Congressman Daniel Webster spoke Thursday evening to The Villages Conservative Action Group at Savannah Center.
It was the third time Webster has spoken to the group.
While he wasn’t ready to answer the question of the moment – whether he will pack his bags and jump from District 10 to District 11 – Webster was eager to emphasize his friendships on this side of the border.
The Republican Congressman this past year came out on the wrong side of an ugly redistricting battle that left him in a heavily Democratic District 10.
His former district is now spread over “25 to 30 counties,” Webster said.
“I am going to come to a conclusion. I need to think it through. This would be a great district,” Webster told the group.
District 11 includes The Villages.
Jerry Christopher of the Village of Woodbury turned out at Savannah Center to see Webster, whom he considers an old friend.
“We used to play church league softball in Orlando back in the 1970s,” Christopher said. “When I saw he was going to be here, I had to come.”
Webster indicated he has enjoyed a long relationship with The Villages, including blocking a bill years ago in the state legislature that would have been detrimental to golf cart users. He was also instrumental in legislation involving the charter school, he said.
Webster has previously represented about 30 percent of what is now District 11.
Webster has a home in the District 11, in Lake County outside Clermont, in addition to his home in Winter Garden in District 10.
The only declared GOP candidate to succeed District 11 Congressman Rich Nugent is Justin Grabelle, who served as Nugent’s chief of staff.
Representatives of Grabelle’s campaign were in the audience at Webster’s talk Thursday at Savannah Center. Also in the audience was Sumter County Commissioner Don Hahnfeldt, who is hoping to succeed state Rep. Marlene O’Toole in the Florida House.
Democrat David Koller has already committed to running again in District 11.
