By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Gov. Ron DeSantis has scheduled a March 7 special primary and a May 16 special election to replace former State Rep. Joe Harding who has resigned in the face of indictments alleging he defrauded a federal Coronavirus program.

            Harding resigned on Dec. 8, a day after being indicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.

            Harding said he resigned to focus on the criminal charges.

            “It has been a great honor to serve the people of the state and more specifically the people of Levy and Marion counties,” Harding said. “I have legal issues that require my complete focus. It is my opinion now is the time to allow someone else to serve my district.”

            DeSantis issued an executive order Monday setting the election dates in House District 24. A special primary election will take place on March 7, 2023, and a special election will be held on May 16, 2023.

            Harding, originally from Williston, ran unopposed in November and won a second term in the House and was seen by many in political circles as a rising star after earning national attention as sponsor of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that bans any discussion of gender identity or sexual orientation in Florida classrooms.

            The indictment accuses him of committing wire fraud between Dec. 2020 and March of 2021 by engaging in a scheme to cheat the Small Business Administration out of federal Coronavirus relief money and using false and fraudulent pretenses and dormant businesses to commit those crimes.

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Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt December 20, 2022; Posted December 20, 2022