Republican challenger Willis R. "Bill" Glass predicts a victory over incumbent state Rep. Cynthia Moore Chestnut in Florida's House District 23 race, saying it will be "the biggest surprise" in the November election.
But for her part, Chestnut, a Democrat, is simply using the race to do what she says is the most important thing in the election -- staying in touch with the constituents in a district that covers southeast Alachua County and parts of northern Marion County.
"I'm doing all the things people who run serious campaigns do -- yard signs, advertising," she said. "I'm in it to win."
Most of all, Chestnut says, she's letting constituents know what she has done and what she hopes to continue to do.
She cites welfare reform, juvenile justice and the education program Blueprint 2000 as her key accomplishments. She hopes that if she's re-elected, she can continue to work on education reform as her major area of concern.
But Glass, who refused to be interviewed or fill out a questionnaire sent by The Sun to all candidates, says Chestnut is part of the system that has been a financial drain on taxpayers. In press releases and platform statements, he's especially critical of her, state Sen. George Kirkpatrick and Gov. Lawton Chiles.
He says the three of them and other incumbents have helped make government an intrusion into the lives of people -- a role, he says, government should not take.
"Certainly, there are responsibilities that government has at the state level," he wrote in a release announcing his candidacy. "However, as the government is failing to carry out those responsibilities, while interfering in that which is not its business, a major overhaul is needed at the state level. When elected, I intend to promote the implementation of such necessary changes."
Among the things he says must change are state mandates regarding education policies, revamping the welfare system, implementing a "three strikes" crime and punishment rule and stopping any effort at gun control.
But while Glass champions a "throw out the incumbents" position, Chestnut says that incumbency is necessary to getting things done in Tallahassee.
"Incumbency is important," she said. "While this year we don't know what's going to happen in the election, I have had to work with people from different parties, different philosophies, different circumstances all my life. I can work with whoever is there. As an aside, I think that will be a Democratic majority and governor."
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