Mel Ponder
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Mel Ponder | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2014 | |
| President of Northwest Florida State College | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Devin Stephenson |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 4th district | |
| In office November 8, 2016 – November 3, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Matt Gaetz |
| Succeeded by | Patt Maney |
| Mayor of Destin, Florida | |
| In office 2014–2016 | |
| Preceded by | Sam Seevers |
| Succeeded by | Scott Fischer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 28, 1968 |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Florida State University |
Mel Ponder (born May 28, 1968) is the president of Northwest Florida State College.[1] He began serving in that position in January 2025.[2] Affiliated with the Republican Party, Ponder previously served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 4th district between 2016 and 2020.
Ponder also served as the mayor of Destin, Florida, from 2014 to 2016.[3][4][5][6] On August 30, 2016, Ponder won a close and contentious five-way primary to become the Republican nominee to represent District 4 in the Florida House of Representatives.[7] Ponder was elected unopposed in the November general election.[8] He succeeded state representative Matt Gaetz, who was elected to the Florida 1st District U.S. House seat.[6]
