As he looks for to win a fourth and final term in the Florida House, Rep. John Wood, R-Winter Haven, faces a familiar opponent in the Republican primaries in 2014 in John Lindsey. Wood took 65 percent of the vote in the 2012 primary while 35 percent of the Republican voters in the Polk County district backed Lindsey.
Speaking to Sunshine State News on Monday, Wood, the chairman of the House Health Innovation Subcommittee, said he was not a career politician and would stress his record in Tallahassee in next years elections.
Im just going to continue the record Ive established as a fiscal conservative and a limited government advocate, Wood said. Ill keep doing what Ive been doing.
Wood said the two-year window between elections helped ensure he was closer to voters in the district. The campaign is a reflection of my record and whether I should continue to represent my constituents.
Looking at his record in Tallahassee, Wood said he has focused on health and human service issues and reforming property insurance. Wood said he was proud to be part of the team which has fought for economic growth across Florida, adding that Republican policies in Tallahassee were starting to bear fruit. Youre starting to see the results with job creation, Wood told Sunshine State News.
Despite losing to Wood in 2012 and taking 31 percent against Dennis Ross in 2010 when they battled for the Republican nomination for an open congressional seat, Lindsey is running again in 2014.
Lindsey told Sunshine State News on Monday that he thought Wood is more about symbolism instead of substance.
Ive gone back and looked at Representative Woods record and hes trying to be more like me, the tea party activist told Sunshine State News on Monday. Woods legislation does not help the people of the state.
Lindsey took Wood to task on some issues, including focusing too much on legislation creating real estate forms and doing little about standing up against the expansion of Medicaid mandated by the federal health care law.
Looking back on his two defeats to Wood and Ross, Lindsey said things would be different in 2014. I havent focused on fundraising, he admitted about his past campaigns. I will do a better job on fundraising.
Lindsey said he has already targeted likely Republican primary voters and is planning to reach out to them with direct mail and other communications.
During the second quarter of 2013, Wood raised $3,750 and spent around $52, leaving around $35,900 in the bank. By law, Wood could not raise funds in April and early May when the Legislature was in session. Since entering the race on April 19, Lindsey has raised almost $2,300 and spent around $900.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at 904-521-3722
