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Traviesa's Seat Up For Grabs

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By TOM BRENNAN

tbrennan@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

BRANDON - A new elected official will represent state House District 56 come January.

Democrat Lewis Laricchia and Republican Rachel Burgin, both newcomers, will square off to replace Trey Traviesa representing the district, which includes Davis Islands, Brandon, Riverview and the FishHawk Ranch community in Lithia.
Traviesa shocked political observers when he walked away from a certain nod as the Republican nominee in August, citing family and financial reasons. He had been seeking a third term and had amassed a $149,000 campaign war chest.

Then the executive committee of the Hillsborough County Republican Party stunned many again when it tapped Burgin, 26, Traviesa's legislative assistant, as his replacement on the November ballot. She emerged from a field of eight older and more experienced potential candidates seeking the nomination.

Laricchia, 59, a Navy veteran and former railroad pipe fitter, also is a comparatively little-known candidate with little local political history.

But both Burgin, who lives in Plant City, and Laricchia, of Valrico, say their lack of elective experience will not impede them.

"I have a lot of institutional knowledge, how the process works and have made a lot of relationships," Burgin said. "I have been working and serving the people of District 56 for the past two years."

Laricchia counters that he has experience as a union organizer and leader, and as a community advocate - especially for residents with problems with homeowners associations.

"I'm a fighter. I don't stop. I am like a locomotive. When you keep fighting, you'll do good for people," he said. "I'll study something, I'll research it and find out all the ifs and buts about it."

Both agree the economy and property taxes are the top issues facing the district.

Laricchia thinks the best way to stimulate the economy is to lower property taxes and insurance. He would work to revise the way property taxes are calculated and create a state fund that insurance companies could tap into.

Burgin would lower property taxes by increasing sales taxes and reduce business restrictions to lure potential employers to the state. She also would consider cutting state gas taxes to reduce the price at the pump.

LEWIS LARICCHIA

AGE: 59

FAMILY: Single

EDUCATION: Attended Suffolk County Community College in New York, studying labor relations and music.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Served in the Navy during the Vietnam War; worked as a pipe fitter for the Long Island Railroad and was elected chairman of his union, Local 138.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

WEB SITE: www.votelewis laricchia.com

RACHEL BURGIN

AGE: 26

FAMILY: Single

EDUCATION: Home-schooled, attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., and is finishing her degree in biblical studies at Moody Bible Institute's Tampa satellite campus.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Legislative aide for county Commissioner Brian Blair and state Rep. Trey Traviesa.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

WEB SITE: www.rachelburgin .com

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