Cary Pigman

Cary Pigman (born November 1, 1958) is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 55th District, which includes Glades County, Highlands County, Okeechobee County, and western St. Lucie County, since 2012.

Cary Pigman
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 55th district
Assumed office
November 6, 2012
Preceded byRedistricted
Personal details
Born (1958-11-01) November 1, 1958
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Darlene Pigman
ChildrenJoseph, Robert, Cara, Alexander, Lillian
Alma materXavier University (B.S.)
Ohio State University College of Medicine (M.D.)
ProfessionEmergency medicine physician

Personal life

Military Service

Cary Pigman is a doctor in the U.S. Army Reserve.[1] On May 10, 2013, Pigman reported for active duty as an emergency medicine physician, part of Operation New Dawn in Kuwait. As a doctor in the Reserves, Pigman was deployed three months, followed by 24 months of inactive service.[2]

Darlene Pigman looks up at her husband, Rep. Cary Pigman, during a ceremony before his deployment to Iraq

Professional career

Cary Pigman is an emergency-medicine physician at Florida Hospital Heartland.[3]

Criminal History

Cary Pigman was arrested in March 2017, just hours after a House Session, when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted Pigman's Jeep drifting on Florida's Turnpike. The arresting trooper reported that a BOLO, or "be-on-the-lookout," had been issued for a reckless southbound motorist shortly before the traffic stop. Troopers reported following Pigman's Jeep as it drifted across lanes and once into the right paved shoulder.

According to the report Pigman denied he had been drinking, but the arresting trooper detected an "odor of alcohol" coming from the vehicle. The trooper saw an open wine bottle in the front passenger seat of a vehicle in which Pigman was the only occupant. Nearly three hours after being pulled over, breath tests measured Pigman's blood-alcohol content at 0.14 and 0.15%, which are nearly double the legal limit of 0.08%.[4]

During one field sobriety exercise, Pigman was described as “so off balance he almost fell while attempting to conduct all three tasks," reports show. He stumbled and lost his balance in another test, and didn't follow instructions in another.[5]

Pigman was found guilty of Driving Under the Influence in April 2017 and is currently serving probation. His license was suspended for six months and he was ordered to pay a $500 fine, perform 50 hours of community service and attend DUI school.[6]

Political career

2012 Primary Election

In 2012, following redistricting, Cary Pigman ran against former State Representative Randy Johnson in the Florida House District 55 Republican Primary Election. Pigman defeated Johnson by 26 votes.[7]

2012 General Election

In the General Election, Cary Pigman faced off against Democratic nominee Crystal Drake.[8] Ultimately, Pigman defeated Drake, winning 56% of the vote.

2014 Election Cycle

In 2014, Cary Pigman was re-elected to a second term, without opposition.

2016 Election Cycle

In 2016, Cary Pigman was re-elected to a third term, without opposition.[9]

After Pigman's DUI arrest in March 2017, he resigned as Chairman of the House Health Quality Subcommittee.[10]

State Commission On Ethics Investigation

In September 2016, the state Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Cary Pigman "misused his position by linking his efforts to obtain legislative funding for the Okeechobee School District to retaliate" against Tracy Downing, principal of South Elementary School in Okeechobee County. The Commission reported that Pigman was having an "extramartial affair" with his district secretary, Elizabeth "Libby" Maxwell, that started on January 15, 2016. Maxwell is married to Devin Maxwell, the brother of Tracy Downing.[11]

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References
  1. "Florida Rep. Cary Pigman charged with DUI". Orlando Weekly.
  2. "Pigman going back to Mid-East". Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
  3. "Pigman going back to Mid-East". Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
  4. "Florida Rep. Cary Pigman charged with DUI". Orlando Weekly.
  5. "Florida Rep. Cary Pigman found guilty of DUI". TC Palm.
  6. "After DUI, Rep. Cary Pigman resigns from House Health Quality Subcommittee". TC Palm.
  7. "Pigman wins House race vote recount". Highlands Today. August 20, 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-05-08. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  8. Bolivar, Lisa (October 18, 2012). "State House District 55 candidates cite similarities". TCPalm.com. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  9. "Florida Rep. Cary Pigman charged with DUI". Orlando Weekly.
  10. "Florida Rep. Cary Pigman found guilty of DUI". TC Palm.
  11. "Ethics panel finds probable cause that state Rep. Pigman 'misused his position'". Politico.
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