Representative Richard B. Nugent

Richard B. Nugent, commonly known as Rich Nugent, is an American politician who served as a United States Representative from Florida, representing the state’s 5th Congressional District from January 3, 2011, to January 3, 2013, and the 11th Congressional District from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he completed three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in early twenty-first-century American history, representing the interests of his constituents in north-central Florida.

Richard Nugent was born on May 26, 1951, in Evergreen Park, Illinois, and was raised in the Chicago area. Before entering public life in Florida, he worked in the private sector and pursued higher education while building a career in law enforcement. He later moved to Florida, where he would establish his long-term professional and political base. His early experiences in the Midwest and subsequent relocation to the South informed his views on public safety, local governance, and community service.

Nugent pursued his education while working, ultimately earning a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Saint Leo University in Florida. His academic training in criminology complemented his practical experience in law enforcement and helped prepare him for leadership roles in public safety. This combination of education and on-the-ground experience later shaped his policy interests in Congress, particularly in areas related to crime, law enforcement, and homeland security.

Nugent’s professional career was rooted in law enforcement and county government. He joined the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, where he rose through the ranks over the years. He was elected Sheriff of Hernando County and served in that role from 2001 until his election to Congress in 2010. As sheriff, he oversaw county law enforcement operations, budgeting, and public safety initiatives, gaining a reputation as a hands-on administrator and conservative public official. His tenure as sheriff provided him with executive experience and a public profile that supported his transition to federal office.

In the 2010 election cycle, Nugent ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican and was elected to represent Florida’s 5th Congressional District, taking office on January 3, 2011. Following redistricting, he subsequently represented Florida’s 11th Congressional District from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2017. During his three terms in Congress, Nugent served at a time marked by debates over federal spending, health care reform, national security, and the role of government in economic recovery after the late-2000s financial crisis. As a member of the House of Representatives, Richard B. Nugent participated in the democratic process, engaged in committee work, and advocated for policies aligned with his party’s conservative principles and the priorities of his district.

Throughout his congressional service, Nugent was identified with Republican positions on fiscal restraint, support for law enforcement and the military, and limited federal government. He was part of the broader Republican conference that opposed major expansions of federal spending and regulation and supported measures aimed at strengthening border security and national defense. His background as a sheriff informed his perspectives on criminal justice and homeland security issues, and he frequently emphasized public safety and support for first responders in his public statements and legislative priorities.

Nugent chose not to seek re-election in 2016, concluding his service in the House at the end of his third term on January 3, 2017. His departure from Congress marked the end of more than a decade and a half in elected office, including his years as Hernando County Sheriff and as a federal legislator. Richard B. Nugent’s career reflects a trajectory from local law enforcement leadership to national legislative service, with his work in Congress occurring during a consequential period in American political and economic history, and his legacy tied to his representation of Florida’s 5th and 11th Congressional Districts as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.