Mel Ponder

Mel Ponder
Official portrait, 2014
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
November 8, 2016 – November 3, 2020
Preceded byMatt Gaetz
Succeeded byPatt Maney
Mayor of Destin, Florida
In office
2014–2016
Preceded bySam Seevers[1]
Succeeded byScott Fischer[2]
Personal details
Born (1968-05-28) May 28, 1968 (age 56)
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceDestin
Alma materFlorida State University

Mel Ponder (born May 28, 1968) is an American politician. Affiliated with the Republican Party, Ponder served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 4th district between 2016 and 2020.

Ponder previously served as the mayor of Destin, Florida, from 2014 to 2016.[3][4] On August 30, 2016, Ponder won a close and contentious five-way primary to become the Republican nominee to represent District 4 in the Florida House of Representatives.[5] Ponder was elected unopposed in the November general election.[6] He succeeded state representative Matt Gaetz, who was elected to the Florida 1st District U.S. House seat.[4]

  1. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20180719025803/http://www.thedestinlog.com/1.257346
  2. ^ Cosson, Derek (March 15, 2016). "Dustin Elects New Mayor, Council Members". The Pulse. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ Derby, Kevin (August 3, 2015). "Destin Mayor Mel Ponder Runs for Matt Gaetz's Florida House Seat". Sunshine State News. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Judnich, Tony (November 8, 2016). "Republicans win big in state legislature". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  5. ^ McLaughlin, Tom (August 30, 2016). "Ponder Holds on for House District 4 Seat". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Florida 4th District State House Results: Mel Ponder Wins". The New York Times. December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.