Kyc: District 50 State House

No matter the outcome of his bid to upset Republican Kim Berfield in the race for the District 50 Florida House seat, Rush -- a 24-year-old history teacher -- plans to take a one-year leave of absence to push for increased school spending.

"Education is my most passionate issue and what I'm going to fight for," he said. "If I can't go as a legislator, then I'll go as a legislative aide. I'll go as a janitor. I'll go any way I possibly can to go up there and put a whisper in their ear to do better for education."

But Rush faces a well-funded incumbent in Berfield.

By mid September, she had raised more than 10 times as much money as had Rush. And Berfield, 31, has experience, not to mention endorsements from the local and state teachers' unions.

Her campaign contributors include trade associations, insurance and health care companies and political action committees from across the state.

"I think it reflects the people in the community and who I work with on the state level are happy with the job that I've been doing," Berfield said.

Rush's financial backers are mostly local, and several are fellow teachers.

Rush's campaign hit an early snag after his campaign manager sued him for breach of contract. Rush said he settled the matter for $1,000, then opted to run his own race.

If elected, he said he will push to lower class sizes and increase teacher salaries and to reinstate the consumer tax holiday.

In a move to lower prescription drug costs, he has proposed developing a bulk purchasing program, modeled on the one in place for state employees.

Berfield said she will run on her record and experience. She listed her top priorities as the rising costs of health and medical malpractice insurance, as well as growth management.

"I think there's a lot of challenges that are facing us," she said. "We need somebody that's going to look for potential solutions and not just talk about the problems."

A Libertarian candidate from Wesley Chapel, Brian L. Gilbert, also is running in the newly redrawn District 50, which includes portions of Clearwater and Largo. Gilbert has pledged not to accept contributions or spend money on the campaign. He also refused requests to be interviewed by the Times.

THE JOB

State House District 50 stretches through portions of Clearwater and Largo. State representatives serve two-year terms and earn $29,328 annually.

REPUBLICAN

Berfield

KIM BERFIELD, 31, is a marketing consultant for W.G. Mills. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, she has been a reporter for Vision Cable and worked on numerous local political campaigns. Berfield was born in Texas and grew up in Clearwater. Since being elected to the House, she has served on the following committees: Insurance, Business Regulations and Transportation, and Economic Development Appropriations. She also served as the House chairwoman for the joint legislative auditing committee. Berfield is single and lives with her parents, Sue and James Berfield. Her father is a former judge. ASSETS: car, savings and checking accounts, retirement fund LIABILITIES: student loan, car loan SOURCE OF INCOME: W.G. Mills Inc.

DEMOCRAT

Rush

KAI RUSH, 24, teaches at Dunedin High School. A graduate of the University of North Florida, he was born in New York, raised in Miami and has lived in Pinellas County for two years. Rush is single. ASSETS: car LIABILITIES: student loan, car loan SOURCE OF INCOME: Pinellas County schools

LIBERTARIAN

BRIAN L. GILBERT, 35, is a software engineer who works for NetWolves Technologies Corp. in Tampa. He graduated from West Point and has a master's degree in management from the University of South Florida. ASSETS: home, cars, retirement funds, investments and savings accounts LIABILITIES: mortgage SOURCE OF INCOME: NetWolves Technologies Corp.