February 07, 2010
Anger fuels rush of candidates
By RON HURTIBISE
Staff Writer
Voters are angry. And the most audacious among them are deciding they can help fix the country.
The number of first-time candidates running for Congress in Florida is larger than in any election year in recent memory, says Susan MacManus, political science professor at the University of South Florida.
"For the first time in a long time in Florida, fear and anger -- the two compelling emotions in politics -- are existing simultaneously," MacManus says.
Candidates say they are motivated by high unemployment, increased deficit spending, and frustration over the results -- or lack thereof -- of a year of Democratic control of national government.
The anti-incumbency movement transcends party politics, MacManus says.
How much turnover will actually occur in November -- especially in the majority of House seats carefully drawn to protect incumbents -- remains to be seen, she said.
But the interest is real, and challengers say they are undaunted by the money and special interests that favor the entrenched.
In 1998, 14 of 23 House incumbents went unopposed in Florida. This year, 18 of 25 seats have more than one declared candidate.
That will likely change when elections supervisors certify candidates for the ballot, either by petition or registration fee, by May 7. Party primaries are Aug. 24, and the general election is Nov. 2.
The three districts that include Volusia and Flagler counties have so far attracted 23 candidates.
Among them is Jacob "Jake" Hoechst, 90, Orlando, a Republican trying to alert voters about a little-known energy refining process that converts carbon material into a diesel fuel that contains neither sulfur nor tar.
"I have the gumption. I have the passion to get the message out," he says.
Stephen Bacon, 71, of DeBary, is one of two Florida Whig Party members in the local races.
The party, which formed in 2007, wants to give "people a voice in government again," he says.
"People don't feel they're getting representation from either the Republican or Democratic parties," he says. "They're too sold out already to special interests and business interests."
Thirteen challengers are vying for the seat held by Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, including 10 Republicans.
National analysts view Kosmas' seat as one of the two "toss-ups" in Florida. The other is the seat held by Democrat Alan Grayson, who earned fame last year by summing up Republicans' health care plan as "don't get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly."
Kosmas, 65, snatched a formerly safe Republican seat in 2008 by riding Barack Obama's coattails and hammering at the incumbent's connection to a scandal-ridden lobbyist but angered Democratic supporters in November by voting against the House health care reform bill and drew a primary challenger, former Winter Springs Mayor Paul Partyka.
And with the year already seen as dicey for incumbents, Republican candidates believe conservative voters are poised to retake the seat.
Jim Heinzelman -- he prefers to be called Heinie -- calls himself a true conservative and vows to end America's path to socialism and other forms of tyranny.
Although the national party spread word last week that former Ruth's Chris Steak House CEO Craig Miller will soon jump into the race, frontrunners among the announced candidates are Sandy Adams, a state House member since 2002, and Karen Diebel, vice mayor of Winter Park.
Their votes to help fund the new commuter rail system will cost them support of Tea Party movement activists, who will never vote "to put a RINO (Republican in Name Only) in office," declares candidate Ed Dedelow, 67, a retired accountant, tax expert and general contractor from Winter Springs.
Dedelow, who wrote a book called "Why Capitalism Works and Government Doesn't," says he knows how to rein in out-of-control government spending.
The field also includes Green Party member Nicholas Ruiz III, 39, of New Smyrna Beach and Larry Sinclair, 48, of Port Orange, who has no party affiliation.
In a brief interview, Kosmas said she understands the frustration in her district but countered that she has served constituents with "financially responsible" decisions that expanded health coverage for children and veterans, and stabilized the economy with tax cuts and stimulus spending. "What I do and how I do it will be judged at the end of the day by the voters," she said.
In the 3rd District, eight-term Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, has five challengers: three Republicans, a no-party candidate and a Florida Whig.
Republican James Gilman, 44, of Jacksonville, accuses Brown of devoting too much attention to aviation and railroad interests while her district suffers from high rates of poverty, unemployment and crime.
In a questionnaire submitted by her campaign staff, Brown, 63, lists her occupation as "member of Congress" and said her priorities if re-elected are passing the newest six-year federal transportation authorization bill and ensuring Florida receives its full share of high-speed rail funding.
Eight-term 7th District Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park usually defeats his Democrat challenger easily in the heavily Republican district that snakes through six counties.
This year he faces newcomer Heather Beaven, a Palm Coast resident and CEO of a state-funded work force development agency for at-risk students. Beaven, 41, says Mica provides "20th century leadership" and vows to help develop 21st-century "green" jobs in the bio-medical and alternative energy fields.
