Kyc: District 54 State House

Both candidates are concerned about education and state spending, but their solutions illustrate the distance between an incumbent Republican and a Green Party proponent.

By ADRIENNE P. SAMUELS
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 31, 2002

An attorney and a salesman of high-end industrial paint finishes both want to represent Pinellas beaches and parts of Largo and Clearwater as members of the Florida Legislature.

Attorney, Republican and incumbent Rep. John Carassas says he's best for the job because of his two years of experience in the office and his work as a former assistant city attorney in Clearwater.

Kurt Gratzol, the Green Party contender, calls himself better qualified because he stands for social justice and has experience in the small-business arena.

Gratzol is running because he is tired of how the state is governed.

"Instead of complaining about it, I'm running for office to fix it," Gratzol said.

Carassas, of Belleair, has tens of thousands of dollars in his campaign coffers while Gratzol has a couple of thousand. Carassas is supported by cigarette maker RJ Reynolds, School Board member Max Gessner and fellow state Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor.

Gratzol accepts donations only from individuals and not from political action committees or corporations, though he says that the Sierra Club and the National Organization for Women support him.

Carassas, 36, is doling out thousands to a Tampa political consultant and spends the rest of his contributions on items such as dinner for volunteers, mass mailings and cell phone bills. Gratzol spends his contributions on pamphlets and fliers.

Carassas wants Florida public records to remain public and is proud of creating an amendment that will be on November's ballot. The amendment would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before more public records are denied to the public.

"It may or may not be successful, but I'm glad we got attention on the public records law," said Carassas.

Gratzol, 55, is focusing on tax breaks for small business instead of for business giants.

Both men think education, tourism and environment are big items for Florida's agenda but they differ on how to solicit tourists and school money. Gratzol supports cutting class size and suspending the state's homeland security system to create more money for the schools. Carassas is against a state income tax but thinks that better qualified teachers should be hired and then paid on a higher scale. He is also proud of pushing legislation to keep local beaches represented on the county's tourism council.

Gratzol is hoping to be the first Green Party member in the Florida Legislature.

"This would significantly change my life," Gratzol said.

Carassas leaves it to the voters to vote in their own best interest.

"I think the voters are going to analyze both of us," Carassas said.

THE JOB

State House District 54 encompasses Clearwater and Largo east of Missouri Avenue and all of the gulf beaches. State representatives serve two-year terms and earn $29,328 annually.

REPUBLICAN

Carassas

JOHN CARASSAS, 36, is a real estate lawyer for Becker & Poliakoff in Largo. Previously, he was an assistant city attorney for Clearwater. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida and attended Stetson University College of Law. Carassas was born in New York and moved to Florida after high school. He is married and has one child. ASSETS: house, retirement plan SOURCE OF INCOME: legislative and law firm salaries

GREEN

Gratzol

KURT GRATZOL, 55, sells high-end industrial paint for Ocala-based Delta Laboratories. Gratzol telecommutes. He was formerly self-employed in marketing and also worked for Carboline in St. Louis. He is a member of the Green Party who graduated from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and earned a master's degree in marketing from Washington University. Gratzol was born in South Bend, Ind., and moved to Florida in the fourth grade. He is married and has children. ASSETS: house, retirement plan, salary SOURCE OF INCOME: salary from Delta Laboratories WEB SITE: www.gratzol.com