2006 Know Your Candidates

Elder candidate makes issue of rival's age

State House of Representatives: District 44

By ASJYLYN LODER
Published October 25, 2006

"A race between a boy and man," is what Democrat Glenn Claytor, 70, calls his run against Republican Rob Schenck, 31, for Florida's 44th District legislative seat. "It isn't just the age disparity," Claytor said. "It's life experience."

Schenck responded: "If he wants to characterize it that way, he is 40 years older than I am."

Claytor, a semiretired lawyer, planner and developer, said he has the experience to serve the public well in Tallahassee. Schenck, a former schoolteacher, retorts that he's the only one who has held elected office.

Claytor said he understands regional planning, has run a successful business, and has worked with the public and private sector.s Schenck, Claytor said, has never held a job in the private sector.

Schenck, a former county commissioner, most recently worked part time as a physician liaison for a St. Petersburg insurance company. He began the job "early this year," but is on a leave of absence, Schenck said.

Schenck was elected to the County Commission in 2002. He quit the post in July to focus on the legislative race. Before winning election, he taught at Central High School for three years and later taught social studies to homebound students.

"As far as experience goes," Schenck said, "I feel like I have the most pertinent experience, being an elected official already, representing the people of Hernando County."

Beyond their age and experience, they also have very different views on property insurance, taxes, growth and education.

Schenck wants the state to help reinsurers. Claytor said state-supported reinsurance has already failed.

Claytor thinks the state's education policy relies too heavily on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Schenck thinks the test increased school accountability.

THE CANDIDATES

Republican

Robert C. Schenck, 31, is a former schoolteacher and Hernando County commissioner. He resigned in July to focus on his bid to replace outgoing state Rep. Dave Russell. (Russell is, in turn, running for Schenck's old commission seat.) In his first bid for public office, Schenck unseated incumbent Commissioner Chris Kingsley in 2002. He graduated from Central High School in 1993, and earned a bachelor's degree in 1998 from the University of Central Florida. He is on the board of directors of the Spring Hill YMCA, and the Gulf Ridge Executive Council of the Boy Scouts of American. He is married and lives in Spring Hill with his wife, Megan, and their two children. Assets: Home, other property, savings. Liabilities: Car loans, student loans, mortgage. Source of income: Schenck is taking a leave of absence from a part-time job as a physician liaison for Freedom Health Inc. in St. Petersburg.

Democrat

Glenn Claytor, 70, is a semiretired developer and planner. He is a former housing director for the national Urban League and for a regional planning council covering parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. He ran construction and electrical companies before opening a law practice. Born in Washington, D.C., he lived in New York state and Chicago before moving to Florida in 1999. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He is a member of the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce, treasurer of the county Democratic Executive Committee, and a board member for both the county Habitat for Humanity and the Charlette Murin Foundation. He and his wife, Dolores, live in Timber Pines. He has an adult son from a prior marriage, and two grown stepchildren. Assets: House, cars, retirement savings. Liabilities: Mortgage, car loan, credit cards. Sources of income: Retirement savings, consulting work.

THE JOB

State representative, District 44

State House District 44 includes most of Hernando, southwest Sumter and part of north-central Pasco counties. Representatives serve two years. The job pays $30,996 a year.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 15:35:17]