Tom Rooney, an attorney from Tequesta and Pittsburgh Steelers heir who received a late campaign endorsement from Gov. Charlie Crist, will be the Republicans’ standard-bearer in the party’s efforts to prove Tim Mahoney’s 2006 win was a fluke.
Rooney, 37, narrowly defeated state Rep. Gayle Harrell of Stuart, who was the vote leader in Martin and St. Lucie counties, and Palm Beach Gardens investment banker Hal Valeche.
Rooney said the general election campaign would begin first thing in the morning.
“It’s been a great campaign, we have great volunteers, but we are not in any way sitting on our hands,” Rooney said. “We have not accomplished anything at this point. The goal is to take back the 16th.”
