Fort Walton Beach lawyer Matt Gaetz announced last week he’ll run next year for the Florida House seat being vacated by state Rep. Ray Sansom.

Gaetz, an attorney with Keefe, Anchors, Gordon and Moyle, is representing Air Force supporters in legal wrangling with the City of Valparaiso over the future of the F-35 Lightning II training mission at Eglin Air Force Base. He is the son of state Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville. Father and son are Republicans.

State legislators can serve no more than four consecutive two-year terms. Sansom was elected to represent the House’s District 4, which includes Navarre, in 2002 and reelected in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Barring early removal as a result of pending legal proceedings related to charges of misconduct and perjury, Sansom will finish his fourth and final term next year.

A Destin Republican, Sansom worked for the Okaloosa County School District when Gaetz was superintendent of schools.

Two other contenders, Kabe Woods and Bill Garvie, also have announced their intention to vie for the District 4 seat. Both men are Fort Walton Beach Republicans.