With Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, term-limited and running an underdog campaign for the Republican state CFO nomination, a battle is developing to replace him in the 26th District House seat with serious candidates from both parties in the mix.
Four candidates have emerged in the district, which stretches across Flagler and Volusia Counties, west of Daytona Beach. The district includes Lake Helen, Orange City, De Leon Springs and parts of DeLand.
Ormond Beach Mayor Fred Costello, a native Floridian who served on the City Commission before being elected to his present post, is leading the field for the Republican nomination. Costello faces challenges from former police officer Vince Champion and decorated veteran Nathan McDonell for the Republican nod.
At the end of March, which marked the end of the first quarter fund-raising deadline, Costello reeled in more than $97,000 for his campaign, as well as bringing in a loan of $1,000 and more than $5,000 through in-kind donations. The Costello campaign has already spent more than $41,000.
Costello is focusing on economic issues, including tax reform, in his campaign. The Costello campaign also stresses its candidates record as mayor of Ormond Beach, highlighting his role in maintaining the budget and refurbishing infrastructure while keeping the city one of the lowest taxed in the county.
Whoever emerges from the Republican pack will face a serious threat from the Democratic candidate -- Timothy Huth, the deputy superintendent for operations and governmental affairs for the Volusia County School District.
Asked on Monday what he was hearing from voters in the district, Huth said, The economy and maintaining and growing jobs. Thats the consistent message that has been communicated to me by the individuals of the 26th.
Huth said his campaign was being shaped by his longstanding ties to the community due to his lengthy career in education, in which he has served as a teacher, a coach and a middle school principal. Ive had 36 years in this area of working with communities through education, he said, adding that his campaign is being bolstered by former students and their families.
Huth said his current position, which requires him to understand policy in Tallahassee and report to the residents of Volusia County, has prepared him for serving in the Legislature. Thats given me some pretty good background to the mechanics of Tallahassee and to represent the district, he said.
Looking back at his years observing Tallahassee, Huth talked about the need for Republicans and Democrats to work together to put together the best product for Floridians. He also stressed the need for involvement and input from participants -- drawing a sharp contrast between efforts to secure "Race to the Top" funding for schools, which Huth said had input at all levels, to efforts earlier this year to reform teacher performance pay through SB 6. Huth said that supporters of SB 6 did not garner enough input from teachers and school districts.
Besides his experience and connections with the community, Huth has also shown himself to be a solid fund-raiser. At the end of the first quarter, he raised more than $50,000 and spent more than $4,000.
While Huth has not done as well in fund-raising as Costello, the Democrat has exceeded the funds raised by the other Republican candidates in the race.
Former Ormond Beach police officer Vince Champion, who served as president of the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association, is challenging Costello for the Republican nomination. So far Champion has raised almost $28,000 and has spent more than $4,000.
The Champion campaign team is stressing their candidates experience as a police officer.
Decorated veteran Nathan McDonell is also running for the Republican nomination. Backed by the Independence Caucus, McDonell calls himself a constitutionalist and is pro-life, supportive of the right to bear arms and a supporter of limited government.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859