Asked about his opponent, Mica, 67, says he doesn't think about the campaign until the fall. Meanwhile, he plans to continue securing federal funding for ongoing projects throughout his district, such as the commuter rail system, Rose Bay restoration, and repair of the flood-damaged Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences.
DISTRICT 24
Adams
SANDY ADAMS
Age: 53
Lives in: Orlando
Occupation: Law enforcement
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: Florida House of Representatives, 2002-present
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: We must facilitate the creation of new jobs and immediately stop the outrageous spending. With the national debt over $100,000 per household and unemployment at its highest level in the last quarter-century, fiscal discipline is needed in Washington. Congress must stop its constant taxing, borrowing, spending behavior pattern. American families need relief now. I will fight to halt spending and ignite the economy, foster small business, and get American workers employed again.
Web site: http://www.sandyadams.com
Campbell
SEAN FIELD CAMPBELL
Age: N/A
Lives in: Merritt Island
Occupation: Semiretired small business owner
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: Republican Committeeman, Brevard County Precinct 15
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: My main concern is job creation. I would propose this by first giving small business owners a tax incentive to hire employees. This can be accomplished by giving a credit on payroll taxes that the employer has to pay; thus allowing more money for salaries and reinvestment in updating equipment for the business. This would increase sales for new equipment and allow more employees to be hired. I would introduce a bill requiring Homeland Security to revamp and speed up employee verifications and hold the employer harmless from fines and legal actions related to illegal immigrants. Saving American jobs is number one.
Web site: http://www.voteseancampbell.com
Davis
JASON DAVIS
Age: N/A
Lives in: N/A
Occupation: N/A
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: N/A
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: Did not respond to questionnaire.
Web site: http://www.jasonforcongress.net
Dedelow
EDWARD W. DEDELOW
Age: 67
Lives in: Winter Springs
Occupation: Certified public accountant, tax expert and general contractor (retired)
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: none
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: I will be a conservative leader in Congress. My goal is to educate other members of Congress and the public on what is necessary to improve the management of the economy by the federal government. I will work to reduce waste, to cut taxes and government spending and to promote tax laws and regulations that will allow the U.S. economy to be competitive in the world market. Thus, eliminating the trade and fiscal deficits and increasing the wages of the American work force.
Web site: http://www.edwardwdedelowforcongress.com
Diebel
KAREN DIEBEL
Age: 42
Lives in: Winter Park
Occupation: Executive director, Verizon Business Global Solutions, Orlando
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: Winter Park City Commission, 2007-present. Currently vice mayor.
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: To get some very solid job growth here in the district. At Verizon's business unit, we put new tools in employees' hands so they can innovate and return more productivity to the company. I want to help create jobs, including highly technical jobs, that match the needs of our district. I am very effective in taking a business acumen to government.
Web site: http://www.karendiebel.com
Foster
JIM FOSTER
Age: 67
Lives in: Oviedo
Occupation: Retired small business owner
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: none
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: If people are out of work not much else really matters. Unemployment in this district is over 11 percent. That is unacceptable to me. You would think it would be unacceptable to the career politicians who currently IGNORE the biggest unemployment rate in modern history. I will organize a team of private industry leaders and elected officials who will focus on putting the people of my district back to work. Government MUST get busy clearing a path (with tax incentives) so that small businesses and private industry can thrive. As a successful and experienced small business owner I know how to create jobs. What is the key thing I want to accomplish? I want everyone in my district to be able to feed their families and pay their mortgage. If our present elected officials can't help make that happen -- we need new elected officials!
Web site: http://www.jimfosterforcongress.com
Garcia
TOM GARCIA
Age: 48
Lives in: Titusville
Occupation: Airline pilot
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: none
Key things I want to accomplish if elected: Reduce government spending and prevent terrorists from striking the U.S. The Constitution is a road map for success and we must return to governing from it and not around it.
Web site: tomgarciaforcongress.com
Heinzelman
JIM "HEINIE" HEINZELMAN
Age: 71
Lives in: Orlando
Occupation: Retired small business owner
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: none
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: Put an end to America being led down the path of Socialism, or other forms of tyranny -- Let Freedom Ring! Repeal the irresponsible bills passed by the 111th Congress. Reduce deficit & spending. Balance the budget. Lower taxes. Smaller government. Support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic. Help elect a true conservative President in 2012 (another Ronald Reagan). Faithfully serve the constituents of District 24, for whom I serve and report to. So help me God!
