After stepping aside for House Speaker Pro Tempore Marti Coley, R-Marianna, in 2012, former Rep. Brad Drake is looking to return to the Florida House to represent all of Holmes, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties and parts of Bay County.
First elected to the Florida House in 2008, Drake went on to win a second term in 2010 before winding up in the same district as Coley after redistricting in early 2012. But while he did not run in 2012, Drake kept his campaign intact and shifted it to 2014.
Asked by Sunshine State News Tuesday if he had any regrets about stepping aside for Coley, Drake said, Absolutely not.
Pointing to Coleys role in the House leadership, Drake said things worked out for the best for all parties concerned.
It was better for our area and for our constituents for someone with greater seniority in the House, Drake said. He praised Coley for being an outstanding representative for Northwest Florida.
Turning to 2014, Drake said he would campaign on his record in Tallahassee and push for more infrastructure. I will continue to build up our infrastructure -- water, utilities, transportation. Drake said this would help spur economic development and create new jobs in the region.
Drake said he has started working the grassroots as he looks to return to the Florida House, noting he has been knocking on doors and attending various meetings as he looks to reintroduce himself to voters. I want to continue to spend time in Northwest Florida and visit people who live in Gods country, he said.
Standing in Drakes way is Karen Barbara Schoen who is running as a Libertarian. Speaking with Sunshine State News on Tuesday, Schoen said she was running due to her frustrations in her previous dealings with the Legislature. Noting she had testified in meetings over the last three years, Schoen said she was unhappy with the way legislators treated Floridians and put special interests ahead of the people.
A retired teacher who has owned two businesses, Schoen has been active in speaking at the state and national levels on public affairs. She is a leader of Americans Against Agenda 21 (AgEnders) and hosts American Freedom Watch Radio.
Schoen said she was very disappointed that the Legislature has not passed a law insisting American laws retain primacy over sharia law, the Islamic moral and religious code.
We have to protect Americans, Schoen said. This is our country, this is our state.
Schoen also took aim at state regulations, arguing that they have hurt economic development in Northwest Florida, hurting farmers and businesses across the region. She also called for the Legislature to focus more on private property rights.
We are losing our private property to fraud, she said. But this is not being addressed by the Legislature.
Noting her background as a teacher, Schoen said Floridas schools need major reforms. Pointing to the recent performance by Rachel Jeantel in the George Zimmerman trial, Schoen said that witness admitted several times that she had educational limits including not being able to read cursive. This is a disgrace but not a disgrace on her, Schoen said. We failed her.
As she meets people across the district, Schoen told Sunshine State News voters are open to voting for a Libertarian. Both parties are lying to the people, she said. I believe the Libertarians are able to take the best from both parties, she added, by using the Constitution as a base. Schoen said she is planning a grassroots campaign and will soon be launching a website.
Im asking for a chance, a two-year chance for something, Schoen said, promising voters would not find her to be the same old, same old.
Drake has a solid war chest built up as he moved his aborted 2012 campaign into the 2014 election with around $48,300 on hand at the end of June. Schoen entered the race earlier this month and will not be required to file a financial report with the state until the end of the third quarter.
While Democrats make up 47 percent of registered voters in the district, 41 percent are with the GOP -- this is a traditionally strong Republican district. Rick Scott took 62 percent of the vote here in 2010 while Democrat Alex Sink pulled 33 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at 904-521-3722.
