James Convinced He Can Beat Tide

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Even as he runs against an incumbent in a Republican-leaning district, Democrat Ed James III remains confident and optimistic. An experienced campaigner and native Sarasotan, the under-30 candidate for Florida House representative in District 72 has created buzz since announcing his campaign in a well-attended event at the Bayfront Community Center. And while he still trails his Republican opponents when it comes to money in the bank, finance reports show that plenty of well-monied donors see potential in the run. “I’ll tell you one thing, I’m not going to leave any vote on the table,” James said. “I hope voters will see someone deeply committed to bringing about change.”

James right now is the only Democrat running in the district. State Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, announced two weeks ago that he would seek re-election to the seat for a fourth and final two-year term; Republican Robert Wyatt also remains a candidate in the contest. Through the end of June, Pilon, who had been considering a run for state Senate, has raised $61,520. Wyatt is still sitting on a $150,000 personal loan. By comparison, James raised $12,375 in the first weeks of his campaign, and political committee New Direction Florida has pulled in $12,800 as well. And a list of supporters includes such prominent donors as Obama booster Caryn Lobo and School Board member Shirley Brown.

James supporters quickly note that the last time Pilon faced a Democrat in a presidential election year—now-Sarasota City Commissioner Liz Alpert in 2012—the challenger raised a total $32,197 and won 46.1 percent of the vote. The last time most voters in the district were represented by a Democrat, though, was in 2010, when Pilon himself unseated incumbent state House Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota, and redistricting has made the district a more Republican district since that time.

James knows this, and does not plan on rallying Democratic votes alone. He plans to run on issues like honoring government pension commitments and maintaining a competitive workforce, issues that resonate with voters across party lines. “We’re not taking a partisan approach,” he said. “We believe the voters are intelligent enough to make decisions that are best for them and their families.” And James knows how to run in difficult territory. He played a critical role in 2014 in helping Democrat Gwendolyn Graham win a Congressional race in a conservative Panhandle district. He also played an early consulting role in the recent Sarasota City Commission campaign for Shelli Freeland Eddie, who, like Graham, unseated an incumbent. 

James did stress he holds progressive views on matters like a woman’s right to choose and on gay rights, and believes the voters in the district will support him in that. And he plans to get feedback from every voter he can. “I plan on working harder than any other candidate in the state of Florida, and come Nov. 8, 2016, our campaign will be victorious,” he said.

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