News

2006 Know Your Candidates

Incumbent touts experience; challenger cites idealism

State House of Representatives: District 62

By MICHAEL A. MOHAMMED
Published October 25, 2006

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Incumbent Rich Glorioso has a decorated military career and experience on the Plant City Commission, the county Metropolitan Planning Organization and the county Public Transportation Commission, not to mention two years in Tallahassee and a hefty campaign fund of close to $100,000.

Young challenger Jeremy Zelanes has idealism, the conviction that he can rally the district's younger voters to his cause and the willingness to do a lot of walking.

It looks like it might be a tough race for the 25-year-old, but he thinks his lack of special-interest ties will help him. Fashioning himself as a working-class politician, Zelanes says that Glorioso's campaign contributions and record show that he supports business over the working man.

Zelanes cited the incumbent's nearly last-place AFL-CIO rating among Florida House members.

The state Association of Builders and Contractors, Florida Chamber of Commerce and Christian Coalition have given Glorioso a 100 percent rating two years in a row, according to Project Vote Smart, an electoral Web site.

Glorioso cites experience and "proven leadership" as his major strengths.

"I was trained in problem solving, and one thing that I see in government is that we treat symptoms but don't really get to the root cause of the problem," he said.

He cited as an example a bill he sponsored that was signed into law as part of a different bill to better support foster-care children when they turn 18. Glorioso said this will help ensure that more at-risk teens end up in stable jobs rather than in drugs or crime.

Glorioso also cited his experience with the Public Transportation Commission.

"We need to do a better job of regional planning and operation," said Glorioso, and added that he had helped put together a transportation bill that would have reorganized Metropolitan Planning Organizations to allow for better statewide regional transportation planning, but it was not passed by the end of the last session.

Zelanes, too, cited transportation as one of his top three concerns and said he would explore a partnership with CSX to use existing rails for a commuter rail linking Tampa with surrounding counties and St. Petersburg - an idea recently touted by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

Despite their many differences, Glorioso said he and Zelanes have a much more cordial relationship than in his "nasty" 2004 race against fellow Republicans Josh Burgin and Arlene Waldron.

"I swore I would find another way of (running a campaign)," Glorioso said. "I've got too many positives going for me to go negative."

For his part, Zelanes says he will make up for his slim campaign funds with plenty of door-to-door canvassing.

"Walking doesn't cost money, (and it) is actually great exercise," he said.

THE CANDIDATES

Republican

Rich Glorioso, 60, is a retired Air Force colonel who moved to Plant City 12 years ago. He has served one term as state senator after serving two terms on the Plant City Commission. He was appointed to the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization, which he has chaired for five years, and the Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission. Raised in Danbury, Conn., Glorioso earned a bachelor's in mathematics from Northeastern University in Boston and has a master's in human resource management from Central Michigan University. He is a member of the American Legion and other veterans groups. He and his wife, Judy, have two grown sons and five grandchildren. Assets: Home, condos, stock investments. Liabilities: Mortgage. Sources of income: Military recruitment, military pension, investments, rental property. Web site: www.richglorioso.com.

Democrat

Jeremy Zelanes, 25, works in sales marketing and grew up in Winter Park, an Orlando suburb. He moved to Tampa four years ago and married Tammy, an English teacher at Bloomingdale High School in Brandon, in October 2005. Zelanes earned a two-year degree in liberal arts from Hillsborough Community College. He has no children. Assets: House. Liabilities: Car loan. Source of income: Sales marketing. Web site: www.zelanes2006.com.

THE JOB

State representative, District 62

State House District 62 covers the northeastern corner of Hillsborough County, including Plant City and Valrico. It includes a small piece of Pasco County (see map, Page 9). Representatives serve two-year terms and earn $29,916 a year.

 

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 15:10:33]