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For State House

The Times recommends these candidates in the State House primaries.

District 44 

Robert Schenck, Republicans

Robert Schenck, the anointed Republican Party favorite, is better prepared than Steve Mattingly in the Republican primary for House District 44, which includes parts of Hernando, Pasco, Lake and Sumter counties. The seat is now held by Republican David Russell of Brooksville.

Only Schenck has experience as a former Hernando County commissioner. That helps him to understand the role of a legislator better than Mattingly, whose efforts are heartfelt but fall short of absorbing the intricacies of serving in the Legislature.

Schenck, 31, promises to be a staunch supporter of less government and lower taxes. His solutions for solving Florida's most pressing problems, particularly better land-use planning and rising insurance costs, are short on specifics.

Still, Schenck's imprecise vision is clearer than the pitch from Mattingly, a 61-year-old recent convert to the GOP. While he is a good listener, an AARP volunteer and advocate for the downtrodden, he does not have a firm handle on what his role would be as a lawmaker.

While Schenck's platform lacks depth and fervor, he is the more well-rounded candidate in this race. In the District 44 Republican primary, the Times recommends Robert Schenck.

District 59

Betty Reed, Democrats

Warren Dawson, 66, made his name in this community as a civil rights attorney who gave blacks greater access to schools, the courts and social institutions. For much of her life, Betty Reed, 65, has done the same thing, though at street level where the effects of discrimination often are rawer. Both are strong candidates, but Reed distinguishes herself with a clearer agenda, more relevant community experience and ties to local officials that would make her more effective at improving east Tampa.

Reed has worked since the 1970s on a range of civic efforts long important to the district, from improving education and creating jobs to fighting crime and substance abuse. She and Dawson agree on most issues. Both would spend more on education, want an independent judiciary and are noncommittal about ways to make the tax system fairer and property insurance more affordable. But Reed is more out front on bread-and-butter issues. Her focus on expanding state support for health care and affordable housing addresses two major barriers in the district to overcoming poverty. Reed's strong community ties also will be an asset.

Dawson says the job would fulfill an ambition he has had since losing previous legislative bids dating to the 1970s. His leadership and service to the community are undeniable, but the issue for voters is more practical. Reed's greater sense of purpose and urgency make her better suited to deliver. Businessman Hakim Aquil, 57, also is seeking the nomination, but his agenda is weak.

In the District 59 Democratic primary, the Times recommends Betty Reed.

State House, District 50

Ed Hooper, Republicans

Two Clearwater Republicans want to represent state House District 50, which stretches from Tampa Bay across mid Pinellas to the Gulf of Mexico.

Ed Hooper, 59, a retired firefighter and former Clearwater commissioner, manages construction projects for builders and property owners. Nancy Riley, 58, is a Realtor and president-elect of the Florida Association of Realtors, but she says she will not become president of the association if she wins the primary.

Riley has substantial support from Florida real estate agents and organizations, and she touts her Tallahassee experience representing the Realtor association. She easily addresses property and insurance issues.

However, we like Hooper's understated, common-sense approach, his broad base of local support and his long record of public service, including 28 years as a firefighter, five years as a city commissioner and work with the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project and the Pinellas Assembly.

Hooper wants the FCAT modified and teacher pay increased at least to national averages, promotes collection of sales tax on Internet and mail-order sales and supports one-time portability of the Save Our Homes cap. On the property insurance crisis, he suggests capping the exposure of private insurers, who then might return to the state.

In the House District 50 Republican primary, the Times recommends Ed Hooper.

State House, District 52

Bill Heller, Democrats

Not many first-time candidates could jump into a race late against an experienced campaigner and expect to draw exuberant support, but Bill Heller has in the House District 52 Democratic primary. Attribute his fast start to years of local civic involvement.

Heller's opponent, Liz McCallum, is a political consultant who ran for this seat two years ago against incumbent Rep. Frank Farkas and made a strong showing. She has essentially campaigned for the job ever since, but she should have spent more time developing substantive positions on the issues.

McCallum, 37, described her political style this way: "I listen to what the voters ask us to do for them and you go to Tallahassee and do their work." If voters knew how to solve the homeowners insurance crisis or the lack of fairness in property taxation, they would have done it.

While Heller may not always provide detailed answers, he has a long history of solving seemingly intractable problems through collaboration. As dean of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, he helped oversee that campus' move toward independence. He headed a citizens group that successfully promoted a tax referendum to give Pinellas County teachers pay raises; chairs Bayfront Medical Center's board of trustees; led the effort to save Sunken Gardens; and is president of Great Explorations children's museum.

Heller, 70, gained his knowledge of the political process the old-fashioned way - he earned it. In the Democratic primary for House District 52, the Times recommends Bill Heller.

State House, District 48

Peter Nehr, Republicans

Four Republicans are facing off in the crowded Republican primary in state House District 48, which covers northeast Pinellas County and a sliver of Pasco. While all have been involved in their communities, Peter Nehr's energy, independence, experience in elective office and organizational skills give him the edge.

Nehr, a two-term Tarpon Springs city commissioner and flag merchant, researched issues and maintained his political independence. He wants a better education for Florida's children, more money for teacher salaries, lower medical malpractice premiums and full funding of the state affordable housing trust fund. He favors portability of the Save Our Homes tax cap. The state's property insurance crisis is too complex for pat answers, he says, but he wants to explore creating a federal catastrophe fund, offering homeowners varied deductibles to make insurance more affordable, and providing more low-interest loans for retrofitting homes.

