November 01, 2008
Newcomer challenges 8-term congressman
By JOHN BOZZO
Staff Writer
To change, or not to change.
That is the question in District 7 of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Whether to choose John Mica, R-Winter Park, the 16-year veteran, a national transportation expert and proven supporter of local needs.
Or to pick Faye Armitage, a Democrat from Fruit Cove and a starry-eyed political newcomer running as a long shot.
The winner will serve two years and get $169,300 a year to represent a district stretching from St. Johns County to Seminole County, including Flagler and most of Volusia.
John Mica
First elected in 1992 and seeking his ninth two-year term, Mica said he remains motivated to help people.
"I get to do some neat things to improve the community and people's lives," he said.
Mica has brought home federal support for a long list of projects, ranging from restoring Rose Bay to replacing pre-World War II public housing with new townhouses and helping an after-school program in DeLand's Spring Hill neighborhood.
"The No. 1 priority has got to be how to get the economy back on track," Mica said. "The big priority is to provide jobs."
A national transportation expert and the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mica has been pushing for a five-year, $1.6 trillion plan to rebuild the country's highways, bridges, transit systems, ports, waterways and railways.
"A national strategic plan for highways hasn't been done since President Dwight Eisenhower proposed the highway system (which was approved in 1956)," Mica said.
He opposed the $700 billion economic bailout approved by Congress, as well as bailouts of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
Mica authored provisions in a bill recently signed by President Bush to permit private development of high-speed rail along 11 corridors.
"I'm sort of the father of high-speed rail in the country," he said.
Mica remains committed to supporting commuter rail in Central Florida.
He backs "responsible" oil drilling and alternative energy.
Mica said he's a good man to have during emergencies, running interference with federal agencies on behalf of local communities.
"We've had fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods," he said. "We've helped coordinate some of the relief efforts."
Faye Armitage
A real soccer mom, Armitage gained notoriety pushing for stem-cell research after her son was paralyzed playing the sport.
"Because I was an issue advocate, I felt I could use the skills I developed to help voters," she said.
Armitage said she relates to issues important to people, such as health care, "because I've had that experience."
She supports national health care under the Medicare for Everyone banner, eliminating insurance companies, which she said drive up costs.
Relying on employer-driven health care hurts women, because many of them work part-time jobs, which do not provide health care benefits.
"It's amazing that we're talking about nationalizing the financial services industry when we've balked at national health care," Armitage said.
She opposes offshore drilling and supports developing renewable energy sources, including algae farms to produce bio-fuel.
"We ought to be an example of capturing solar energy in the Sunshine State -- and wind too," she said.
Cutting taxes for the middle class and eliminating the Bush tax cuts for those in the top 5 percent of income are two of her priorities.
"I have seen the damage done to this country by many ill-conceived policies that hurt our economy, and I see people working hard trying to keep up," she said. "We need to get away from benefits for the few at the expense of the many."
john.bozzo@news-jrnl.com
THE CANDIDATES
NAME: John Mica
AGE: 65
RESIDENCE: Winter Park
OCCUPATION: Congressman
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected to the U.S. House 7th District from Florida in 1992 and re-elected every two years. Mica is seeking his ninth term
PRIORITIES: Private development of high-speed rail, Central Florida commuter rail, a $1.6 trillion program to improve the highways, bridges, transit systems, ports, waterways and railways
FINANCES: Received $1,043,001 in contributions
NAME:Faye Armitage
AGE: 50
RESIDENCE: St. Johns County
OCCUPATION: Caregiver to paralyzed son, former economics professor and health care industry employee
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: First run for public office
PRIORITIES: Health care for everyone; a plan to withdraw forces from Iraq; break up large media corporations and a green technology initiative
FINANCES: Received $22,022 in contributions
THE JOB: The winner will serve two years and get $169,300 a year to represent a district stretching from St. Johns County to Seminole County, including Flagler and most of Volusia.
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