They might be loathe to admit it, but Democrat Darryl Rouson and no-party candidate Philip Garrett share similarities in their approach to the state House District 70 race.
Both talk about focusing on youth, education and jobs. Their positions, though, differ on the proposed constitutional amendment to permit medical marijuana in Florida. Garrett supports it. Rouson does not, taking the opposite side of its zealous proponent, prominent lawyer John Morgan, for whose firm he once worked.
Rouson, the incumbent representing an area that meanders across southeastern Pinellas and takes in sections of Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties, has the advantage of name recognition.
For one reason or another — not all to do with politics — Rouson has regularly made headlines. In recent days, he counseled Mayor Rick Kriseman of St. Petersburg against wasting taxpayer money to fight a lawsuit filed by the family of a teen who had been shot by police and is disabled.
He also made news when Florida House Democrats ousted him as minority leader, a row fueled by his decision to open a campaign account that only he could control. There have also been stories about financial difficulties, traffic tickets and triumph over drug addiction.
Garrett, 49, a political novice, also has had financial and driving problems. He appears to present little challenge in the race that also has drawn a write-in candidate, Justin M. Bauford, 26. While Rouson's return to the Legislature appears certain, Garrett, confident and gregarious, barrels ahead undeterred. He unabashedly promoted his candidacy at a St. Petersburg meeting organized solely to solicit public input about the city's pier.
He said his campaign consists of knocking on doors, attending forums, calling people, prayers, "the grace of God and knowing what the voters in my district need."
Though he had long been a registered Democrat, Garrett said he decided to run as a no-party candidate because "no one party can deliver a community or a people." He will advocate for his district, "not a party agenda," he said.
Rouson, 59, who won office in a special election in 2008 and has held the state seat since, said he has heard Garrett's criticism before.
"He has talked about partisanship and that neither party, Democrat, or Republican, has served the district well. Therefore, I haven't served the district well," Rouson said.
"I believe that the people of my district, if they search the record … will see that one hallmark of my representation is as a pro-business, moderate Democrat who has sought to collaborate where possible to get things done, to pass legislation and bring appropriations home."
Rouson said he has fought for the expansion of civil citation programs "to take away the stigma of arrests and the stigma of the criminal justice system from our youth." He brought $1 million to the district to hire 400 at-risk youth and helped to bring $10 million for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg business school, he said.
"I have supported the parents' right to choose and influence the education of their child. I have supported strong public schools, funding of it while also recognizing that some parents want their child in a faith-based educational environment," he added.
Rouson, who has a law degree from the University of Florida, recently joined the Dohlman Law Group, which specializes in personal injury cases. He, like Garrett, lives in St. Petersburg.
Garrett has a bachelor's degree in American studies from Eckerd College and has worked for the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser for 15 years. He is proud of his experience on the executive board of the St. Petersburg NAACP and that he headed its political action committee.
He is not running against Rouson, but for the opportunity to represent his district, Garrett said.
"There are five failing schools in my district and I want to advocate for programs like the Early Learning Coalition, the R'Club, just any and all groups that support the education of children," he said.
If Rouson wins another two-year term, it will be his last because of term limits.