Robin Borland, 39, a former Safety Harbor commissioner, is not conversant on state issues. Ken Peluso, 49, a Palm Harbor chiropractor and fire commissioner, has an impressive record of community work but needs more exposure to state issues. Brian Flaherty, 47, is a Palm Harbor electrical contractor active in Republican Party politics.

In the District 48 Republican primary, the Times recommends Peter Nehr.

State House, District 51

Dottie Reeder, Republicans

The bottom line in this race is public service experience. One candidate has it and the other doesn't. First elected in 1990, Dottie Reeder has served 17 years as a council member and mayor of Seminole. Her opponent, Bruce C. Cotton, has worked behind the scenes as a legislative assistant but is seeking his first elective office. While experience isn't the deciding factor in every election, it should be in this one. Both candidates are weak on pressing issues, but at least Reeder previously showed she can rise to the challenge.

Both candidates acknowledge that affordability of hurricane insurance is at the top of voter worries, yet neither offers particularly good ideas. Reeder, 57, at least admits the answer won't be painless and lawmakers will "be hung out to dry" if they don't address it. Cotton, 43, an aide to outgoing District 51 Rep. Leslie Waters, wavers on this and other complex issues. He would put tax dollars spent on state-backed insurer Citizens into low-cost loans to insurance companies, add millions to the state catastrophe fund and cover all wind losses above $100,000. Sounds like a formula for bankrupting the state treasury.

Cotton's justification for continuing to cut taxes in the face of rising state needs: "I'm trying to be a good Republican." What's needed by the residents of District 51 - areas of Largo, Seminole, St. Petersburg and South Pasadena - is a good problem solver. Reeder has shown that quality in her lengthy public service.

In the Republican primary for House District 51, the Times recommends Dottie Reeder.

State House, District 53

Rick Kriseman, Democrats

Rick Kriseman, first elected to the St. Petersburg City Council in 2001, was expected to be unopposed in the Democratic primary and a heavy favorite to succeed Rep. Charlie Justice in House District 53. Then the local Democratic Party inexplicably recruited a primary challenger to Kriseman, Charlie Gerdes.

Gerdes, 49, has proved to be an energetic first-time candidate who insists he intended to run before he heard from party officials. It's too bad he wasn't more involved in the community before jumping into a legislative race. He shows good political instincts, and should he fail this time he would be an attractive future candidate. Gerdes has apparently staked his chances primarily on one gambit - his legal representation of a homeowners' group unhappy with a city rezoning in the Tyrone area, which is within District 53 that includes west St. Petersburg and parts of Pinellas Park, Gulfport and Lealman.

That issue is too narrow to ride to victory. Whatever his position on the unsettled zoning matter, Kriseman, also a lawyer, has proved his mettle on a variety of tough choices. His low-key style belies a passion for good government. Kriseman, 44, favors taking the politics out of legislative redistricting, bringing fairness to taxation and finding a fix for the homeowners insurance crisis that ultimately involves an effective private market rather than state-run Citizens.

Residents know what they're getting in Kriseman, a solid public servant. In the House District 53 Democratic primary, the Times recommends Rick Kriseman.

State House, District 52

Angelo Cappelli, Republicans

Voters might expect Angelo Cappelli to have substantive answers to complex financial problems. The St. Petersburg native has an impressive educational background, including an economics degree from Yale University, and extensive work experience in finance. Cappelli, 36, doesn't disappoint.

A bank trust officer, he understands that relief from skyrocketing hurricane insurance premiums will be found in a revitalized private market, and that state government has a key role in ensuring it happens. He favors beefing up the state's catastrophe fund and using it to offer affordable reinsurance to companies that agree to take on more and riskier policies.

As a first-time candidate, Cappelli shows unusual poise. He prides himself on giving intellectually honest answers. His list of community service is long and impressive, including a variety of nonprofit boards from St. Anthony's Hospital to the Police Athletic League.

His primary opponent, Ross Johnson, 53, fails to display a proficiency on complex state issues. A semi-retired real estate consultant, Johnson is an exuberant campaigner, claiming to have knocked on more than 4,500 doors in the district, which encompasses northeastern St. Petersburg and a small part of Largo. He should have chosen a less ambitious challenge for his first political foray.

Cappelli's quiet confidence and prior experience in other candidates' campaigns make him the clear choice. In the District 52 Republican primary, the Times recommends Angelo Cappelli.

State House, District 54

James Frishe, Republicans

Former state Rep. James Frishe wants to return to Tallahassee and is the strongest candidate in a weak field for House District 54, which runs along the beach and island communities from Clearwater to Fort De Soto, including Tierra Verde.

Frishe, 57, an affordable housing consultant who lives near South Pasadena, served in the state House from 1984 to 1990. Republicans were in the minority back then, but Frishe was not effective even within his own party.

At least Frishe, 57, is a known quantity, speaks knowledgeably now about major state issues, and is burning shoe leather in a door-to-door appeal to the voters of his district.

One of Frishe's opponents, UPS driver David Vecchio, has been a no-show. Another, 60-year-old Michael Petruccelli of Indian Shores, sells insurance and real estate and is impressive when discussing the state's insurance problems. But his grasp of other issues is weak.

The presumed front-runner, judging by campaign contributions, is Rod Jones, a 41-year-old chiropractor and triathlete from Redington Shores who has never held public office and has a thin record of local civic involvement. Jones is the son of state Sen. Dennis Jones, and he has used his father's influence and connections to fatten his campaign account. While Jones has a sense of entitlement, he has only the most general grasp of the issues.

In a particularly weak field for the District 54 Republican primary, the Times recommends James Frishe.

[Last modified August 20, 2006, 06:25:59]