The winner of this Republican primary will face only minor party and write-in candidates in November's election.
By JEFF TESTERMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 5, 2002
The winner of the three-man race for the Republican nomination for the District 67 seat in the Florida House has the inside track to victory in November's general election.
District 67 incumbent Mike Bennett has decided to run for the District 21 state Senate seat. No Democrats qualified in District 67. So, the GOP nominee will face Libertarian candidate Ron Stringfield and write-in candidate William Dolinski Jr. on the November ballot.
The GOP winner won't come from Hillsborough County. Chester Flake, a computer consultant, and Steele T. Williams, an attorney, live in Sarasota; insurance agent Ron Reagan resides in Bradenton.
Flake is throwing his hat into the ring for the second time this year. He initially filed to run for the District 13 congressional seat sought by Katherine Harris, but was disqualified when he failed to file the proper paperwork for petition qualifying.
In his aborted congressional race, Flake was critical of Harris for not resigning from her position as secretary of state to run for Congress, and he takes some pride in the fact that Harris belatedly did resign and admit she made a mistake. Flake says his new campaign for the state House, and the heavy personal financing of it, show his commitment to win a legislative job.
Flake says his top issue is education. He favors programs to boost high school graduation rates and magnet schools that would give college credit to help kick start secondary education. He is also a proponent of school vouchers.
"I don't want to be a politician," said Flake. "I want to learn the system in Tallahassee, but I don't want to become part of that system."
Reagan considers himself a conservative Republican who promises to stand up for state protection of the elderly and improvement of prescription drug delivery systems. He also vows to take on HMOs that put profits ahead of quality health care.
Reagan believes the state's intangibles tax ought to be eliminated, and he would push for more stringent monitoring of state agencies to eliminate waste.
In the area of education, Reagan would expand technical training, improve teacher-student ratios and keep school vouchers.
"Education is our single largest expenditure, and we can do a better job," Reagan says.
Williams, who focuses his law practice on protecting victims of investment fraud, would continue that specialty as a legislator.
"It is shocking the number of people who have lost a significant portion of their livelihood," said Williams. "The Legislature needs to better protect its people from investment fraud by being tougher on white-collar crime, which can devastate someone's livelihood."
Williams believes his advocacy for small businesses and his experience in economic growth issues and shareholder disputes uniquely qualifies him to work as a state representative.
State House District 67 takes in parts of southeast Hillsborough County, including Sun City and Ruskin, as well as parts of eastern Manatee and Sarasota counties. Representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $29,328 annually.
CHESTER FLAKE, 28, is a self-employed computer consultant who was born in Kentucky and now lives with his wife and two children in Sarasota. He obtained an undergraduate degree from Regents University, a correspondence school, and is working on a master's degree in computer science from the same institution. He formerly worked as a morning radio show producer at Tampa station WQYK-FM 99.5 and as a writer-producer at radio stations in Nashville. He is active in programs at Faith Baptist Church. ASSETS: home, investment property, vehicles, personal property. LIABILITIES: mortgages, auto loan. SOURCE OF INCOME: computer training and consulting. WEB SITE: www.electflake.com.
RON REAGAN, 48, is an insurance agent at RTI Insurance Services who lives in Bradenton and is the married father of three children. He attended Manatee Community College and earned an undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida before starting up his insurance business. He has volunteered his time at youth recreation programs and the Employee Support for the Guard and Reserves military transition program. He has also worked as a fundraiser for Lakewood Ranch High School and has served with the Salvation Army and the local Republican Party. ASSETS: home, commercial building, stocks, motor home, boat, personal property. LIABILITIES: home mortgage, commercial mortgage, personal loan. SOURCE OF INCOME: insurance business. E-MAIL: RReagan100@aol.com.
STEELE T. WILLIAMS, 31, is a lawyer and partner with the Bradenton law firm of Groner, Schieb & Williams and resides in Sarasota. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from the University of Florida College of Law. Previously, Williams worked for Bear, Stearns & Co., a New York investment firm. He specializes in representing victims of investment fraud and is a member of the Private Investors Arbitration Bar Association. He is a volunteer with Big Brothers and Sisters and attends the Sarasota Baptist Church. ASSETS: home, 401(k) account, IRA account, bank account. LIABILITIES: mortgage, personal loan. SOURCE OF INCOME: law practice. E-MAIL: swilliams@investmentlaw.net.