Richard Swier, a leader on veterans' issues, in the business community and one of Florida's distinguished voices in conservative commentary, endorses Bob McCann in his campaign to represent House District 67 in the Florida Legislature.

"Bob McCann is the candidate most qualified to deal with the complex problems facing our state and our country today," said Swier. "We must have common-sense solutions to achieving affordable quality health care and a robust economy, and Bob is uniquely equipped to get the job done. His extensive experience as a leader in the health care field at the local, state and national levels, his business expertise, military background and exemplary record of public service give him a keen insight into the needs of Floridians of all ages. I believe he will be a powerful, effective advocate for the residents of District 67 and will serve them honorably, and I urge them to join me in supporting his candidacy."

Richard is President of the Sarasota County Veterans Commission, an honorary member of the BRAIVE Fund, and has been elected Chairman of the Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee. He is the editor of Red County-Sarasota, www.redcounty.com,  an internationally read website dedicated to center right grassroots commentary, news and politics.

He is a 23-year Army veteran who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1990. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his years of service. Additionally, he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for Heroism in ground combat, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry while serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officers Basic and Advanced Courses, and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

He was the Founder/CEO of Sarasota Online, a high technology company that was sold to Comcast Cable in 1996, and helped start Backsoft Corporation, an enterprise software development company. Richard twice chaired the Sarasota Better Business Council, sat on the Board of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and served from 2000 to 2009 on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. He currently serves on the Sponsorship Advisory Committee to the Sarasota County School Board.

The son of a steel mill worker, Bob McCann was born and raised in Chicago and served in the U.S. Navy from 1975 through 1979 as a corpsman. After completing his military service, he attended college on the G.I. Bill and went on to graduate from medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri in 1988. While attending to his studies, Bob served his local community as both a paramedic and police officer.

While practicing as a physician in underserved health service areas, Bob obtained his Juris Doctor degree with Honors from the Florida Coastal School of Law located in Jacksonville, Florida in 1999. He is a member of the National Republican Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Bar Association’s Health Law Section.

Today, Bob McCann lives in Bradenton, Florida with his wife Rosemarie. He owns and operates McCann Medicine & Law, P.A. where he provides medical care and legal services. Bob also serves as an emergency room physician at Town and Country Hospital in Tampa, and volunteers as medical director of the U.S. Veterans Resource Center. He has had a distinguished career within the medical community, holding leadership positions and serving as a guest lecturer at numerous conferences. He was appointed to the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine by Governor Jeb Bush, where he is Immediate Past Chairman and now serves as Legislative Liaison for the Board, responsible for enforcing statewide health care standards, reviewing licensure applications and disciplining physicians when needed. He was a finalist for U.S. Surgeon General in 2001 and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health in 2007.

House District 67 includes parts of Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough counties

For more information about Bob McCann, go to www.bobmccann.org.