On Wednesday, Democrat Amanda Murphy announced she was running in the special election for the open Florida House seat previously held by Mike Fasano. Murphy joins three Republicans and a candidate running with no party affiliation in the special election which will be held in October.
I am excited for the road ahead, said Murphy, currently serving as vice president of investments for Raymond James. The residents of West Pasco deserve a representative who will not fall in line with special interests.
Murphy had kind words for Fasano despite the fact that he is a Republican. Despite serving as House GOP leader and Senate president pro tempore, in recent years, Fasano has often clashed with the Republican leadership in Tallahassee. Last month, Gov. Rick Scott appointed Fasano, who represented the area for almost two decades in Tallahassee, to serve as Pasco County tax collector.
Representative Fasano fought for what was right for this district, Murphy said. I thank him for his dedication to Pasco families and I look to continue that tradition of service.
When elected I plan on focusing on the needs of my district, added Murphy. I will focus on eliminating road blocks to economic success for many of our Pasco families, such as repealing the nuclear recovery fee that exploits the wallets of Pasco families and taxpayers.
There had been speculation that Alice Delgardo, who ran for county school superintendent, could enter the Democratic race but it appears the partys leadership is all in behind Murphy.
Incoming House Democratic Leader Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, announced on Wednesday that he was backing Murphy and also praised Fasano.
Amanda is the right person to continue Mike Fasanos legacy in representing this district, Rouson said. She is an advocate who will fight tooth and nail to protect Pasco families and taxpayers.
There are currently three candidates running for the Republican nomination: pastor Bill Gunter, insurance agent Jeromy Keith Harding and Pasco Gounty GOP Chairman Jim Mathieu, who served as Port Richey city attorney and interim city manager. They will meet in the Sept. 17 primary.
Whoever emerges with the Democratic and Republican nominations will face Army veteran Richard Thomas Sikes -- who served in Iraq and has called Pasco County home for more than 20 years and currently works to help the disabled -- in the general election on Oct. 15. Sikes filed his paperwork to run for the seat with no party affiliation at the end of last week.
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.
