Miller, James Contest to Watch

Todays News

A successful political operative now faces a medical executive in the race to represent a swing district in Sarasota County. And with an incumbent now out of this contest, the District 72 contest promises both excitement and a new face representing the region in next year’s legislative session. Republican Alexandra Miller on Monday announced her candidacy for the race, where she is expected to face Democrat Ed James III in the November general election. The winner succeeds state Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, who is running for state Senate. 

Miller, who on Friday submitted her resignation for her seat on the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, promises to be a moderate voice in Tallahassee. Like Pilon, she supports a Medicaid expansion resisted by Gov. Rick Scott and most Republicans in the state House. “Not expanding Medicaid has been damaging,” she said. “I do think there is room for compromise. We need to come up with a modification of LIP [Low Income Pool] funding and a state generated exchange.” James, for his part, heavily supports a Medicaid expansion and plans to fight for that to happen. “Ultimately, we need to put politics aside,” he said. “We still have people using the Emergency Room as a primary care center.” That healthcare availability remains divided on socio-economic lines is unacceptable, he says.

The two candidates have different approaches to solving the Medicaid debate, though neither will be running on a dismantling of the Affordable Care Act. But while that separation on the issues will be nuanced, the two do have their own issues they bring to the debate reflecting different political perspectives. James plans to run on issues like providing universal prekindergarten education, and providing funding for environmentally sensitive lands that honors voters’ intent in passing a constitutional amendment demanding such spending. Miller is a supporter of charter schools—one of her sons attends Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences—and favors school vouchers, believing public funding should follow a student based on individual education needs.

Professionally, Miller is CEO for Mercedes Medical, a company her mother founded in 1991, and she served as vice chair of the hospital board until her departure. James, a professional campaign consultant, served as field director for U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Panama City, who unseated a Republican incumbent in 2010 amid an otherwise bad year for Democrats. 

As far as the nature of the race, prognosticators today will likely have a hard time giving an edge either way. The district leans red, with 49,000 registered Republicans to 37,000 Democrats, according to LobbyTools, favoring Miller, but that’s a closer ratio than any district in this part of Florida enjoys. James for now has the money edge, having raised $76,500 as he prepared to take on an incumbent, and New Direction Florida, a political committee supporting him, has raised more than $166,600. Miller starts from scratch now, but was recruited into the race by local Republican leadership with a reputation for strong fundraising.

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 8.

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