The one House district in Tampa Bay that the Florida Democratic Party seriously believes it can take away from the Republican fold this November is the District 57 seat being vacated by a term-limited Faye Culp.
Culp’s brand of mostly doctrinaire Republican philosophy sprinkled with a liberal take on issues like education and gay rights played well for over a decade in the district, which encompasses parts of northwestern Hillsborough County with Westchase and Town N Country, and most of South Tampa.
Her would-be GOP successor ran a primary race that could hardly be labeled moderate. Dana Young, 45, a former attorney and stay-at-home mom, aired a television ad in which she declared, “When it comes to illegal immigration, we can’t get tough enough,” adding “we need an Arizona law here.”
She also sent out a mailer (above) that depicts her aiming an assault rifle as she lies atop a version of the U.S. Constitution, demonstrating her bona fides with the National Rifle Association.
This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2010.