BARTOW — Less than a month before the primary, the two Republican candidates for State House Seat 39 made their case to voters at the Polk County Neil Combee Administration Building on Tuesday night.
Jennifer Spath, 34, and Josie Tomkow, 22, engaged in a debate in a mostly full commission boardroom. Despite a recent campaign flyer from Spath that slammed Tomkow as inexperienced and never being a resident of the district, the discourse was civil, but Tomkow did appear to reference it during her closing remarks.
“When someone says I didn’t grow up here in Polk County, they’re lying,” she said.
The controversy early on was in regard to Ricky Shirah, the Democratic challenger, being present for the debate. County Commissioner George Lindsey, a “proud Republican”, told the crowd that although the room was reserved by the Republican Party of Polk County, it was a public space.
ON THE ISSUES
In her opening statement, Tomkow introduced herself as a seventh generation Floridian and the grassroots candidate. She also talked about growing up in an agricultural family.
“Public service is who I am,” Spath said. “I currently serve as an advocate for children in the foster system. We need a voice for the voiceless. That’s what I’ve been.”
POLK COUNTY
Jim Guth, the former party chairman in Polk County, asked each of the candidates what they knew about Polk County.
“I think Polk County was founded on the principles of agriculture,” Tomkow said. “Polk County is very diverse with diverse opportunities. I believe I can represent all people. This is a community built on relationships.”
Spath said Polk was a county that gets overlooked in Tallahassee, adding that she would work to change that. She also said that the east side of the county has been neglected as the west side of Polk County has nearly twice the number the roads.
“Polk County is the eighth largest district, yet we’re fourth from the bottom when it comes to funding and that needs to change,” she said. “We’re the powerhouse that connects Orlando to Tampa.”
GREENBELT LAW AND HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS
Both candidates said they were proponents of the “Greenbelt Law”, which taxes agricultural properties on use rather than development value.
The two candidates had different stances on the proposed law that would allow homeowners to claim an additional $25,000 exemption on properties valued above $100,000.
“Any opportunity to decrease taxes, we should,” Tomkow said.
Spath said the additional exemption constrains counties and municipalities. She said those entities would be better judges of their revenue needs than the state.
“I’ve always been a proponent of lowering taxes,” she said. “But when taxes get cut, resources get cut. Are we going to cut police? Are we going to cut fire?”
EXPERIENCE
When it came to experience, Spath noted that she’s made the tough decisions while working as a prosecutor in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Whether to label someone as a convicted felon or a sex offender for the remainder of their lives was a decision that fell on her, she said. Spath added that she was no different from her constituents.
“My experience is that I’m one of you,” Spath said. “I am a wife; I’m a mom; I’m a homeowner; I’m an employee. As a legislator, our job is to craft and create laws. I’m the one who has that experience.”
Tomkow, who worked in the office of Wilton Simpson, the state senate’s majority leader, said she’s been an advocate for farming and agriculture. Tomkow also mentioned endorsements from Simpson, Neil Combee, the seat’s previous occupier and the National Rifle Association.
“My background is agriculture,” Tomkow said. “I know about hard work and what it takes. I have gone to every legislative session in Tallahassee since I was 16 to advocate for (farmers).”
EDUCATION
Both candidates were also asked about education reform and issues with adoption and child care. Tomkow noted that her family has been impacted by the foster system, calling all children a “gift from God”. As for education, she said parents need a say for their children.
“I think it’s important for parents to be able to choose where they send their children to school,” she said. “I think it’s important we promote vocational training in high schools once again.”
Spath noted that her job with Community Based Care of Central Florida was as an advocate for foster children. She added that she was part of a committee working with Florida State University to study the child care system and has built a relationship with local representatives and the Miami delegation, which has the biggest number of foster children in the system.
“That’s the way you change things is from the bottom up,” Spath said. “It’s from the inside out.”
HOMELESS STUDENTS
One person asked the candidates what they would do about the number of homeless students in schools. Spath said she’s started committees to find displaced children homes and thinks teachers can help in this regard.
“Let’s get these families treated, rehabilitated and economically prosperous again,” Spath said.
Tomkow said she’d reach out to shelters, nonprofits and faith-based organizations to form public-private partnerships.
“I’d work with Lighthouse Ministries and Steve Turbeville and other great services like them,” she said. “I’d work with them to get those families working.”
PRIORITIES
Tomkow said her priorities as a representative would be to keep Florida’s fiscal health intact, uphold conservatiive principles, advocate for educate and to preserve the state.
“I think it’s important to preserve our natural resources,” she said. “Without agriculture, we don’t eat.”
Spath also said she’d prioritize fiscal health and education by finding a way to retain Polk’s teachers. Spath said it was important to mend relationships between local and state officials as well.
“We’re never going to get anywhere if we can’t compromise,” Spath said.
WHAT’S NEXT
The two candidates are set to face each other in a Feb. 20 primary with the winner moving on to face Shirah on May 1. The seat was previously held by Combee, who left to take a federal job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The district spans part of Polk and Osceola counties. House representatives in Florida serve two-year terms and are paid just under $30,000 annually.
Mike Ferguson can be reached at Mike.Ferguson@theledger.com or 863-401-6981. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.