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Politics

Nehr enters the House by a hair

In the amicable state House District 48 race, less than 1,500 votes separate the two candidates.

By Tamara El-Khoury
Published November 9, 2006

Republican Peter Nehr barely won the seat for state House District 48 Tuesday night after a fight from Democrat Carl Zimmermann.

The race had been too close to call when the Times went to press.

Eventually, Zimmermann spoke with Nehr.

"Well, you beat me you son of a gun," Zimmermann, a high school teacher, said he told Nehr.

Nehr, a Tarpon Springs city commissioner, won with 51.6 percent of the votes. Less than 1,500 votes separated the two candidates.

Both men said they were pleased that the race didn't turn nasty like so many other local elections. Nehr said he anticipated a close race because of the nationwide backlash against Republicans.

"There were just people saying, 'We like who you are, we like your issues. But we are going to vote Democrat just to show everyone that we are sick and tired of what's happening,' " Nehr said.

In another political climate, Nehr would have been expected to win by a much larger margin.

A sitting city commissioner, Nehr had stronger name recognition than Zimmermann, who has never held elected office and did not face an opponent in the primary.

The district is considered a Republican stronghold, and dollar-wise, Nehr raised $280,000 to just $35,000 for Zimmermann.

Darryl Paulson, a government professor at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, said last week that the race wasn't going to be close.

"Zimmermann benefited obviously from the political climate," Paulson said Wednesday. "Plus, he also benefited from running a very good campaign."

Nehr may have also been hurt by the hard fought and, at times, nasty Republican primary race.

"Anytime you have a messy decisive primary it takes some time to heal those political wounds," Paulson said.

Nehr said he is exhausted but elated and ready to tackle the issues: taxes, insurance and education. He said he will represent all people, regardless of their party affiliation.

Although the tallied votes didn't come out in his favor, Zimmermann said it felt good to end the election knowing it remained positive.

He hasn't ruled out running for office again, but said he can't think about that right now.

"I just feel so at ease and relaxed to not have 400 things to have to do before I go to sleep tonight," Zimmermann said.

Tamara El-Khoury can be reached at 727 445-4181 or at tel-khoury@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 9, 2006, 05:47:58]