For Immediate Release Friday, August 3, 2012 Contact Sarah Bascom, sarah@bascomllc.com, 850.294.6636 Kristen Bridges, kristen@bascomllc.com, 850.545.

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Local Education Leaders Endorse Aaron Bean for Florida Senate

Jacksonville, Fla. Conservative Republican Aaron Bean today announced that Jacksonville University President Dr. Kerry Romesburg and former Education Commissioner and State Senator Jim Horne have endorsed him in his candidacy for the newly-drawn Florida Senate District 4 seat. Aaron Bean has always been a steadfast voice of support for Jacksonville University and our students, and I know he will be a guiding force in Tallahassee as we strive to bring about reforms to improve our local university system, said Dr. Romesburg. As an advocate for a resultsdriven, high-quality education system, Aaron has my full support in the upcoming election in August. Aaron Bean is the conservative leader that Duval and Nassau County residents can entrust to foster and support an unrestricted school system that will give parents and students the tools they need to succeed, said Senator Horne. I wholeheartedly recommend Aaron for Senate District 4. I am excited to have the backing of these great local education leaders, and I thank them for their overwhelming support! said Bean. Improving Floridas education system has always been a driving force for me, and I look forward to fueling the progress that our K-12 and higher education programs need to provide parents with more school choice and empower our students to learn and be successful. Dr. Romesburg and Senator Horne join former Governor Jeb Bush (R-Florida), Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater (R-Florida), Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam (R-Florida), Senator John Thrasher (R-St. Augustine), Senator Steve Wise (R-Jacksonville), Representative Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala), Mayor Stan Totman of Baldwin, Mayor David Buchanan of Hilliard, Mayor Shirley Graham of Callahan, Vice Mayor Kara Tucker of Neptune Beach, Jacksonville City Councilman Ray Holt, Jacksonville Beach City Councilman Tom Taylor, Neptune Beach Councilman-elect Scott Wiley, Nassau County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller John Crawford, former Chair of Duval Republican Party and former Chair of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Mike Hightower, former Chairman of the Duval County and (MORE)

PAGE 2: AARON BEAN FOR FLORIDA SENATE State Republican Party Tom Slade, Nassau County Tax Collector John Drew, Florida State Board of Education Member and Local Business Leader Gary Chartrand, former Jacksonville Jaguar Tony Boselli, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Medical Association, National Rifle Association, Unified Sportsmen of Florida, Nassau Builders Council, Nassau County Farm Bureau, United Christians of Florida, and the Florida Right to Life in endorsing Bean for Florida Senate District 4, which includes Duval and Nassau Counties. Aaron Bean currently works for Shands Jacksonville as the relationship development officer, is the co-owner of 8 Flags Insurance Company, and he owns and operates Putt-Putt of Fernandina Beach with his wife Abby and their three young sons. Bean served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, including a term as elected chairman of the Duval County Legislative Delegation in 2008. During his tenure in the Florida House, Bean received numerous awards and recognitions for his effective, conservative leadership and additionally was trusted by thenHouse Speaker Marco Rubio to serve as the chairman of the House Health Care Council, which handled all health care policy in addition to the appropriations of about one-third of the state budget. Prior to being elected to the Florida House, Bean served as a Commissioner and Mayor of Fernandina Beach. Beans extensive record of public service includes serving on the First Coast YMCA Board of Directors, Big Brothers & Big Sisters and the United Way. Bean received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Jacksonville University, and was the city president of Compass Bank for 10 years (1998-2008). Bean and his wife, Abby, reside in Fernandina Beach, Fla., with their three sons, where they attend Memorial United Methodist Church. For more information on the Aaron Bean for Florida Senate Campaign, please visit www.AaronBean.com.

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Paid by Aaron Bean, Republican, for State Senate.