Former state Rep. Ken Littlefield does not exactly need an armor truck to take his campaign fundraising revenue to the bank, but that’s not stopping him from trying to stand out in a crowded primary field.
Littlefield, who is seeking the District 2 Pasco County Commission seat currently held by the retiring Pat Mulieri, once again stumped in front of the Republican Club of Central Pasco during a regular meeting last week. While he talked about his work in Tallahassee, he also talked about how his primary opponents — businessman Mike Moore and financial analyst Bob Robertson — failed to stand up to his experience.
“I’m the only one in the race that has the kind of experience that I just mentioned,” Littlefield told the Republican group. “One of the candidates coached soccer league, and the other was elected to a (community development district) before. And that’s about it.
“And they are going to make a lot of promises to you. You have the choice of either voting for somebody who makes a lot of promises, or somebody who has the experience.”
Neither Moore nor Robertson was at the meeting, but both quickly defended their experiences when reached by The Laker/Lutz News.
“I’ve spent my career creating new jobs and running a business,” Moore said in a prepared response. “My wife, Lauren, and I are like so many others here in Pasco County who believe government is too big and takes too much. I’ve spent months sharing my background and experience with voters, and I look forward to continuing to do so in the weeks ahead.”
Robertson pointed out his recent selection by the very commission he wishes to join as a non-elected representative on Pasco’s Restore Act Advisory Committee, which helps manage funds related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.
“The county expects to receive a significant amount of money as a result of the Gulf oil spill,” Robertson said in a prepared statement. “We are currently in the process of evaluating millions of dollars worth of projects to benefit the citizens of this county.”
Littlefield was elected to the state House in 1999 in a special election succeeding his brother, Carl Littlefield. He left the House in 2006, and had planned to join the Florida Public Service Commission after receiving a nomination by then outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush.
When Charlie Crist assumed the governor’s office, however, he pulled Littlefield’s nomination, forcing him to return to the private sector.
This is not the first time Littlefield has tried to knock down his opponent’s success in the political field. During a debate in March, Littlefield jabbed Moore about his 2010 loss to Matthew Abbott for a seat on the county’s Mosquito Control board.
Littlefield’s fundraising efforts picked up a bit in the first three weeks of June, raising $1,600. That brings his campaign total to $6,600, but is still a far cry from what Moore has accomplished.
Moore raised $4,700 during the same time, bringing his total above $85,200.
Robertson raised just $310 during that time, and now has pulled in just under $12,700.
The winner of the Aug. 26 primary will face off against Democrat Erika Remsberg in November. The Land O’ Lakes social worker had her best fundraising efforts to date over the first three weeks of June, receiving checks totaling more than $1,600. Her campaign total is just above $2,100.
Published July 2, 2014
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