Our choices for state Senate

District 10

State Sen. Ronda Storms faces only a write-in candidate in her re-election bid for District 10, which covers mostly east and south Hillsborough, with a bit of Pasco and Polk. Storms can have sharp elbows and be dismissive of others' views, but she does what she believes is right, regardless of the consequences.

She defied party brass to block a legislative attempt to gut local wetlands protections. Last year she unsuccessfully fought a bad growth management bill that would have shifted developers' costs to taxpayers. A judge later found the measure unconstitutional. We've had our share of disagreements with Storms but have never doubted her sincerity.

For Florida Senate District 10, the Tribune endorses Ronda Storms.

District 12

Late yesterday a Tallahassee judge threw Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman, who defeated Kevin Ambler in the Republican primary, off the ballot.

It was a wise decision. Ambler had contested the victory, contending Norman did not properly disclose his finances, specifically a lakefront home in Arkansas owned by Norman's wife and funded largely by the late Ralph Hughes, a political powerbroker and heavy contributor to Norman's campaigns.

It was abundantly clear Norman misled the public about his family's financial relations with the controversial businessman and political activist. Federal officials are investigating.

Hughes apparently provided the bulk of the money that enabled Norman's wife to buy the $435,000 resort home for cash. Hughes pushed a pro-development agenda to the county commission and could count on Norman's support.

Some of those Hughes-backed proposals benefited his concrete-products company.

The judge recognized the money in question may have gone to Norman's wife, but the commissioner's household stood to benefit - which is obviously the reason Norman did his best to keep the arrangement secret, claiming his wife bought the home with "investors."

Republican brass now will select the District 12 GOP nominee, who will face two write in challengers. But Ambler, a term-limited state representative who invested in a serious campaign and who exposed Norman's shenanigans, has the most legitimate claim.

District 16

State Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, decided not to seek re-election after one term so he could challenge U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young. Vying to replace him in District 16, which spans most of east Pinellas and part of west Hillsborough, are a new face to state politics and a battle-tested warrior.

Nina Hayden, making her first run for state office, is a Clearwater Democrat who serves on the Pinellas County School Board and works as an assistant public defender.

Making a return to politics is Jack Latvala, a Republican who represented parts of Pinellas and Pasco in the Senate from 1994 to 2002, including a stint as majority leader. If elected, Latvala, officials say, would be the first member to return to the Senate after having to step aside because of term limits.
The winner will serve a two-year term, instead of the standard four years, because of reapportionment in 2012.

Hayden, 36, elected two years ago to fill an unexpired term of a former school board member, is a very promising candidate. She is engaging, articulate and passionate about a variety of issues, especially education and juvenile justice.

But she needs more seasoning, and perhaps should have sought a county commission or state House seat before running for one of only 40 seats in the Senate.

Hayden's chief complaint about Latvala is that he has had his turn. It's time for a "new generation, a new voice," she says. Not in this case. Latvala, 58, is just the senator residents need to fight back against the lobbyists, special-interest money and backroom deal-making corrupting the Legislature.

Consider his prime motivation for wanting to return: efforts to open Florida's state waters to offshore oil-drilling. To Latvala, that is taboo, as it should be considering the immense value of the tourism industry and Florida's scenic beauty.

The lawmakers in power today, Latvala says, "don't have the appreciation for the old Florida, the real Florida." And he's right.

While in the Senate, Latvala fought to protect groundwater and other resources, led the way to set minimum-flow standards for lakes, rivers and streams and was a driving force behind the creation of Tampa Bay Water, the utility that helped end the "water wars."

And in his previous tenure, Latvala was a champion of public education - hence his recent endorsement by the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association and the Pinellas Educational Support Personnel Association.

"He was a leader in the Senate and found bipartisan solutions rather than allowing partisan politics to influence the outcome," the endorsement states, aptly describing Latvala.

If voters send him back to Tallahassee, Latvala - a Clearwater political consultant and owner of an envelope-printing business - would focus on diversifying Florida's economy. There is too much reliance on tourism and homebuilding, he says, saying a "broader perspective" is needed.

In addition, he supports a free-market approach to the homeowner's insurance crisis, high-speed rail and collecting sales taxes on Internet purchases, all of which would benefit the state.

And he says the state Department of Community Affairs, the state's chief growth management agency, which the House left in limbo last session under the state's sunset review process, should not be eliminated. He does say it's possible some duties could be consolidated.

Latvala is a proven leader who would immediately strengthen the area's legislative delegation. The Tampa Tribune enthusiastically endorses Jack Latvala for state Senate, District 16.

Rebuttals

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