Brad Drake, American state legislator. Board member Hearts of Hope Ministries; Member of National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, Walton County Taxpayers Association, Crimestoppers of Walton County Inc. (chairman), Athletes in Action Baseball, Kiwanis Club, Alpha Gamma Rho.
Background
Drake was born in Fort Walton Beach into a political family, which included his grandfather, J. Troy Peacock, who served as a State Representative. His father, David Earl Drake, who served as Superintendent of Walton County Public Schools. And his cousin, Pat Thomas, who served as the President of the Florida Senate.
Education
Associate of Arts, Okaloosa-Walton Community College, Niceville. Bachelor of Business Administration in Economic, University Florida Warrington College Business, Gainesville, 2000.
Career
He previously represented the 5th District from 2008 to 2012. In 2008, following the inability of Brown to seek re-election due to term limits, Drake ran to succeed him in the 5th District, which was based in Holmes County, northern Jackson County, Okaloosa County, Walton County, and Washington County. He faced Okaloosa County Commissioner Sherry Campbell in the Republican primary, whom he was able to handily defeat, winning 70% of the vote to Campbell"s 30%.
Advancing to the general election, Drake faced John McDaniel, the Democratic nominee and the Sheriff of Jackson County for nearly thirty years.
Despite the district"s strong conservative lean, McDaniel was heralded by the Florida Democratic Party as a top-tier candidate in the area. During his second term in the legislature, Drake introduced legislation that would reform capital punishment in the state by replacing lethal injection with the electric chair or firing squad.
He argued, "We still have Old Sparky. And if that doesn"t suit the criminal, then we will provide them with a.45 caliber lead cocktail instead." He also observed that, in his view, whether the execution is considered to be "humane" should not be considered, noting, "I am sick and tired of this sensitivity movement for criminals.
Every time there is a warranted execution that is about to take place, some man or woman is standing on a corner holding a sign, yelling and screaming for humane treatment.
I am so tired of being humane to inhumane people."
When the state"s legislative districts were redrawn in 2012, Drake was moved into the same district as fellow State Representative Marti Coley, who was running for her final term in the legislature. Rather than challenge Coley in the primary, Drake opted to not seek re-election, and decided to run to succeed Coley in the revamped 5th District, which includes northern Bay County, Jackson County, Holmes County, Walton County, and Washington County, in 2014. He faced realtor January Hooks in the Republican primary, whom he defeated handily, winning 73% of the vote.
Membership
Board member Hearts of Hope Ministries. Member of National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, Walton County Taxpayers Association, Crimestoppers of Walton County Inc. (chairman), Athletes in Action Baseball, Kiwanis Club, Alpha Gamma Rho.