There is no confusing the candidates in the State Senate District 22 race.
The differences between incumbent Jeff Brandes and challenger Judithanne McLauchlan are as wide as the District 22, which encompasses the Pinellas beaches, parts of central and south St. Petersburg as well as south Tampa.
Brandes, a Republican, is seeking his second term in office after being elected in 2012. Brandes, 38, has been staunch his current opposition to Medicaid expansion and Greenlight Pinellas in St. Petersburg.
Brandes calls his fight for affordable flood insurance for Bay area residents his biggest achievement.
Democrat McLauchlan, meanwhile, has focused on creating affordable health care and appealing to lower and middle class voters.
McLauchlan, a 46-year-old Political Science professor at USF St. Pete, is a first-time candidate. She said she supports Greenlight Pinellas saying the region’s transportation infrastructure is outdated.
The two do strike some common ground on education and energy costs.
Brandes, who is a former military combat veteran and business owner, said the state should move towards deregulation of energy industry to allow for more competition and choices for consumers.
McLauchlan has been more outspoken on the issue – making it a focal point of her campaign. She says the nuclear cost recovery fee should be repealed and that Duke Energy should issue refunds to customers.
Controversy erupted recently when one of Brandes’ ad accused McLauchlan of supporting a state income tax.
“It is not true that I support a state income tax,” McLauchlan said. “Yet this is on television again and again.”
Brandes’ campaign stands by the ad but the candidate added his own accomplishments are his selling point. Brandes said he “has a proven track record of success.”
No Democratic opponent for Sen. Jack Latvala
There is little in his district that Jack Latvala doesn’t have an impact on.
Whether it be in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants or fighting Duke Energy’s fees, Latvala, who represents the 20th district in the state Senate, is involved, well-known and well-connected.
So much so that the longtime Republican does not even have a Democratic opponent during this election.
His opponent is former Republican Tony Caso, now a Libertarian. The owner of custom cabinet and drapery business, the 65-year-old Caso left a GOP he said was “increasing acting like Democrats.”
“I’m running for this office because the people need their voice back in the government,” Caso said. “Our elected representatives are not doing their job of protecting the rights of the people, and not being good stewards of our money.
“They are only concerned with the issues of the special interest groups and lobbyists.”
Latvala, meanwhile, says he has always been a good steward for the people of his district, which runs from Tarpon Springs down to Largo.
The 62-year-old Latvala, first elected to local office in 1994, has little in common with Caso.
Latvala has pledged support for Greenlight Pinellas and is against medical marijuana. Caso support the marijuana initiative Amendment 2 and calls the Greenlight Pinellas transportation plan a waste of money.
According to McLauchlan’s campaign, this district race represents the only opportunity in the Florida Senate this year for a Democratic challenger to defeat a Republican incumbent.