Plant City, FL – Longtime resident and local business owner Richard Mau II has officially announced his candidacy for Plant City Commissioner in the 2025 election. Mau, an Army veteran, brings a diverse background in business, military service, and community engagement to his campaign.
Born in Tampa and raised in Plant City, Mau has spent nearly three decades calling Plant City home. He attended Cork Elementary, Tomlin Middle School, and Plant City High School before earning degrees in criminology from Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida. He is currently completing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Florida.
Mau owns Mau LLC, a firearms and ammunition manufacturing business in Plant City. His professional experience includes business management, regulatory compliance, customer service, and financial operations. In addition, his eight years of military service in the U.S. Army and Florida Army National Guard have equipped him with skills in security operations, international training, and emergency response—including leading efforts to administer over 10,000 COVID-19 tests during the pandemic.
In his campaign announcement, Mau emphasized his commitment to protecting Plant City’s heritage while ensuring sustainable growth. His key priorities include:
- Preventing excessive overdevelopment that threatens wetlands and farmland.
- Supporting local businesses and revitalizing the downtown district.
- Enhancing resources for the Fire and Police departments.
- Addressing traffic congestion with effective solutions.
- Mitigating future flooding through comprehensive surveys and strong stormwater management support.
“I am committed to listening to residents and working with the community to create & pass policies that reflect your concerns and priorities. I have a vested interest in Plant City as a father, husband, businessman, and longtime resident.” Mau stated
Mau encourages residents to share their concerns and ideas with him as he seeks to shape policies that reflect the community’s values.
For more information or to connect with Richard Mau II, he can be reached at Ricky@mau.net or (813) 716-9248.
In the 2023 election, Commissioner Mike Sparkman retained his seat after facing a challenge from Jeremy Griner, winning with 55.69% of the vote. However, the election was marked by extremely low voter turnout—only 7.98% of Plant City’s 22,261 registered voters participated. In 2024, Mary Y Thomas-Mathis ran unopposed for her seat, which meant there was no election. This underscores the need for greater civic engagement and voter awareness ahead of the 2025 race.
If you are planning on running for the Plant City Commission, let us know! You can reach out to us at red1@plantcityinsider.com
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