PANAMA CITY, FL – Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02) has announced Kaitlyn McCarty of North Bay Haven Charter Academy as the winner of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition for the Second Congressional District of Florida. Kaitlyn’s artwork, titled “The Calm After The Storm,” is a watercolor portrait depicting a half-sunken sailboat off the coast of Panama City, left behind after the devastation of Hurricane Michael. The slow sway of palm fronds surrounding the scene represent that everything is calm at last.
“This year, we had an exceptional selection of entries from young artists throughout Florida’s Second Congressional District. As many know, Hurricane Michael caused a great deal of devastation throughout our district. Kaitlyn’s painting not only reflects the destruction but also gives a sense of hope. This piece is a reminder to all of us that we can overcome whatever disaster comes our way, and that’s the perfect message following this pandemic,” said Dr. Dunn.
As he looks to his political future, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas emphasizes that “I really hope to continue to do this work as long as the people in New Hampshire will have me.”
But Pappas, who represents New Hampshire’s First Congressional District, faces some potentially high hurdles as he begins to build toward his 2022 re-election to remain in the U.S. Congress.
The Granite State’s first district for a generation has been one of the premier swing districts in the country.
The topsy-turvy electoral nature of the district was best illustrated as it ping-ponged every two years between Democrat Rep. Carol Shea Porter and Republican Rep. Frank Guinta for a decade.
Makayla Bowen, a senior at Cannon Falls High School, was recently awarded first prize at the 2021 Congressional Art Competition.Â
The competition is hosted each spring and is open to all high school students who live in Minnesota s Second District.Â
Rep. Angie Craig announced the winners through a news release on May 24.Â
âThis yearâs Congressional Art Competition has again shown the incredible talent of students in our community,â Craig said in the news release.
 âEven in spite of a global pandemic and the challenges of remote learning, these students stepped up and created incredible artwork that I look forward to displaying in my offices and in the halls of Congress. I am so honored to congratulate the three winners from Minnesotaâs Second Congressional District and thankful for the participation of each and every student who submitted artwork this year.â