Mike Hill (American politician)
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Mike Hill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 6, 2018 – November 3, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Clay Ingram |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Salzman |
| Constituency | 1st district |
| In office March 4, 2014 – November 8, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Clay Ford |
| Succeeded by | Frank White |
| Constituency | 2nd district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Walter Bryan Hill June 2, 1958 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) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1980–1990 |
| Awards | 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.
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]
