First-term State Rep. Ryan Chamberlin runs unopposed in GOP primary

Florida House Representative for District 24, Ryan Chamberlin listens to presenter on Dec 13, 2023 [FL House of Represenatatives]

State Rep. Ryan Chamberlin is unopposed in the August Republican primary, but the incumbent will face Democrat Robert L. Shaw in the November general election for the District 24 seat.

This will be the first time Chamberlin, the self-proclaimed “red meat Republican,” will be in a contest that includes Democrat and Independent voters. Chamberlin won a special election in 2023 to fill the seat vacated by Republican Joe Harding.

Chamberlin’s role in the 2023 special election was controversial. It included a whistleblower who says he was tricked into running in the primary as a write-in candidate by Chamberlin’s campaign manager Brent Doster of Front Line Agency. This move prevented any Democrat or Independent voters from having a voice in who represented them in Tallahassee.

Following Chamberlin’s win, local businessman Jose Juarez, who came in second in the primary, filed a defamation lawsuit against Front Line Agency and a Chamberlin-supportingPAC called Floridians for Ethics and Truth in politics. The suit was settled out of court. Part of the settlement was a public apology from the defendants that was published in the “Ocala Star- Banner” for claims against Juarez during the campaign.

Chamberlin’s uncle Stephen Shives is running for the House District 27 seat, one of the five seats representing parts of Marion County. Front Line Agency recently sent a press release indicating Chamberlin is endorsing Shives but makes no mention of their familial relationship.

Currently, the Florida House of Representatives’ website indicates Chamberlin was assigned to the following committees: Civil Justice Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee; Select Committee on Health Innovation; Education Quality Subcommittee; Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee; and the State Administration & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee.

According to the website, during his first term in office, Chamberlin took the lead sponsoring the following bills:

HB1415 was the only bill that passed. It amends 111.09, F.S so that the term “first responder” would include correctional officers and correctional probation officers for the provision of peer support.

HJR 1369 died in committee. It proposed an “amendment to the State Constitution to create a $100,000 exemption from assessed value of real property for all levies & a $250,000 homestead exemption for residential property owned by someone 65 or older.”

HB313 died in committee. It sought to “remove requirements that the Florida Department of Health conduct examinations for clinical laboratory personnel licensure and register clinical laboratory trainees; remove requirement that the Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel approve training curricula for licensure of clinical laboratory personnel; repeal provisions relating to approval of laboratory personnel training programs; require applicants for licensure as technologist or technician who meet specified criteria be deemed to have satisfied minimum qualifications for licensure.”

HB955 died in committee. It was related to bringing claims against assisted living facilities. It sought to “provide requirements for exclusive cause of action for residents’ rights violations or negligence to be brought against specified individuals; provide immunity from liability for certain individuals; prohibit such action from being asserted against certain individuals or entities; revise requirements for recovery of damages and liability for such damages.”

HB1249 died in committee. It sought to allow a “condominium be created within a portion of a building or multiple parcel building; provide for common elements of such condominium; provide requirements for declaration of condominium; authorize association to inspect and copy books and records and receive annual budget; require specified statements and disclosures to purchasers of condominium units; provide that a multiple-parcel building is not a subdivision of land if land is not subdivided.”

HB 599 died in committee. It sought to specify “employment policy of the state relating to person’s sex; prohibit employees and contractors of certain employers from being required to use, from providing, and from being asked to provide certain titles and pronouns; prohibit employees and contractors from being penalized or subjected to certain actions for not providing certain titles and pronouns; prohibit adverse personnel action on the basis of deeply held religious or biology-based beliefs; provide administrative and civil remedies; provide that it is unlawful employment practice for nonprofit organization to require certain training, instruction, or activity.”

HB 597 died in committee. It sought to provide “mandatory minimum sentences for violations; provide for pretrial diversion for first-time offenders “fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement officers.”

Chamberlin’s financial disclosures as to assets and liabilities

Since Chamberlin’s first financial disclosures in 2022, a few things have changed. Chamberlin indicated on his 2023 financial disclosures that the value of his home, time share deed, and three vehicles has remained the same.

He did not report any substantial checking, savings or investment accounts for both years.

However, from Dec. 31, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023, Chamberlin seemingly shed his business ownership in several projects: the True Patriot Network that he valued at $500,000; Now You know Academy, valued at $250,000; $25,000 in Stops.com stock; and $5,000 Vanguard EXP holdings.

In 2023, he listed his assets as $2,500 in a credit union account; a new entity, Genesis Title Agency of Florida, started in 2023, that Chamberlin values at $250,000; and RJ Chamberlin, LLC/Consulting, valued at $500,000.

Chamberlin’s financial disclosures as to business and income

In January 2023, he valued his interest in a 2-year-old business called the True Patriot Network at $500,000 and indicated he received $312,000 annually from it in 2022. In his end-of-year financial disclosure for 2023, he indicated he no longer owned an interest in the True Patriot Network and did not receive at least $1,000 in compensation from it.

For 2022, he claimed $50,000 in annual income from “consulting” from “NYK.Academy.” There is no business entity known as NYK.Academy filed with the State of Florida. However, in a 2023 interview, he said “Now You Know Academy’’ is the catch-all phrase he uses to refer to his consulting/training work run through RJ Chamberlin, LLC, an active corporation since 2010.

In Chamberlin’s year-end 2023 financial disclosure, he indicates he received $110,000 from the entity.

State of Florida Department of Corporations also show Chamberlin was part of a new business filing in 2023 called Genesis Title Agency of Florida, LLC. However, Chamberlin did not identify it as a business he had a specified interest in at the close of 2023 nor did he report receiving at least $1,000 from it.

Chamberlin’s financial disclosures as to debt

Chamberlin’s debt increased from $506,129.33 at the close of 2022 to $625,082.88 at the close of 2023. New creditors included Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Larissa Verville, We Florida Financial, and Sallie Mae.

Chamberlin’s current campaign finance & expenditures

Chamberlin’s campaign reports indicate he’s raised $60,504.31 in contributions and has $26,896.18 in expenditures. Expenditures include payments to his old campaign managers, Front Line Agency and Doster Accounting, as well as “campaign consultant” Benjamin Rembaum, who was a legislative aide for Chamberlin during his first year, according to a Linkdin post by Rembaum.

Additionally, Chamberlin reported paying rent for a campaign office owned by a company BB Properties 13 LLC, which owns commercial property at 5036 SE 110th St. in Belleview.