Two political veterans are vying for Pinellas County’s District 2 commissioner seat.

The candidates are Republican Ed Hooper, who currently serves as a Florida representative in the Florida House, and Democrat Pat Gerard, who is Largo’s mayor.

Rep. Hooper, a retired firefighter, said he’s concerned about beach renourishment and solving the fire and EMS funding issue.

“I have a burning passion about this county, I’ve been involved in city elected office for five years, just finishing up eight years in the Florida Legislature, and I still care enough that I want to make Pinellas County even better than it is today," he said.

Gerard is in favor of Greenlight Pinellas and improving county parks.

"I’ve been working on county-wide issues with most of the current county commissioners and officials from other cities around the county, planning and homelessness and transportation issues," she said.

The two candidates have very different views on Greenlight Pinellas.

"I think of Greenlight as being the future of this county. As much as you don’t want a higher tax, I think that the situation that they’ve worked out with lowering the property taxes and putting it in the sales tax is a fair trade," Gerard said.

"I’m troubled that Pinellas could have the highest sales tax in the state of Florida, and that’s my biggest objection," said Hooper.

As this race heats up, both candidates are trying to get your vote.

“My opponent’s had 14 years in the city of Largo,” Hooper said. “I don’t know that that has put her in a position to handle a $1.9 billion budget.”

“My opponent was in Tallahassee for eight years and pretty much followed his party’s instructions for how to vote on things,” Gerard said.

Hooper responded to that, saying, "When I’m in Tallahassee, I’m up there on behalf of the citizens of Pinellas County and my district."

Gerard said Largo has come a long way since she became mayor and she’s proud of that. She hopes to take that to the county level.

Hooper said he understands how county government functions and he’s ready to get to work.

The general election is November 4.