Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Politics

Castor tops GOP opponent

By MICHAEL VAN SICKLER
Published November 8, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Melissa Lyttle] Kathy Castor celebrates her own win – at fellow Democrat Alex Sink's victory party.

TAMPA - The congressional seat Jim Davis left to run for governor remained under Democratic control Tuesday, as Kathy Castor defeated Republican Eddie Adams Jr.

"I'm looking forward to fighting for ethics reform on a federal level," said Castor, who had a commanding lead Tuesday night. "A change in course is needed in Washington. It's time."

Castor, 40, said she will be an outspoken member of Congress who will push for a rapid withdrawal from Iraq and a redeployment of troops in Afghanistan.

She said she'll push for tighter lobbying rules, as she did as a Hillsborough County commissioner, and investigations into wartime spending.

Even if this had been a year when Republicans swept, it would have been difficult to deny Castor.

Democrats enjoy a 2-1 edge over Republicans in District 11, which stretches 50 miles across the coastal and urban neighborhoods of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties.

Democrat Sam Gibbons held onto the seat for 34 years before Davis replaced him in 1996.

The campaign trail was a harsh one for Adams, a Temple Terrace architect. He was sidelined for three weeks in October because of a ruptured appendix.

Meanwhile, Adams' campaign fund of $24,773 was a fraction of the $1,285,607 Castor raised.

Such physical and financial liabilities made it difficult for Adams to overcome Castor's name recognition.

Castor is the daughter of Betty Castor, a former University of South Florida president who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004.

A former land use attorney, Kathy Castor has served as a county commissioner since 2002.

Adams hoped to appeal to voters outside of Hillsborough County.

"Nobody in Manatee or Pinellas knows who Kathy Castor or her mom are," said Adams, 53, on Tuesday afternoon.

But Castor drew strong support from those counties as well.

Michael Van Sickler can be reached at mvansickler@sptimes.com or 813 226-3402.

[Last modified November 8, 2006, 03:11:39]