Incumbent Tom Anderson and Kevin Jensen will square off again in the Nov. 2 election for the District 45 seat.
By ALEX LEARY
Published October 19, 2004
Kevin Jensen's introduction to state politics two years ago was humbling. Labeled an "accidental candidate" in the race for state House District 45, he was trounced by former Dunedin Mayor Tom Anderson.
Anderson, who raised three times as much money as Jensen, went on to what was by most accounts a successful first term. Nearly all the legislation he sponsored last session gained approval.
He showed independence - and further raised his profile - by eschewing the Republican line and voting against an emergency bill that called for reinserting a feeding tube into Terry Schiavo. Last month, the state Supreme Court declared Terri's Law unconstitutional.
None of which impresses Jensen, who once again is challenging Anderson in the Nov. 2 election. "I think I can win this time," the Clearwater Democrat said.
"The bills he sponsored were okay, but they weren't dynamic bills," Jensen said. "The guy is just sort of there. He's not very dynamic. I'm high energy."
Anderson - whose bills aided expansion of rural libraries, called for defibrillators in senior centers and created an advisory board in Pasco to oversee complaint-riddled water utilities - said such statements reflect a struggling candidate.
"I guess he's concerned he's way behind and has to resort to personal attacks," 72-year-old Anderson said. "I'm running on my record."
The men are vying to represent District 45, which stretches from Dunedin up the coastal areas of North Pinellas and into Pasco, covering most of Holiday and the eastern unincorporated areas of New Port Richey.
Jensen, 46, said he is more seasoned politically. After his defeat, he became president of the North Pinellas Democratic Club, then chairman of the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee, before stepping down to campaign.
He has more name recognition as a result and is better funded, though still lags behind Anderson, who has used television advertising.
The state Democratic Party has recognized the race as one of its more competitive against a Republican incumbent.
"I think it's going to be a lot closer than people think," said Steven Schale, spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party.
"I'm not at the point where I feel this will be an upset yet," Schale added. "But Kevin is doing everything he needs to do to win."
As in 2002, education is a main focus of his platform. Jensen said he wants to protect the Bright Futures scholarship program from budget cuts. He opposes expansion of private school vouchers and said teacher salaries need to be improved and class sizes decreased.
"I've got a child that is 2 and will be entering the public education system, so I've got an investment," said Jensen, who is a part-time teacher at St. Petersburg College.
He previously worked as an instructor for the American Red Cross and served as an education officer and spokesman for Palm Harbor Fire Rescue. He has also worked as an emergency technician for Med Fleet ambulance service in Pasco.
Jensen said he does not have specific legislation in mind if elected. Instead, he said, his first goal would be to land a good committee assignment so he can insert Democratic ideas into a Republican-dominated debate.
Among his specific criticism of Anderson, Jensen faults him for supporting extending term limits to 12 years from eight and noted that Anderson was quoted in the Times in June 2003 as saying he went along with the leadership on 50- and 60-page bills he didn't fully understand.
"Tom is not a bad guy," Jensen said. "But both as a legislator and mayor of Dunedin he voted to raise his own pay. If you are an elected official, you serve the public."
Anderson was twice elected to the Dunedin City Commission and three times elected mayor. He is a retired management consultant and had a 25-year career with the federal government.
Anderson questions Jensen's employment history, suggesting he has never held a job very long. "I think he's looking to get elected and this will be his job," Anderson said.
Responds Jensen: "I've just been really lucky with being able to have a lot of different jobs. It really gives me broad experience. I can relate to the woman crying in the back of the ambulance because she didn't have enough money to pay for her medicine."
Jensen drew the "accidental candidate" label from a St. Petersburg Times editorial, which endorsed Anderson in the 2002 contest, because he originally intended to become a campaign manager before deciding to run himself.
Longer term limits are a good idea, Anderson said, because it takes time for new lawmakers to get acclimated. "The first two years is quite a learning experience," he said. Referring to his statement about complicated 50-page bills, he said: "I'll stand by that. There are only so many hours in the day."
If re-elected, Anderson said he plans to introduce legislation that will allow the purchase of prescription drugs from Canada on a competitive basis and legislation that will give grandparents more rights in child welfare cases. He also said he will introduce a bill to place defibrillators in all state parks.
Anderson shares some of Jensen's views on education. He said he opposes expansion of private school vouchers and that private schools receiving state money should be held to the same standards as public schools.
His service in Tallahassee has led to his being named Florida Association of School Administrators' Legislator of the Year in 2004 for a bill allowing local governments, special districts and school districts to set their own per diem rate for travel. The rates have not been changed in 20 years. In 2003, he was Florida Library Association Legislator of the Year.
-- Times staff writer Melia Bowie contributed to this report.
