One says she represents experience, another new ideas, while the third touts his work ethic.
By DAVID KARP, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 5, 2002
Republicans will choose among three insiders, all with experience working the halls in Tallahassee, to replace state Rep. Chris Hart.
Faye Culp, a former legislator, Jim Johnson, a former legislative aide, and Dr. Marcos Lorenzo, a lobbyist for Tampa General Hospital, all want to follow Hart in the Florida House.
Hart, who served two terms, decided not to seek re-election this year so he could spend more time with his family.
Like Hart, the three Republicans running for office all support the GOP platform on school vouchers, educational testing and taxes.
The biggest difference is their backgrounds.
Culp, who represented the district between 1994 and 1998, wants her old job back.
"I have the experience," said Culp, who left the post in 1998 to run unsuccessfully for Florida education commissioner. "I will be able to make an immediate impact upon election."
In the House, Culp, a former School Board member, focused on education bills. She also was known for her free spirit: She once posted poetry on a Web site, and brought Israeli officials T-shirts from Busch Gardens that were emblazoned with the word "Egypt."
If elected, Culp said she wants to create an "Aunt Faye" mentoring system for foster care children. She also wants to raise teacher salaries.
Johnson, who once worked for Culp, touts his energy, his "new ideas" and his knowledge of the legislative process.
"Sometimes the way to do things in the past is not the best way to do things in the future," he said.
Johnson wants to improve schools by reducing bureaucracy. He also talks about re-shuffling state agencies.
A former student body president at USF, Johnson has worked for four Republicans in the Legislature. He hasn't had private sector experience, but Johnson said he knows how to get things done and understands people's needs.
Lorenzo, a physician who became the chief lobbyist for Tampa General, touts his life experience.
Born in Cuba, Lorenzo came to Tampa as a teenager after Fidel Castro took power. He was raised by relatives until his parents could join him.
His father worked three jobs so the family wouldn't have to accept welfare. Lorenzo finished Jefferson High School, graduated from Stetson University and earned a medical degree in Spain.
"I have been working all of my life," said Lorenzo, 56. "I have a work ethic that is second to none."
Lorenzo, who practiced general family medicine, has also served on the board of the Centro Asturiano Club in Ybor City, the Spring of Tampa Bay and the Tampa Bay chapter of the American Red Cross.
He has lobbied the Legislature for state funding for Tampa General and worked with hospital executives to pass the hospital's controversial privatization.
If elected, Lorenzo said he won't focus on medical issues. "I am not running to take care of physician things," he said.
But one of Lorenzo's top priorities will be making sure people can afford health care. He will also work to develop a better trained work force.
"I strongly believe that my life and my work experience definitely make me the right candidate," he said.
Whoever wins the Republican primary will face Democrat Scott Farrell, a lawyer, and Libertarian Tyson Richmond in the November general election.
State House District 57 represents citizens in south Tampa, Upper Tampa Bay and Westchase. House members serve two-year terms and earn $29,328 a year.
FAYE CULP, 62, represented the district in the Florida House between 1994 and 1998 before leaving to run unsuccessfully for Florida Commissioner of Education. She also ran for a Florida Senate seat in 2000 and lost in the Republican primary. She is retired and working toward a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Sarasota. Before serving in the legislature, Culp sat on the Hillsborough School Board from 1988 to 1992. She has also worked as a teacher in Atlanta and as a real estate broker in Tampa. Born in Mississippi, Culp earned a bachelor's degree in business education from Mississippi University for Women and a master's degree in art education from University of South Florida. Culp is married and has two grown sons. ASSETS: home, beach condominium, insurance, IRA, investment. LIABILITIES: mortgage. SOURCE OF INCOME: Social Security, state pension. WEB SITE: www.fayeculp.com/index.htm JIM JOHNSON, 30, has worked since 1995 as a legislative aide to four members of the Florida House. He also ran the campaign of state Rep. John Carassas, a Largo Republican, in 2000. He is a political consultant. Johnson worked as acting executive director of the USF Area Community Civic Association for six months starting in 1996. As an undergraduate at the University of South Florida, he was elected student body president in 1993 and oversaw $4.1-million in student activity fees. Born in Michigan, Johnson moved to Tampa in 1990 to attend USF. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1998. He is single. ASSETS: none. LIABILITIES: car loan, Sallie Mae loan, education loan. SOURCE OF INCOME: state salary. WEB SITE: www.votejimjohnson.com.
MARCOS F. LORENZO, 56, works as vice president for government affairs and corporate compliance at Tampa General Hospital. He also is the hospital's lobbyist. Lorenzo, a medical doctor, practiced family medicine from 1976 to 1987 in Tampa, then served as medical director of primary care at Tampa General from 1987 to 1997. He also has been a clinical assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Born in Cuba, Lorenzo's parents sent him to live with relatives in Tampa in 1961 after Fidel Castro took power. Lorenzo graduated from Stetson University in 1967 and earned a medical degree from the University of Sevilla in Spain in 1973. Lorenzo is married and has two grown daughters. ASSETS: home, medical business, IRA, retirement accounts, cash. LIABILITIES: loan. SOURCE OF INCOME: Tampa General and business salaries.