Sarasota resident Alex Miller files for Florida House District 72 seat

Incumbent Ray Pilon giving up his seat to run for the Florida Senate

Alex Miller. Contributed photo
Alex Miller. Contributed photo

Alexandra Miller, a longtime Sarasota resident and businesswoman, filed paperwork on March 21 declaring her candidacy for the District 72 seat in the Florida House of Representatives, Miller announced.

The district encompasses central Sarasota County, a news release points out. The current seat holder, State Rep. Ray Pilon, announced earlier that he plans to run for a seat in the Florida State Senate.

Democrat Edward E. James III of Sarasota filed for the seat on June 16, 2015, state election records show. As of the latest campaign finance reporting period — which ended on Feb. 29 — he had raised a total of $76,572 and spent $23,222.56.

Miller, a Republican, is the CEO of Mercedes Medical Inc., a national distributor of laboratory supplies and equipment with annual revenue nearing $40 million, the release points out. She also serves as the representative for the Central District to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and is the vice chair of the board, the release notes.

“I’m not a politician. Like you, I am concerned for the future and believe we can build a better Florida. I will bring a unique perspective to the Florida House,” said Miller in the release. “I have extensive business experience as well as a deep understanding of our health care system. The heath care system does not do a very good job of keeping us healthy and it is not as caring as it should be. I want to focus on making sure that every Floridian has access to affordable and quality health care,” she added in the release.

“We must also work to diversify our economy. Simply put, we need jobs, local jobs, jobs with a future. As CEO of a national distribution company, I developed corporate strategy and direction; maintained key domestic and international vendor, banking and community relationships; and managed the senior level team,” she pointed out in the release.

She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, and she earned her MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Originally from Long Island, NY, she has been a Sarasota resident for 22 years, the release says. She is the mother of two sons, Kannon and Steele, it adds.

Editor’s note: This article was updated on March 25 because Miller’s party affiliation was left out as a result of an earlier editing error.