While many people across the country have been paying attention to the congressional race between Rep. Karen Thurman and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, the deciding factor comes down to how voters in North and West Central Florida feel about them.
Republicans targeted the freshman Thurman's seat, and as a result Garlits -- a drag-racing legend and Marion County resident -- entered the first political race of his life.
Garlits' conservative views promote, in particular, a return to smaller government, lower taxes and reduced federal influence. He has a no-nonsense approach to issues such as crime, and his statements have been called politically incorrect by some groups.
The 63-year-old Belleview-area resident, who also operates a drag-racing and classic-car museum, would have to move to nearby District 5 if elected.
About 500,000 people live in the nine counties in Congressional District 5: Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Citrus, Marion, Sumter, Hernando and Pasco.
Thurman, a former math teacher from Dunnellon, has been the only representative in this district, which was created by reapportionment. Prior to her 1992 election to Congress, Thurman spent 10 years in the state Senate.
Thurman considers her longtime political involvement a sign of her effectiveness and cites her experience on issues such as agriculture, immigration, water management and veterans affairs.
Garlits, who made it to the general election by beating former Citrus County Judge Gary Graham in the Republican primary, cited Thurman's connections to party politics as one of her liabilities. He called her a "presidential lapdog" for voting in support of President Clinton on many issues.
Thurman, however, said her record does not reflect a strict partisan allegiance; she strayed from the Democratic Party by voting against a ban on assault weapons, for example. She said her voting record reflects her constituency.
She added that Garlits showed party loyalty by joining 200 GOP leaders recently in Washington by signing a "Contract with America" policy statement. Garlits said the contract was a public statement of what he feels are important issues. That includes such things as a balanced-budget mandate and tougher prison sentences.
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