Mike Hill (American politician) explained

Mike Hill
State House:Florida
District:1st
Term Start:November 6, 2018
Term End:November 3, 2020
Predecessor:Clay Ingram
Successor:Michelle Salzman
State House1:Florida
Term Start1:March 4, 2014
Term End1:November 8, 2016
Predecessor1:Clay Ford
Successor1:Frank White
Birth Name:Walter Bryan Hill
Birth Date:2 June 1958
Birth Place:Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Greta Hill
Children:3
Education:United States Air Force Academy (BS)
University of West Florida (MBA)
Allegiance: United States
Serviceyears:1980–1990
Mawards:Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

Walter Bryan "Mike" Hill (born June 2, 1958) is a Republican politician from Florida. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2014 to 2016 and 2018 to 2020, representing the Pensacola area.

Florida House of Representatives

Following the death of Republican state representative Clay Ford, who had represented the 2nd District since 2007, on March 18, 2013, Hill ran in the special election and defeated Scott Miller, Ed Gray, Mark Taylor, Jack Nobles and David Radcliffe in the Republican primary with 42 percent of the vote. He was endorsed in his primary campaign by the Pensacola News Journal, which declared that his "military experience, passion for open government, and business experience" made him the best candidate.[1] In the general election, he faced Jeremy Lau, the Democratic nominee and a labor union official. Lau received the support of Ed Gray, whom Hill had defeated in the primary, and attacked Hill for not living in the district.[2] However, owing to the district's strong partisan lean, Hill defeated Lau comfortably, having won 58 percent of the vote, which enabled him to become the legislature's only African-American Republican member.[3]

In his campaign for re-election in 2014, Hill faced Lau once again. Hill campaigned for re-election with the full support of the Republican Party of Florida, which declared, "Mike Hill knows what his constituents want. They want someone who will fight for increased spending in education, for reduced taxes, and regulations and that is what Mike Hill represents."[4] He ended up defeating Lau in a landslide once again, winning 65% of the vote to Lau's 35%.

Hill did not seek re-election to the House in 2016, instead facing Doug Broxson in the Republican primary for the District 1 seat in the Florida Senate. Hill was defeated, winning 43.5% of the vote to Broxson's 56.5%. During the election, Hill faced scrutiny over his residency qualifications to serve in the Florida House.[5] Hill was investigated by the Escambia County Property Appraiser's office for alleged homestead fraud.[6] Hill explained his residency by saying that his wife and children lived permanently at a house in Marcus Pointe, and he lived apart from them at a rented condominium on Pensacola Beach.[7]

In 2018, Hill successfully sought election to the Florida House once again, this time representing House District 1. Hill defeated Rebekah Bydlak and Lisa Doss in the Republican primary before defeating Democrat Vikki Garrett in the general election.[8] [9] In the 2020 election, Hill was defeated in the Republican primary by Michelle Salzman.

In the 2022 election, Hill again sought election to the House.[10] He was defeated in the Republican primary by Salzman.[11]

Controversies

After taking office in 2018, Hill faced controversy when at a public forum, he laughed in response to a question from an audience member who claimed that New Testament penalties for homosexuality included the death penalty. After saying, "the Old Testament says that too," Hill said "imagine how that would go over" if he introduced such legislation.[12]

Hill initially refused to apologize, claiming he was a victim of a "social media lynching."[13] He later issued an apology, citing how the "tone of his response was received,"[14] after public outcry, including from House Speaker Jose Oliva and Rules Committee Chairman Chris Sprowls.[15] Hill was also condemned publicly by openly gay fellow state representative Carlos Smith, who called for him to "apologize" or "resign."[16] Pensacola News Journal columnist Andy Marlette called Hill "unfit for office."[17] He was later removed from the House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee for his comments.[18]

In April 2020, Hill received "significant backlash"[19] for telling a woman who had recently lost her job due to coronavirus that she "shouldn't ask for government permission"[20] to go back to work when the woman asked Hill for assistance with applying for unemployment insurance.[21] Hill's response was called "callous" in local media.[22] Hill had previously been criticized for appearing to make light of the coronavirus crisis by dining in close quarters.[23]

Hill again made news in 2020 when his campaign manager, Barbara Mayall, was booked into the Escambia County jail and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.[24]

In August 2020, Hill, who was running for re-election for District 1 of the Florida House, lost in the Republican primary to Michelle Salzman with 47.5% of the vote to Salzman's 52.5%.[25]

Hill has made many controversial statements on Twitter and in public. In 2019, it was reported by Newsweek that Hill told an audience that God told him to introduce an abortion bill with no exceptions.[26] Hill was quoted in the Pensacola News Journal telling listeners that "As plain as day, God spoke to me … He said that wasn't my bill, talking about the heartbeat detection bill that I filed. He said that wasn't my bill. I knew immediately what he was talking about. He said, you remove those exceptions and you file it again. And I said yes Lord, I will."[27]

In 2018, he referred to Islam as a "cancer"[28] and a "demonic Muslim horde."[29] Hill also falsely claimed on Twitter in 2018 to have earned the endorsement of President Trump, citing a reference to Michael Jordan.[30] Questions were raised whether this violated Florida campaign law, though formal charges were not filed.[31] In that same campaign, Hill falsely claimed to have brought Trump's star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame to Pensacola.[32]

