Second of two profiles of the leading Republican candidates for state Senate District 24 in Hillsborough County.
Lacking the money and the political juice of her primary opponent, state Rep. Rachel Burgin figures she has one advantage in her bid for state Senate: family.
"There are four generations of Burgins in Florida, and they all live in the district," the 29-year-old lawmaker says proudly.
The third of seven children -- all of whom live in the eastern Hillsborough County region -- the Thonotosasa-born Burgin feels right at home in the newly drawn Senate District 24.
Likening herself philosophically to the area's current senator, Ronda Storms, Burgin says she fits in well with the conservative blue-collar and agricultural roots of the region.
"I won't be on the inside part of [the Senate] game. And I'm OK with that," she said in an interview with Sunshine State News.
"The Tallahassee and Republican Party insiders have picked on the wrong side of a lot of races in my district," she notes, listing leadership's early support for then-Gov. Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate and its backing of then-Attorney General Bill McCollum over Rick Scott for governor.
"Eastern Hillsborough turned the tide at the grassroots. It changed the way politics was going," she said.
"If I'm on the wrong side of Tallahassee, I'm OK with it. My constituents are OK with it, too," said Burgin, who was first elected to the state House in 2008. She had not won elective office prior to that time.
With Storms leaving early to run for Hillsborough County property appraiser, SD 24 voters will have a distinct choice between Tom Lee, a former Senate president and consummate insider, and Burgin, who has yet to chair a major committee.
But Burgin is not apologetic about her relative inexperience.
"The last 30 years of politics haven't been any better," she says. "More of our young people -- ages 25 to 35-- are concerned about their jobs and their future.
"The politicians spent every last dime on new and unnecessary projects that set us up for deficits. We have had a significant decrease in revenue, and yet we're still spending billions. This has put us in the straits we're in today."
Burgin points to the GOP-controlled state Senate -- "where politics are more important than policy" -- as an epicenter of the problem, and she says Lee must shoulder some of the blame.
"He wasn't always the most conservative individual. He has some moderate-to-liberal tendencies. And he's been endorsed by some of the very people who have allowed conservatives to fail," she asserts.
Burgin, who calls herself "conservative to the core," cites the Senate's requirement for mandatory septic tank inspections as a stinky example of overregulation.
"It allowed for health inspectors to come on property anytime. It was the greatest government intrusion, and it took us four years to get it repealed.
On other issues -- ranging from privatized prisons to school choice initiatives that floundered this year -- Burgin concludes: "The Senate needs strong conservative voices who act in the best interests of constituents."
That said, Burgin acknowledges she previously supported the controversial $1.3 billion SunRail project for the Orlando area while staunchly opposing a transit tax for a rail venture in Hillsborough County. She considers it a geographic balancing act.
"My job is to protect eastern Hillsborough voters, to make sure they're not stuck paying for something they're never going to use," she reasons.
The first member of her family to graduate from college, Burgin attended Bob Jones University and Moody Bible College. The practicing Baptist says church groups will constitute a key base of support in a grassroots campaign that will be easily outspent by Lee.
A Susan B. Anthony Life Award recipient and a legislative leader in the fight against abortion, Burgin believes she is in tune with the socially conservative sensibilities of SD 24, which heavily overlaps her current House district.
"My base is hard-working and conservative, with the time and energy to help toward this election. We probably have more churches in eastern Hillsborough County than anyone else can claim."
The Riverview Republican's list of high-profile endorsements pales in comparison to Lee's. Her partial list of announced supporters includes fellow House members Mike Horner, Charlie Van Zant, Ben Albritton and Dan Davis. No senator has publicly backed her.
But for all of his monetary advantages, Lee's campaign cannot be considered a cakewalk in an era of voter discontent that borders on disgust.
Some Floridians may recall that Lee presided over passage of lobbying reforms that have yielded mixed results. More than a few good-government critics believe the "reforms" perversely opened the way to more palm-greasing, not less, at the Capitol.
Though Burgin is the one currently in office, she is paradoxically perceived as the outsider -- and definitely not one of the good ol' boys.
"Don't underestimate the women's connection," said a longtime Florida campaign observer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"When things are bad, people have a tendency to say, 'let's get a woman in here.' Compared to the image of 'corrupt guys,' she's the new face."
And, this campaign veteran added, "Going negative against a woman is never a good thing."
In any event, both Burgin and Lee have a lot of educating to do in such exurban burgs as Plant City, Seffner, Valrico, Mango and Dover.
After a morning of door-knocking in the district on Saturday, Burgin reported that only half the residents she spoke with even knew that Storms' seat was up for grabs.
But Burgin is undaunted. She's simply determined to expand her family circle.
Reach Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
