The race to replace former Rep. Mike Fasano in the Florida House is starting to take shape, with three candidates filing last week to enter the race to represent parts of Pasco County while a fourth won the backing of the House Republican leadership. Fasano was appointed Pasco County tax collector by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this month.
Insurance agent Jeromy Keith Harding, a political newcomer, filed his paperwork at the end of last week to run for the seat as a Republican.
And Jim Mathieu, who served as Port Richey city attorney and interim city manager, also filed to run for the Republican nomination, joining Bill Gunter, the pastor of Redeemer Community Church in New Port Richey, in the Sept. 17 primary. Mathieu,who ran against Fasano in 2012 and is the chairman of the Pasco County GOP, spoke to Sunshine State News this week about his campaign.
Having been active in Pasco County for years and being active in Philadelphia as a ward leader before moving to Florida, Mathieu pointed to his political and legal backgrounds as reasons why he would do well in Tallahassee. Ive been giving advice on legislation to state legislators for years, he said.
Mathieu, who has been active with leading a charter school in Pasco County, stressed his expertise and experience would help him if he was elected. We need to be more careful with our legislation, he said. We dont need 300 new bills a year.
Mathieu took aim at Gunter as an unknown quantity with no political experience.
Hes not been around, Mathieu said of Gunter. We dont know who he is.
Noting Gunter was getting the backing of House leadership, Mathieu said they didnt want another maverick like his old rival Fasano. Insisting he was a conservative, Mathieu said he had no problem with breaking with the House leadership when needed and said Pasco County would be happy with a maverick legislator.
Gunter, who played with the Florida Gator football team, has been active in winning the backing of prominent Republicans including Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and getting the endorsement of Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and the three legislators in line to take over as House speaker.
Bill is the type of leader we need in Tallahassee to continue the fight to strengthen our economy, reduce unemployment, and make sure that the needs of Pasco County are well-represented, Weatherford, a favorite son of Pasco County, said on Tuesday when he endorsed Gunter. I know Bill will carry on the tradition of selfless service that this community has received.
Gunter also won the backing of Incoming Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Trinity, a Pasco County legislator who is scheduled to take over as House speaker after the 2016 elections. Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Hialeah, who is penciled in to become House speaker after the 2018 elections, also endorsed Gunter.
Sunshine State News left a message for the Gunter campaign on Friday but it was not returned.
Whoever emerges with the Republican nomination will face opposition in the general election on Oct. 15. Army veteran Richard Thomas Sikes filed his paperwork to run for the seat with no party affiliation on Friday.
Sikes, who served in Iraq and has called Pasco County home for more than 20 years, currently works to help the disabled. I try to help people with disabilities go back to work and go back to school, he told Sunshine State News.
Having become increasingly involved in politics in recent years, Sikes called himself a middle-of-the-road person who would help small-business growth and protect the environment.
Sikes stressed his commitment to the area and constituent services. I want to serve the people of my community, he told Sunshine State News. Whichever issues they have, I want to fight for them in Tallahassee.
There are no Democrats in the race yet, though this could be a competitive general election if one emerges. Alice Delgardo, who ran for county school superintendent, had been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate.
While they did not run a candidate to take on Fasano for an open seat in 2012, Democrats have a slight edge in the district with 39 percent of voters belonging to that party while 35 percent are Republicans. Rick Scott edged out Alex Sink by 1 percent here in 2010.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
