Armitage plans door-to-door campaign to unseat Mica

Armitage plans door-to-door campaign to unseat Mica



By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 07/01/08

FRUIT COVE -- Faye Armitage, an economist with experience in the finance and healthcare industries, plans to go door to door throughout the 7th Congressional District in her campaign to oust incumbent U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Longwood.

She said the fact that Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district doesn't faze her.

"Twenty-two percent of voters in the district are independents, and I expect to get 75 percent of them," Armitage said. "If I can add them to the Democrats, I can win. I can appeal to that voter bloc (because) I can relate better than John Mica to the issues and experiences real people are facing. I'm not intimidated by the number of Republicans."

A political activist for 15 years, she said her son's paralysis from a soccer injury at age 7 "ignited my passion for the issues of patient safety, stem-cell research, universal health care and the Americans with Disabilities Act."

Her platform cites opposition to the Iraq War "while fully addressing national security concerns," her literature states. "If we ever had a goal going in there, we've accomplished that with the overthrow of Saddam Hussein," she said.

"We've been there five years more to stabilize that country. But if we continue to stay, (the Iraqis) won't have the incentive to take care of their own security needs."

The United States cannot afford the war, she said.

"We're spending $12 billion a month there. We need that money for domestic needs," she said.

Her son-in-law Mark, 30, is in the Army and soon to be deployed to Iraq.

"I'm worried, very concerned," she said. "So many are coming back disabled. Even if we end the war, it doesn't end for those who are disabled."

She said veterans make up 17 percent of Florida's population.

"There has been another cut for medical benefits for veterans' families. And Mica voted against the (proposal to expand) the G.I. Bill," she said. "Why not (pass it)? We owe it to them. It's an investment in human capital."

She believes that turning to a universal health care plan would save $350 billion per year.

"There are 48 million people uninsured," she said. "The government can run certain things more efficiently. About 31 cents of every dollar spent on health care is profit and administrative overhead. Medicare has a three percent overhead."

Donald Parry of Julington Creek, Armitage's campaign coordinator, said she's very energetic.

"She just goes," Parry said. "I haven't seen any limitations on her. Faye, as other women, generally approach situations and problems with a broader perspective."

Armitage said National Journal magazine called Mica the "most extreme" of Florida's 25 congressional representatives, "based on social, philosophical and financial issues" and 15th most extreme in the nation, and the Disabled American Veterans gave him a zero for three consecutive years.

"I feel like there's a huge disconnect between people's perception of Mica and his actual voting record," she said.

The Aug. 26 Democratic primary pits her against fellow challenger Clyde Malloy of Palm Coast. The winner of that contest will face Mica in November. Mica said recently that he won't campaign until he sees who is opposition is going to be.

Armitage said she won't attack Malloy, but added that she asked the Malloy campaign to sign a pledge not to attack her and that offer was refused.

"We should be going after Mica," she said. "We share a united front and should let the voters choose who will get through the primary."


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