SECOND UPDATE: Rep. Ross Spano, R-Riverview, won a Florida House seat by the skin of his teeth in 2012, beating Democrat Gail Gottlieb, 51 percent to 49 percent, edging her by 1,051 votes -- and he has already drawn a Democratic opponent in 2014.
Attorney Ty Hinnant has said he filed to run against Spano as a Democrat on Monday -- and the Republican incumbent told Sunshine State News he was excited to have an opponent in 2014.
However, Democrats contacted Sunshine State News Wednesday afternoon insisting that Hinnant, despite filing to run as a Democrat, did not change his party affiliation in time and, therefore, will run with no party affiliation. They also told Sunshine State News that other Democratic candidates are looking at the race.
Some experts disagree, pointing to a statute in Florida law, which has "that the person has not been a registered member of any other political party for 365 days before the beginning of qualifying preceding the general election for which the person seeks to qualify." These sources say Hinnant was moving from no party affiliation to a Democrat and therefore was not a member of any other political party.
I was really energized by the fact that there was someone who filed, Spano said on Tuesday, noting that it gave him a chance to get his message out to residents in the district which contains parts of Hillsbrough County.
Spano pointed to recent news that unemployment in Florida dropped to 7.1 percent and said he planned to talk about what the Republicans in Tallahassee have done to grow the economy and create new jobs.
Were headed in the right direction, he said, noting that small businesses have been helped by the Republicans economic agenda in Tallahassee. A small-business owner himself, Spano said small businesses are the backbone of the districts economy. We have thriving small businesses, family owned businesses, he said.
Spano also pledged to reach out to voters across the district and let them know what he has done in the Legislature on other issues, including stopping human trafficking, expanding educational opportunities and helping students enter the workforce.
Asked if he feels better known in the district after the 2012 election and his first session in the Legislature, Spano pointed out that he was born in Hillsborough County but campaigning in it did allow him to connect more with voters. Still, he said his campaign planned to target certain parts of the district. I know the areas we need to focus on, he said.
Noting that he respects anyone who wants to enter public service, Spano said he welcomed the challenge from Hinnant, insisting it gives him a chance to share his vision of what needs to be done in Tallahassee. Were going to be aggressive in getting our message out, Spano told Sunshine State News.
For his part, Hinnant, an attorney based out of Brandon who has called the Tampa Bay area home for two decades, took aim at Spanos opposition to the expansion of Medicaid. After talking with Sunshine State News on Tuesday, Hinnant, whose father served 20 years in the Army and later served with the Pasco County sheriffs office, sent over a statement in which he said he would fight for job creation and expanding access to health care.
Ross Spanos vote against Medicaid expansion is simply unacceptable, Hinnant said in the statement. Rejecting the $51 billion over the next 10 years will leave millions of Floridians without access to health care. In addition, Medicaid expansion would provide a substantial amount of jobs for Floridians.
Spano and Hinnant will battle in a swing district. Democrats have a slight edge over Republicans here on paper: 38 percent to 37 percent. But as Spanos win over Gottlieb illustrates, Republicans can win here -- and the Democratic candidate was helped out in 2012 by Barack Obamas and Bill Nelsons strong showings in Hillsborough County. Rick Scott beat out Democrat Alex Sink by 2 percent here in the 2010 gubernatorial race.
Spano filed to run for a second term on Jan. 24. Between then and the start of the legislative session in early March, Spano raised $11,350 and kept it all in the bank. Reports for the second quarter will be released in early July after the deadline at the end of June.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at 904-521-3722.
