Candidates differ sharply on major issues for north Hillsborough County.
By JOSH ZIMMER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 31, 2002
The newly redrawn House of Representatives District 47 attracted a slew of candidates.
The Republican and the Democrat who survived the primaries, and a Libertarian candidate, offer clear choices to the district's 76,320 voters.
Democrats and Republicans are evenly split among registered party voters, which leaves 14,000 unaffiliated voters.
The district no longer stretches to Tarpon Springs but encompasses all of northwest Hillsborough, from Forest Hills and Carrollwood to Northdale, Keystone, Odessa and parts of Lutz.
The major party winners -- Republican Kevin Ambler and Democrat Michael Steinberg -- are lawyers who consider themselves friends. They are joined by Libertarian Party candidate Robert Schwartzberg a computer consultant who supports mass privatization of government services and the legalization of marijuana, especially for medical purposes.
Steinberg and Ambler differ sharply on major issues, including education and health care. Ambler backs Gov. Jeb Bush 's education plan, which emphasizes accountability through FCAT testing. To reduce the workload of teachers in overcrowded classrooms, he proposes requiring education students to work a semester in public schools to help teachers. He would take 20 percent off their student loans for every year in the classroom.
He said he probably would not vote for the classroom size amendment unless it is shown that financing it would not cause an explosion of portables and extra school sessions.
Steinberg, who hopes a good showing by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride will energize Democrats and independents, supports the class-size amendment. He also is the only candidate to say he would raise taxes to finance education as well as a statewide indigent health care plan.
Reiterating his opposition to new taxes, Ambler wants the state to use its buying power, and competitive bidding, to start a prescription drug plan for seniors.
Schwartzberg also opposes tax increases.
State House District 47 includes the northwest corner of Hillsborough County, including the communities of Northdale, parts of Carrollwood and parts of north Tampa. Representatives serve two-year terms and earn $29,328 per year.
KEVIN AMBLER, 41, is an attorney who practices entertainment, sports, corporate and business law. President of the Northdale Special Dependent Tax District for the past seven years, he served on the Hillsborough County Charter Review Board and is active in the Air Force Reserves, in which he is a decorated major serving as a judge advocate. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from Cornell University and a law degree from Southwestern University School of Law. He is married with two children. ASSETS: law practice, home and stocks LIABILITIES: mortgage and car loan SOURCE OF INCOME: law practice E-MAIL: Kevin@VoteAmbler.com WEB SITE: www.voteambler.com
MICHAEL STEINBERG, 43, is an attorney practicing Social Security law. He serves on the Florida Bar Association's military law subcommittee and volunteers in local schools. He received his bachelor's degree in economics and law degree from the University of Florida. He is married with three children. ASSETS: law practice and house LIABILITIES: mortgage SOURCE OF INCOME: law practice E-MAIL: michael@steinberg2002.com WEB SITE: www.steinberg2002.com
ROBERT SCHWARTZBERG, 33, is a computer consultant with Raymond James & Associates. He volunteers through the company's adopted schools program and through synagogues, as well as for Habitat for Humanity. He is working on a business administration degree at St. Leo College. He is divorced with two children. ASSETS: house, car and mutual funds LIABILITIES: mortgage and car loan SOURCE OF INCOME: job E-MAIL: rschwartzberg@hotmail.com WEB SITE: www.robforstatehouse.org