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District 63 State House

An incumbent faces a Libertarian opponent from Jacksonville who says he's running for his party, not to win the race.

By BABITA PERSAUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 31, 2002

Libertarian Jason A. Downs has not spent a cent on his run for the state House seat in District 63.

No campaign breakfasts.

"They're at 9 a.m.," he said. "I have a job."

He also hasn't thought much about the issues.

This election isn't about winning, said Downs, 30.

"The main issue is the Libertarian party itself," he said. "To get it known."

In District 63, which includes a small section of southeast Hillsborough County, voters have a clear choice.

Incumbent Dennis A. Ross, 43, is a die-hard Republican. A Lakeland commercial real estate lawyer, Ross was elected to the House in 2000. He likes hunting, RV traveling and water sports. During his term, Ross was a House sponsor of the high-speed train bill and pushed for private and public partnerships.

Downs, meanwhile, is a former high school teacher turned mortgage underwriter for Wachovia Mortgage. He doesn't live in District 63; he lives in Jacksonville. If he wins, he said, "I'll move."

Downs became involved in the Libertarian Party after his first child was born. He was a Republican but became disenchanted. "What Republicans were saying was different than what they were doing," he said.

Downs thinks trains are passe.

"Look at Amtrak," he said. "If I want to get to South Florida, I'll drive."

In fact, Downs is against spending any taxpayer money on large public projects.

Ross said that's unrealistic.

"If that was the case, you know we wouldn't have airports or bus terminals or any of the other transportation needs government provides," he said.

THE JOB

District 63 in the Florida House of Representatives includes parts of Polk County, including Lakeland, and the southeast corner of Hillsborough County. Representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $29,328 annually.

REPUBLICAN

Ross

Dennis A. Ross, 43, is a state representative in District 63 and a commercial real estate lawyer in Lakeland. He was elected to the House in 2000. He was chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee from 1992 to 1995. Ross is married and has two children. He earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Auburn University in 1981 and a law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1987. ASSETS: home, motor home, boat and law practice LIABILITIES: mortgage SOURCE OF INCOME: law practice E-MAIL: ross.dennis@leg.state.fl.us

LIBERTARIAN

Downs

Jason A. Downs, 30, is a mortgage underwriter for Wachovia Mortgage in Jacksonville. He was vice president of his homeowners association for two years. He taught high school in Indianapolis. He graduated from Florida State University in 1994 with a degree in English education. He is married and has two children. ASSETS: house and cars LIABILITIES: mortgage, car loan and student loan SOURCE OF INCOME: employment E-MAIL: jaydowns001@cs.com

Campaign 2002