Web site: Heinie2010.com
Kosmas
SUZANNE M. KOSMAS (incumbent)
Age: 65
Lives in: New Smyrna Beach
Occupation: Member of Congress
Party: Democratic
Elected offices held: State House of Representatives, 1996-2004; U.S. House of Representatives, 2009-present
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: As a Volusia County resident for more than 30 years, I have spent most of my adult life serving our community, and I view my job as U.S. Representative as an extension of that service. Though I am proud of our efforts so far to create and maintain jobs, promote fiscal responsibility, support small businesses, and improve veterans benefits, I understand there is more to be done. I will continue working to bring people together to find common-sense, fiscally responsible solutions that will create jobs, boost our economy, improve education, and ensure a bright future for generations to come.
Web site: kosmasforcongress.com
Long
OMETRIAS DEON LONG
Age: 42
Lives in: Apopka
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: None
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: The key thing I want to accomplish if elected is devolving power from the national government back to the states and the people. We will do this by adopting a Fair Tax, returning to fiscal responsibility and the gold standard, and passing a balanced budget amendment. I also support the implementation of a free trade regime and repealing Sarbanes-Oxley.
Web site: deonlong.com
Partyka
PAUL PARTYKA
Age: 60
Lives in: Winter Springs
Occupation: Commercial real estate broker
Party: Democrat
Elected offices held: Winter Springs mayor, 1996-2002; Winter Springs deputy mayor, 1990, Winter Springs commissioner, 1988-1991; State committeeman, Seminole County Democratic Executive Committee, 2004-2007
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: The focus must be on small business and new job creation. Small business is the lifeblood of the American economy and it has been overlooked so far in the effort to rebuild the U.S. economy. The people are hurting right now. I want to be part of a Congress that works together to solve our problems. We need to substantially increase the pace of that recovery and that's what I intend to fight for! Small business tax relief, tax incentives to spur small business job creation, expansion of small business incubation, space program technology utilization, and more small business lending are the most important policies the Congress can pursue NOW. Jobs growth combined with having practical and efficient health insurance for all should be a solvable goal when both parties work together TODAY!
Web site: partykaforcongress.com
Robey
ROBERT ROBEY
Age: 56
Lives in: Casselberry
Occupation: Vice president, Bank of America
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: President of Howell Harbor Estates Homeowner Association for 8 years
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: I believe that we need candidates in Congress that are capable of thinking outside of the box when seeking solutions for the problems that are facing this country. We must practice fiscal responsibility, create financial support programs for small business in order to create new jobs, create high-tech long-lasting job programs that use our young workers as well as experienced and older work force. My experience will fill that need.
Web site: http://www.bobrobeyforcongress.com
Ruiz
NICHOLAS RUIZ III
Age: 39
Lives in: New Smyrna Beach
Occupation: Author
Party: Green
Elected offices held: none
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: If you wish for the idea of progress that has disappeared, or the prospect of prosperity that has disappeared, or the idea of politics that has disappeared -- and instead all of which continue, as a Washington political game in secret indifference to what is truly at stake for the American people in all of these concepts . . . Now is the time to act on your conscience, and support leaders and candidates who offer truly progressive politics for America.
Web site: intertheory.org/nriiiforcongress2010.html
Sinclair
LARRY SINCLAIR
Age: 48
Lives in: Port Orange
Occupation: Author
Party: No party affiliation
Elected offices held: None
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: To bring the voice of the people of Florida's 24th Congressional District back to Congress. I have published "Larry's Contract with Florida's 24" that if elected I will implement beginning on Election Day.
Web site: http://www.larrysinclairforcongress.com
DISTRICT 3
Annarumma
JOHN ANNARUMMA
Age: 35
Lives in: Alachua
Occupation: Detective with Alachua County Sheriff's Office
Party: Florida Whig Party
Elected offices held: None
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: I would like to accomplish a rollback of the federal government and return it to the confines established by the Constitution. I want a return of fiscal responsibilty, emphasis on states rights, strong national defense, repeal of the 16th Amendment and implementation of the "fair tax."
Web site: http://www.johnannarumma.com
Brown
CORRINE BROWN (incumbent)
Age: 63
Lives in: Jacksonville
Occupation: Member of Congress, Florida's 3rd Congressional District
Party: Democratic
Elected offices held: State House of Representatives, 1983-1993, U.S. House of Representatives, 1993-present.
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: Pass the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill (the six-year transportation reauthorization bill), and ensure Florida receives its full share of the high-speed rail funding.
