In a previous post, we made three recommendations for the Florida House of Representatives: Janet Long in District 51, Rick Kriseman in District 53 and Darryl Rouson in District 55.  Today, we’re issuing a recommendation in another Pinellas County race, District 52, and we have decided to step out of Pinellas County to make an additional recommendation in a race in neighboring Hillsborough County in District 60.

District 52 – Bill Heller

Bill Heller is a prime example of what a public servant should be.  He has always been active in his community, serving on numerous boards and providing great leadership while at USF-St. Pete.  Heller successfully led the charge to make the St. Pete campus a four-year degree granting institution, and that leadership has made a significant impact on reducing the “brain drain” in Pinellas County.  He is one of the ethical voices in a legislature which has been tainted by scandal and arrogance.  Voters would be well-served to send him back to Tallahassee for another term.

Make no doubt about it, Heller’s opponent, Jeff Brandes, is a very credible candidate.  His aggressive campaign has made District 52 the most hotly contested state house race in the Tampa Bay region.  He has raised a lot of money, and his campaign got off the ground quickly and has been well-executed.  His ads may resonate with an electorate which will be slightly more right-of-center this year, but the key argument he has made is flawed if one considers the dynamics of Tallahassee.  Brandes suggests that he is going to take Tallahassee folks to the woodshed if they get in the way; however, the problem with his argument is that, as a freshman Republican legislator, he will be voting for the same leadership which has caused so many problems under one-party rule in Florida.

Republicans running for Congress have a “change” case to make, and voters will have to decide if they really represent change, or a return to the troubles which led to our financial crisis in 2008.  Yet that is not the case in state legislative races in Florida.  Republicans have held all the levers of power for a decade.  They have had governors, most of the cabinet officers, and large majorities in both houses of the state legislature.  Strengthening those majorities is not the way to effectively change the path Florida is on right now.  Electing Jeff Brandes, as bright and energetic as he may be, will not help chart a new course for our state.

Sending more Bill Hellers to Tallahassee is a more effective way to put Florida on a new, more positive path.  Voters should start by sending the original Bill Heller back to Tallahassee.  There will be other opportunities for Jeff Brandes to serve.  Certainly one of them will be a much better fit.

For Florida House of Representatives, District 52, Pinski Recommends Bill Heller.

District 60 – Russ Patterson

District 60 voters will choose between two interesting candidates for state legislature, former Tampa City Councilmember Shawn Harrison and retired Air Force veteran Russ Patterson.  Although both candidates are credible choices, Patterson is clearly the better choice.

Russ Patterson is not your typical Florida politician.  He was an Eagle Scout who grew up in Texas.  Patterson earned an economics degree from the United States Air Force Academy.  After graduating, he served for twenty years in the military, including service in Desert Storm.  After retiring from the Air Force, Patterson has had a number of unique life experiences: involvement in campaigns, running a county fair, and teaching in our public schools, just to name a few.  He understands the issues well, and he will bring a different perspective to a legislature which all too often marches in lock-step.

Patterson’s opponent, attorney Shawn Harrison, is also a very credible candidate.  He served two terms on the Tampa City Council before being defeated for re-election in 2007 by current councilmember Mary Mulhern.  Since that time, he has served on TBARTA and the board of several community organizations.  But despite Harrison’s involvement on boards and in elected office, Patterson’s rich life experience will add something different and better to the state legislature.

Tallahassee needs more leadership and accountability, qualities that are present throughout the diverse life experiences of Russ Patterson – Eagle Scout, veteran, and teacher, to name a few.  For that reason, Russ Patterson is the better choice to serve citizens as their state representative.

For Florida House of Representatives, District 60, Pinski Recommends Russ Patterson.

View our other ballot recommendations here.

Popularity: 3% [?]