of tax incentives to industry, saying the way to attract new companies is to offer quality schools and a better transportation system. Barnett, an Army veteran and businessman, has life experiences that offer a mature perspective.

Raburn has stronger local ties. His open personality and broad civic involvement give him a good feel for the community’s pulse.

For Florida House District 57, the Tampa Bay Times recommends Jake Raburn.

Read full article here.

Both candidates in this district, which covers southeastern Hillsborough, are intelligent, likable and enthusiastic.

Democrat Bruce Barnett, who manages a trucking logistics operation in Brandon, is a Florida native and Army veteran with an advanced business degree.

He understands the challenges of small businesses, but knows sensible regulations are needed to protect consumers and taxpayers.

Like many parents, he worries about cuts to schools and the continued emphasis on “high stakes testing.” Barnett, 49, believes using tax dollars to offer job-creating incentives to companies is usually a ...]]> District 57

Both candidates in this district, which covers southeastern Hillsborough, are intelligent, likable and enthusiastic.

Democrat Bruce Barnett, who manages a trucking logistics operation in Brandon, is a Florida native and Army veteran with an advanced business degree.

He understands the challenges of small businesses, but knows sensible regulations are needed to protect consumers and taxpayers.

Like many parents, he worries about cuts to schools and the continued emphasis on “high stakes testing.” Barnett, 49, believes using tax dollars to offer job-creating incentives to companies is usually a waste.

Jake Raburn, 27, is a strawberry farmer who works for Hinton Farms Produce, and earlier worked for the Florida Department of Citrus.

Naturally, the University of Florida graduate has a strong command of agriculture’s concerns. He advocates a new guest-worker program that would help workers and farmers but not allow illegal immigrants to flout the law.

But he also is a critic of duplicative regulation and would make job growth a top priority.

Both are appealing candidates. Barnett is more knowledgeable on growth and education issues, but Raburn offers the valuable perspective of a farmer and seems well-connected to the district. This is a close call, but in District 57, the Tribune endorses Jake Raburn.

Read full article here.

Published Friday, August 3rd, 2012

State House District 57 Republican Primary

Brian Hollands is sincere in his desire to serve and has experience in government. He serves on the Planning Commission and works for Hillsborough Community College as a business development officer.

Jake Raburn is a stand out among new candidates. He is bright and balanced. He brings experience in agriculture and business to the House. He is conservative but supports schools, responsible immigration and wise investment in infrastructure. Finding reasonable, approachable candidates in the Republican ...]]> By Patrick Manteiga

Published Friday, August 3rd, 2012

State House District 57 Republican Primary

Brian Hollands is sincere in his desire to serve and has experience in government. He serves on the Planning Commission and works for Hillsborough Community College as a business development officer.

Jake Raburn is a stand out among new candidates. He is bright and balanced. He brings experience in agriculture and business to the House. He is conservative but supports schools, responsible immigration and wise investment in infrastructure. Finding reasonable, approachable candidates in the Republican Primary is unusual this season.

La Gaceta strongly endorses Jake Raburn in the Republican Primary in State House District 57.

In southeastern Hillsborough’s House District 57, Jake Raburn and Brian Hollands are on the Republican ballot to see who will run against Democrat Bruce Barnett in November.

Both are qualified, serious candidates. Raburn, 27, is a strawberry farmer. Hollands, 45, works for Hillsborough Community College.

Hollands has experience in marine biology and commercial real estate. He is a member of the Hillsborough Planning Commission and says excessive regulations are discouraging growth.

In the House, he would work for a tighter connection between what students learn in school ...]]> District 57

In southeastern Hillsborough’s House District 57, Jake Raburn and Brian Hollands are on the Republican ballot to see who will run against Democrat Bruce Barnett in November.

Both are qualified, serious candidates. Raburn, 27, is a strawberry farmer. Hollands, 45, works for Hillsborough Community College.

Hollands has experience in marine biology and commercial real estate. He is a member of the Hillsborough Planning Commission and says excessive regulations are discouraging growth.

In the House, he would work for a tighter connection between what students learn in school and what employers need them to know. Coordinating with business is part of his job at HCC. Hollands promises to serve a maximum of two terms, not an appealing idea to us in a Legislature short on experience and a local delegation lacking in punch.

Raburn is married to Melissa Hinton Raburn and works for Hinton Farms Produce, a small family business. A graduate of the University of South Florida, he also has worked for the Florida Department of Citrus and understands agriculture and its many challenges.

On immigration, he says a federal fix is essential, because “we need to know who’s in our country.” His ideas for reform include a new guest-worker program that would be more useful to both workers and farmers.

His legislative priorities are jobs and public safety. He discusses with authority the challenges facing small businesses and farmers. His endorsements include that of Hillsborough Sheriff David Gee and State Attorney Mark Ober.

In the Legislature, Raburn would soon be helping write useful laws.

Hollands is an appealing candidate. But in District 57, because of his deep roots in the district and his refreshing zest to find practical, conservative solutions, the Tribune endorses Jake Raburn.

Read Full Article Here

Jake Raburn, 27, is a Hillsborough native who grew up in Plant City. He knows this rural, suburban and farming area like the back of his hand. In Tallahassee, his degree and experience in agriculture would be a plus for this vital Florida industry. His job as marketing director for a family farm and packing house also keeps him in touch with the concerns of small employers.

Raburn and his opponent, business development ...]]> The strongest Republican candidate for this southeast Hillsborough County seat is also the youngest.

Jake Raburn, 27, is a Hillsborough native who grew up in Plant City. He knows this rural, suburban and farming area like the back of his hand. In Tallahassee, his degree and experience in agriculture would be a plus for this vital Florida industry. His job as marketing director for a family farm and packing house also keeps him in touch with the concerns of small employers.

Raburn and his opponent, business development officer Brian Hollands, offer much of the same low-tax, business-friendly policies. Both would focus on improving education, but Raburn seems more supportive of the public schools. He also has a broader outlook on the need to invest in transportation and other infrastructure.

Hollands, 45, also marginalizes himself by vowing to serve no more than four years in the House. Raburn better understands the diversity of the district, which includes the communities of greater Sun City Center, Wimauma and Fish Hawk, and his personable nature is appealing.

In the Republican primary for House District 57, the Tampa Bay Times recommends Jake Raburn.

Read Full Article Here

Published Friday, May 4, 2012

We met Jake Raburn, Republican candidate for State Representative, District 57, this week and were impressed. The first-time candidate was well-spoken, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and poised. He is the grandson of former Tampa City Councilman and former Fire Chief Ronnie Mason, Sr. His parents are educators. Dad, Buddy Raburn, is the former principal of Plant City High School and is now the school district’s general manager of employee relations. His mom, Susan Raburn, was the principal at Cork Elementary for ...]]> By Patrick Manteiga

Published Friday, May 4, 2012

We met Jake Raburn, Republican candidate for State Representative, District 57, this week and were impressed. The first-time candidate was well-spoken, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and poised. He is the grandson of former Tampa City Councilman and former Fire Chief Ronnie Mason, Sr. His parents are educators. Dad, Buddy Raburn, is the former principal of Plant City High School and is now the school district’s general manager of employee relations. His mom, Susan Raburn, was the principal at Cork Elementary for 20 years and is now principal of Lincoln Elementary.

Add this pedigree to his wife’s, who is part of the Hinton strawberry farming family, and this young man should run a very strong campaign in this East Hillsborough County district.

Raburn just picked up the endorsement of Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam. He is also endorsed by Sheriff David Gee, State Attorney Mark Ober and State Representative Greg Steube. These are big endorsements for a Republican primary.