2006 Know Your Candidates

Mayor, former colleague clash over insurance

State House of Representatives: District 51

By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer
Published October 25, 2006

For years, Democrat Janet Long and Republican Dottie Reeder served together on the Seminole City Council, Reeder as mayor and Long as a council member.

Now they're running against each other for state House District 51. Reeder is still the mayor, but has resigned effective Election Day. Long declined to run for re-election in March to concentrate on the House race.

Both say their government experience will benefit the residents of District 51.

Long's experience lies not only in the municipal setting but as a former legislative aide and deputy for the Department of Insurance.

Reeder has spent 17 years in local government, which gives her an understanding of "how legislative actions affect local businesses, neighborhoods and families," she said.

Both see insurance as a major issue, but they have very different views of the solution.

Reeder said she would eliminate Citizens and use the money for reinsurance. "Part of the problem the insurance companies are having is that they cannot get reinsurance," Reeder said.

"If the state would provide reinsurance, there would be more of a chance for the insurance companies to sell insurance to homeowners at a more reasonable cost through competition."

Long agrees that Citizens is broken. She wants to expand the risk pool and place a $200,000 cap on claims that private insurers would have to pay. The state or another fund could take over the amount above that cap.

"If the private market knew that there was a cap on claims ... the private market would come back," Long said.

THE CANDIDATES

Democrat

Janet Long, 61, was born in West Stewartstown, N.H. She is a graduate of Fryeburg Academy in Maine and attended Nasson College in Springfield, Maine, and Eckerd College. She is director of advancement and communication at Clearwater Central Catholic High School. She served as a deputy insurance commissioner with the Florida Department of Insurance from 1987 to 1998. She is a former member of the Seminole City Council. She is a member of the Tiger Bay Club and the Seminole Chamber of Commerce. She is a past president of the Quail Ridge Homeowners Association and a past member of the board of directors of the National League of Cities. She is married and has three children and two grandchildren. Assets: House, car. Liabilities: Mortgage. Source of income: Salary. Web site: janetlong2006.com.

Republican

Dottie Reeder, 57, was born in Columbia, S.C. She moved to Seminole in 1963. She is a graduate of Seminole High School. She earned a degree in business administration from Tampa College. She is a health and welfare coordinator for Baycare Health System. She has been mayor of Seminole for 11 years. She is past president of the Florida League of Cities, former president of the Pinellas Council of Mayors and the Suncoast League of Cities. She is a member of the Seminole Chamber of Commerce and the Seminole Historical Society. She is married with two daughters and four grandchildren. Assets: Home, cars, retirement account, 401(k). Liabilities: Mortgage, credit cards. Sources of income: Salary from Baycare and from the city of Seminole. Web site: www.dottiereeder.org.

THE JOB

State representative, District 51

District 51 includes Seminole, portions of Pinellas Park, Largo, South Pasadena and the west Lealman area (see map, Page22). Representatives serve two-year terms and earn $30,996 per year.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 14:42:07]