Gissendanner to challenge in District 71
She is first Democrat to file in legislative race
Betty Gissendanner wants to make sure people have an opportunity to vote for their District 71 state legislator in November.
Gissendanner, 57, plans to announce her candidacy for the District 71 seat at an 11:45 a.m. news conference on the steps of the historic Punta Gorda Courthouse today. She will be the first, and perhaps only, Democrat in the race.
“I think more than anything else,” she said of her reasons for running, “is that we have a two-party system that has served us well” and we need to preserve it. “As we look at the system right now, it has not been very balanced.”
Gissendanner has at least two opponents — both Republicans. Dr. Christopher Constance and funeral home operator Ken Roberson, both of Punta Gorda, have announced their candidacy. All three are vying for a seat left open when Rep. Michael Grant decided to forgo another run so he could compete for Lisa Carlton’s District 23 Senate seat. Term limits will prevent Carlton from running again.
Gissendanner has lived in Charlotte County for 22 years. She recently retired after operating a State Farm insurance office for 20 of those years. She is a former registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing and a charter member of Edgewater United Methodist Church.
Her son, William Douglas Gissendanner, is serving in the United States Air Force in Germany.
Gissendanner says her experience in the health field and as a small businesswoman give her the experience and insight to represent her constituents in Tallahassee.
“I know both sides of the health-care debate — the health-care needs of the patients and the management perspective as well. I have the level of knowledge needed to make a significant contribution to meeting the health-care needs of the people of Florida.”

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