Will Mazzota sets simple goals.
Graduate in May 2013. Serve as treasurer of UF College Democrats for the 2012-2013 academic year. Become a state senator.
The 21-year-old environmental science and political science senior officially entered the Florida Senate race on June 8 as the Democratic candidate for District 7.
District 7 consists of Alachua, Bradford and Clay counties.
The election will take place on Nov. 6.
Mazzota is running against Republican Rob Bradley, a former criminal prosecutor and managing partner of Orange Park law firm Kopelousos and Bradley, P.A. Bradley announced his candidacy for the seat on Jan. 24.
Although Bradley is currently a Clay County resident, he received a degree in telecommunication and a juris doctorate from UF.
“I will be UF’s biggest advocate in Tallahassee,” Bradley said.
The current senator representing Alachua County and the surrounding area is Republican Sen. Steve Oelrich. Oelrich is vacating his seat to run against Rep. Cliff Stearns for a congressional seat in Washington.
Because he lives in Alachua County, Mazzota said he understands the vital interests of the Gainesville area, primarily those of UF and Shands at UF, and will represent those interests best in Tallahassee.
Having easy access to students could be an advantage for Mazzotta, said UF Student Government Senate President Pro Tempore Logan Harrison.
“I’m excited to see students go out and make [the] change they wanted to see,” he said.