Web site: not yet active
Gilman
JAMES N. GILMAN
Age: 44
Lives in: Jacksonville
Occupation: Self-employed technology and stock analyst
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: none
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: I will fight to have our voices -- not just those of railroad executives -- heard in Washington. U.S. Congressional District 3 stands out from the surrounding districts because it has some of the highest poverty, unemployment and crime rates in the nation. While railroads and aviation (committees that the incumbent serves on) are important to our nation, District 3 needs representation that will fight to ensure Washington gives a hand up not token handouts by focusing efforts on early childhood development and lifelong learning.
Web site: http://www.votegilman.com
Hoechst
JACOB W. HOECHST
Age: 90
Lives in: Orlando
Occupation: Retired industrial labor relations and personnel director
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: none
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: Making the world green again: The United States has a system which can make a superior oil from anything containing carbon. This system, incorporated into our economy, could produce over 4 billion barrels of oil per year from waste. That would save our economy 700 billion dollars a year, and using Congressional Budget Office estimates, would save the country $7 trillion every 10 years. The U.S. could lead the world to a new Energy Revolution!
Web site: jakehoechst.com
Martin-Back
TERRY L. MARTIN-BACK
Age: 55
Lives in: Gainesville
Occupation: General contractor and real estate broker
Party: No party affiliation
Elected offices held: None. Appointed by County Commission to Veterans Advisory Board
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: Reduce the size of government, work out a plan to make major reductions in the national debt, remove duplicated government services, bring common sense to the Department of Agriculture and Social Services, get control of government bonuses and long-term military contracts and finally, bring the legislators home.
Web site: http://www.martin-backforcongress.org
Yost
MICHAEL "MIKE" YOST
Age: 56
Lives in: Jacksonville
Occupation: businessman/auto repair technician
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: None
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: It is my belief that this nation was established by the most powerful document ever created, the U.S. Constitution. America has been and continues to be the beacon of freedom and liberty for not only this country, but for the world. I will make certain that I write and back only those laws that promote the protection of our Constitution, economic growth, and natural freedoms. If there are those who attempt to operate outside the powers given by the Constitution I will work to stop them. I will do this because that is the oath I will take when I am elected. I will work to keep obstacles out of the way of business growth and job creation, and to increase the flow of prosperity to the citizens in District 3 as well as the rest of Florida. In short, my objective is to represent growth and opportunity for middle north Florida as I stand in defense of their inherent freedoms. I will take the voice of District 3 to D.C.
Web site: yostforcongress.com
DISTRICT 7
Bacon
STEPHEN BACON
Age: 71
Lives in: DeBary
Occupation: Retired accountant and president of insurance consulting firm
Party: Florida Whig Party
Elected offices held: None. Appointed as budget adviser in Miami Beach, 1993-97
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: Create jobs and improve economy; reform tariffs to China to stop loss of U.S. jobs; put money in pockets of citizens with new economies for insurance, fuel costs and tax breaks; keep manufacturing for government contracts in U.S.; reduce subsidies to ethanol and oil industries; make Congress more fiscally responsible, outlaw bribery practices for bill passing; limit elected office terms to two; make America oil independent; bring government back to the people.
Web site: flwp.blogspot.com/2010/01/stephen-j-bacon-w.html
Beaven
HEATHER M. BEAVEN
Age: 41
Lives in: Palm Coast
Occupation: CEO of work force development nonprofit firm
Party: Democratic
Elected offices held: None.
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: I want to transform the 7th District from a string of small communities totally dependent on growth, service and tourism into a hub for successful small businesses and entrepreneurs. It is time to end the days of applying 20th century solutions to 21st century problems so we can create jobs now, while leaving our children with the groundwork for economic security and jobs for the future.
Web site: beavenforcongress.com
Mica
JOHN MICA (incumbent)
Age: 67
Lives in: Winter Park
Occupation: Former businessman real estate development, international trade consulting and communications.
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: State House of Representatives, 1976-1980; Chief of staff, U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins, 1980-1985; U.S. House of Representatives, 1993-present.
Key thing I want to accomplish if elected: Improving economic opportunity by supporting measures that will foster jobs and to reduce our federal debt, reduce taxes and cut unnecessary federal bureaucracy. Making certain Americans are secure must be a primary national responsibility, achieved by insuring a strong, prepared military and supporting veterans who have served our nation. Building our community's and nation's infrastructure by continuing my work as U.S. House Republican leader of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and developing cost-effective solutions to improving our highways, ports, airports and transit systems.
Web site: http://www.micaforcongress.com
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