Thursday, February 16, 2012

Allen West's GOP challenger backed Dem for governor

By Jonathan Mattise
February 14, 2012

Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder to run against Allen West for new proposed congressional seat

TCPalm:

Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder will step into the ring against U.S. Rep. Allen West as the hometown Republican candidate for a new proposed Treasure Coast-centric congressional seat.

Crowder announced Tuesday he will compete in the August Republican primary against West, a national conservative tea party icon from Plantation. The winner of that GOP primary might run into another out-of-towner moving north in Patrick Murphy, a 29-year-old Fort Lauderdale businessman touting an anti-Allen-West platform. Or another Democrat could emerge in a primary.

Both West and Murphy abandoned the Palm Beach-Broward County District 22 congressional race within the last two weeks to run in a proposed St. Lucie-Martin-north Palm Beach district. West uprooted because of how overwhelmingly Democratic District 22 would turn. Murphy followed along to stay on West's heels and avoid a primary with former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel.

Crowder, 66, said Tuesday that the candidacy musical chairs didn't sit well with him, and added that Treasure Coast voters don't benefit from an outsider running locally for political reasons.

"A hired gun who does not know the people and challenges of this district cannot speak for the people of the 18th District with the same passion and conviction as a person who has actually been a rooted and empathetic member of this community," Crowder said.

Crowder, a Stuart resident who has served in Treasure Coast law enforcement almost a half century, said he's always been interested in running for Congress. Only when no one local stepped forward to run in the proposed District 18 — including all of St. Lucie and Martin and part of northern Palm Beach — did he start seriously considering it.

The new District 18 would just about evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. It would, however, have a Treasure Coast tilt — Martin and St. Lucie combined would outnumber Palm Beach's voters by a 60-40 margin.

Crowder will start the race behind by millions in campaign money. Murphy, so far, has stuffed $1.4 million into his campaign coffer. West has proved a prolific money-raiser, and tea party backing has funneled $5.85 million total his way.

Crowder said he'll have to rely on a lot of grassroots tactics in his campaign. But former Treasure Coast Democratic Congressman Tim Mahoney thinks familiarity trumps money for Crowder in Martin and St. Lucie counties.

"Crowder will prevail in this primary. There's no doubt in my mind," Mahoney said. "I'd put Crowder's years of public service over Allen West's millions any day of the week."

Crowder, a moderate Republican, said he's advocating more compromise to clear up the divisive partisan logjam in Congress.

"I think people want to see a congressman who works for the common good; sometimes you get, and sometimes you give," he said.

But Republicans voters still remember when Crowder, who said he's not a "staunch, blind follower" of the party, broke party lines during the race for governor by backing Democrat Alex Sink over Gov. Rick Scott in a TV ad.

St. Lucie County GOP Chairman Bill Paterson said that ad will prove detrimental for Crowder in a GOP primary. Paterson added he thinks West is still the odds-on favorite in August, and again in November general elections.

State Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, agreed West is the favorite because of party support, and said he'd pick the congressman over Crowder.

Since he's already a more-than-familiar face, Crowder needs to raise between $250,000 and $500,000 in the next four months or so to be effective, said former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, a Republican who represented part of the Treasure Coast. Foley said West's stack of money and national prominence will be tough to beat, but he's not ruling out Crowder's appeal.

"My thought was that race was Allen West's to lose," Foley said. "I still give Sheriff Crowder a fighter's chance to be a contender in that race. I would never count out Bob Crowder."

West shifted his attention to the seat during a three-way GOP congressional reshuffling two weeks ago. U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, announced he'd leave the area to run for a proposed rural district largely covering Central Florida. Adam Hasner said he'd drop out of the U.S. Senate race to run for West's district.

The new district still could change while the courts review the Legislature's once-a-decade redistricting maps over the next month or so.

Palm Beach Gardens Democrat David Lutrin and Okeechobee Republican Joe Arnold both have announced congressional runs and could vie for the new district. Neither has raised more than $290, however.

Crowder said he'll prepare to campaign and review issues in the new few weeks. He also might resign as sheriff before his term is up because of the campaign.

PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 18 CANDIDATES

Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder

Party: Republican

Hometown: Stuart

Age: 66

A moderate Republican, Crowder has worked in law enforcement on the Treasure Coast for almost a half century.

U.S. Rep. Allen West

Party: Republican

Hometown: Plantation

Age: 51

A national conservative tea party icon, West served more than 20 years as an Army lieutenant colonel before he won his Palm Beach-Broward County District 22 seat in 2010.

Patrick Murphy

Party: Democrat

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale

Age: 29

A Florida Keys native and disaster relief/environmental cleanup company executive, Murphy followed West when he left District 22 to run on the Treasure Coast.

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