State House District 58 race: Janet R. Cruz, Democrat

Janet Cruz traces her family history to Ybor City and West Tampa. Her great-great-great grandfather was a roofer and tinter from Seventh Avenue who worked on the University of Tampa's minarets.

But as a South Tampa resident, Cruz has taken heat about not living within state House District 58's boundaries. She says she plans to move into a West Tampa rental residence with an option to buy.

She points to a state law specifying candidates for state House seats do not have to live within the district they are targeting, though they must do so if they are elected and before taking office.

"I have never been far enough from West Tampa not to smell the coffee," Cruz says. She can walk into the West Tampa Sandwich Shop and feels at home there, she says, usually greeting friends or friends of her family.

Her son played Little League baseball in the Wellswood neighborhood.

Hispanic influences are part of Tampa's history and culture. Without that background, Cruz says, "We would just be another vanilla city."

Her family members were cigar workers and factory laborers. She wanted to be a lawyer but a teenage marriage, her first child and financial obligations put that out of reach. She learned to be an optician at Hillsborough Community College and worked a few years at Pearle Vision at East Lake Mall.

She says she bought a Pearle Vision franchise and later opened a second shop in Sarasota. "I really learned about how to be a business person and make money," Cruz said. "It made such a difference in my quality of life."

But big optical chains moved in, she says, squeezing out smaller shops. "They ate our lunch," Cruz says, and she had to re-invent her professional life.

For several years she worked with Cigna insurance company and then Aetna until it was bought by Prudential Insurance. "I learned a lot about corporate America," she said.

Politics also engaged her interest; sometimes in paying positions and sometimes not. She has managed campaigns and been a fundraiser for Bob Buckhorn, Julie Holt, Chloe Coney and Gwen Miller.

"I just believed in good government and wanted to make a difference," Cruz says.

She has the time and the desire to be an advocate for District 58, she says. And in her first run for office she has a list of endorsements that speak to her Democratic connections: the state's Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink; four sitting Tampa City Council members including Chairman Tom Scott; state Sen. Arthenia Joyner; the Florida Police Benevolent Association, and Tampa Firefighters Local 754.

"I am a liaison and a good bridge builder," she says. "I can come back to District 58 and be an advocate for our folks."

With Democrats in the legislative minority, it is important to look for ways to work with Republicans. "You have to come with a moderate view. This is not about a die-hard Republican or die-hard Democrat. There are times you have to be reasonable."

Cruz would not support off shore oil-drilling. She would push to have on-line commerce such as book and movie sales, taxed the same as at retail stores.

"I think we should honestly take a look at the revenue stream and let's tax it," she says. "I think it's a gigantic opportunity. I don't have all the answers on how to implement it."

Cruz does not favor expanding gambling in the state and supports negotiating a share of profits from Indian-operated casinos.

If elected she would like to work on health care and juvenile justice issues. Gangs in particular are an issue in some neighborhoods including Town 'N Country, Cruz says.

"That's one of the core issues that is affecting Town 'N Country," she says. "It's scary. It's really scary."