When he failed in his attempt to pass legislation to rename the Pensacola Bay Bridge after General Chappie James, Hill publicly accused a colleague of being a "thief in the night."[33] The proposal was ultimately signed into law in 2020.[34]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: RECOMMENDATION: Mike Hill in Dist. 2 . May 3, 2013 . December 5, 2013 . Pensacola News Journal.
  2. News: Hill vs. Lau for Florida House District 2 seat . June 1, 2013 . December 5, 2013 . Pensacola News Journal . Louis . Cooper.
  3. Web site: Mike Hill Wins Florida HD 2 Race, Becoming Legislature's Only Black Republican . June 11, 2013 . December 5, 2013 . Sunshine State News . Eric . Giunta.
  4. Web site: With qualifying over, Jeremy Lau eyes rematch versus Mike Hill in HD 2 . June 21, 2014 . December 14, 2014 . SaintPetersblog . Peter . Schorsch.
  5. Web site: August 20, 2016 . CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR MIKE HILL RESPONDS • Navarre Newspaper . December 30, 2022 . Navarre Newspaper . en-US.
  6. Web site: Rosica . Jim . August 18, 2016 . Mike Hill denies homestead fraud, claims 'dirty tricks' at play . December 30, 2022 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: August 17, 2016 . Representative Mike Hill under investigation for Homestead Exemption fraud . December 30, 2022 . WEAR . en.
  8. News: Wilson . Drew . August 28, 2018 . Mike Hill wins House comeback bid by a narrow margin . Florida Politics . May 31, 2019.
  9. News: Newby . John . November 6, 2018 . Mike Hill wins Florida State House District 1 in midterm election . Pensacola News Journal . May 31, 2019.
  10. Web site: Little . Jim . Former Florida Rep. Mike Hill files to run against Michelle Salzman in Republican primary . June 14, 2022 . . January 21, 2023.
  11. Web site: Misencik . Brittany. Michelle Salzman once again beats Mike Hill in Florida House District 1 race . August 23, 2022 . . January 21, 2023.
  12. News: GOP lawmaker Mike Hill slammed for joking about killing gays. Powers. Scott. Florida Politics. June 1, 2019. May 19, 2020.
  13. News: Rep. Mike Hill won't apologize; says he's victim of 'social media lynching'. Little. Jim. Pensacola News Journal. February 20, 2020. May 19, 2020.
  14. News: Rep. Mike Hill apologizes for how 'tone of his response was received'. Little. Jim. Pensacola News Journal. June 5, 2019. May 21, 2020.
  15. News: Rep. Mike Hill laughed at suggestion that gay Floridians be executed. Little. Jim. Pensacola New Journal. February 20, 2020. May 19, 2020.
  16. CarlosGSmith . Carlos Guillermo Smith . 1134524381726728192 . I'm shocked & disgusted to discover a colleague who I've worked closely with would joke about punishing me by death for being gay. As a survivor of anti-gay hate violence, I know the consequences of homophobia are real. @MikeHillfl should apologize to LGBTQ Floridians or RESIGN. . May 31, 2019 . May 19, 2020.
  17. News: Marlette: In musing about executing gay Floridians, Mike Hill proves himself unfit for office. Marlette. Andy. Pensacola News Journal. February 21, 2020. May 19, 2020.
  18. News: Representative Mike Hill removed from House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee. Russo. Amy. WEAR TV. September 2, 2020. May 21, 2020.
  19. News: Rep. Hill: 'When Americans are tired of being afraid and instead want to work, they will'. Castor. Rebekah. WEAR TV. April 19, 2020. May 21, 2020.
  20. News: 'Don't ask for government permission': Mike Hill mocks unemployed constituent. Staff Reports. Florida Politics. April 19, 2020. May 21, 2020.
  21. Web site: Facebook . I emailed Mike Hill trying to get help with this unemployment nightmare. Look at this reply. I'm boiling angry right now. . April 17, 2020 . May 21, 2020.
  22. News: Rep. Mike Hill draws flack for response to Pensacola woman's COVID-19 unemployment woes. Robinson. Kevin. Pensacola News Journal. April 20, 2020. May 21, 2020.
  23. News: Winner and Loser of the week in Florida politics — Week of March 16. Henderson. Joe. Florida Politics. March 22, 2020. May 21, 2020.
  24. Web site: Staff Reports . May 18, 2020 . Bad karma: Homophobic Mike Hill staffer booked for drunken driving . December 30, 2022 . . en-US.
  25. Web site: Mike Hill (Florida).
  26. News: Florida State Rep. Says God Has Told Him To Introduce Abortion Bill Which Allows No Exceptions. Phifer. Donica. Newsweek. May 24, 2019. May 28, 2020.
  27. News: Rep. Mike Hill says he will propose Florida abortion ban modeled after Alabama's new law. Little. Jim. Pensacola News Journal. May 23, 2019. May 28, 2020.
  28. News: Mike Hill's comeback bid needed every trick in the book. Wilson. Drew. Florida Politics. September 10, 2018. May 26, 2020.
  29. News: A Timeline of Florida Rep. Mike Hill's Most Insane Statements. Iannelli. Jerry. Miami New Times. June 9, 2019. May 26, 2020.
  30. News: Mike Hill's comeback bid needed every trick in the book. Wilson. Drew. Florida Politics. September 10, 2018. May 26, 2020.
  31. News: Mike Hill's comeback bid needed every trick in the book. Wilson. Drew. Florida Politics. September 10, 2018. May 26, 2020.
  32. News: Florida House candidate Mike Hill wants Trump Hollywood star moved to Pensacola. Little. Jim. Pensacola News Journal. August 23, 2018. May 26, 2020.
  33. Web site: Mike Hill upset – Rick's Blog . February 20, 2020 . December 30, 2022 . en-US.
  34. Web site: Little . Jim . Group fundraising for monument after Gen. Daniel 'Chappie' James Jr. Bridge gets official OK . 2022-12-30 . Pensacola News Journal . en-US.