Key points: “Dentel has a smart platform for creating jobs and reviving Florida’s economy that includes strengthening public education, promoting innovation through support for higher education and research, and upgrading Florida’s infrastructure, including its ports. We don’t expect her to waste valuable time on sideshows in the Capitol.”
“Democrat Mike Clelland, is a lawyer and retired firefighter in Lake Mary. He’s a political novice just getting up to speed on many state issues. But one of his priorities, raising ethical standards in the Capitol, is especially welcome. He’s smart, and he keeps up with his bills.”
Orlando Sentinel Endorses Karen Castor Dentel and Mike Clelland
October 11, 2012
When Florida lawmakers redrew legislative boundaries this year, they settled on a map that put two incumbent House Republicans, Scott Plakon and Chris Dorworth, in the same district. Plakon’s willingness to move avoided a primary battle that would have cost one of the two his seat.
Ultimately, however, their tenure in Tallahassee is up to voters. And in both their districts, voters would be better off represented by their challengers.
District 30
Plakon is moving south from Longwood into Altamonte Springs, part of this new district along with Casselberry, Maitland and Eatonville. He owns a printing company in Volusia County.
First elected in 2008, Plakon is one of the Legislature’s most prolific lawmakers. If public school students in Florida did as much homework as he does, low test scores wouldn’t be such a worry.
Unfortunately, Plakon has put too much of his energy into ideological crusades. He has sponsored bills to put new limits on abortion and decertify labor unions. Two of the proposed constitutional amendments on this year’s ballot — one that would lift a ban on state aid to religious institutions and another to oppose Obamacare — are Plakon’s handiwork.
But now he’s running in a district where registered Democrats slightly outnumber Republicans, so Plakon is highlighting his bipartisan efforts, like laws to improve death benefits for firefighters and promote alternative energy. Like Bob Brooks, a former Republican House member bidding for a comeback in a neighboring district, Plakon is hoping voters overlook his right-wing record.
Plakon’s opponent, Democrat Karen Castor Dentel of Maitland, is a public school teacher with a political pedigree; she’s the daughter of former Florida Education Commissioner Betty Castor and sister of U.S. Rep. Karen Castor of Tampa.
Dentel has a smart platform for creating jobs and reviving Florida’s economy that includes strengthening public education, promoting innovation through support for higher education and research, and upgrading Florida’s infrastructure, including its ports. We don’t expect her to waste valuable time on sideshows in the Capitol.
We endorse Karen Castor Dentel in District 30.
District 29
Dorworth is a Lake Mary real-estate investor and business consultant first elected to the House in 2007. He’s in line to become House speaker, one of Florida’s most powerful jobs, by 2014 if voters keep sending him back to Tallahassee. But that lone reason to re-elect him is not enough.
Dorworth’s business problems pushed his net worth into negative numbers and his home into foreclosure. He has no business managing Florida’s $70 billion budget when his own finances are such a wreck. He needs to focus on getting his own affairs in order.
His opponent, Democrat Mike Clelland, is a lawyer and retired firefighter in Lake Mary. He’s a political novice just getting up to speed on many state issues. But one of his priorities, raising ethical standards in the Capitol, is especially welcome. He’s smart, and he keeps up with his bills.
We endorse Mike Clelland in District 29.