Florida GOP primaries heat up in House District 27

Rep. Stan McClain’s term-limited Florida House of Representatives District 27 is set to expire and is now on track to become a senator.

Three Republicans are competing in the primary for District 27, which includes Marion, Lake and Volusia counties.

First of all there is Becky Sirolli, a retired law enforcement officer with a distinguished record. Then there’s Richard Gentrya career member of Tallahassee’s lobbyist corps, and finally, Steve Schuurtwho was extremely successful as a small entrepreneur.

(Story continues below the 2 ads below)

Sirolli doesn’t have a lot of money. She’s put up a little of her own money, but this race really comes down to Gentry or Shives. Gentry’s family claims the small town of Astor in the district. In all of Gentry’s advertising, he’s tried to portray himself as an established local. Shives is legitimately a local, a former pastor and the creator of a very successful micro-camping trailer manufacturer.

Florida Daily reviewed the ad.

In all of Gentry’s advertising, he tries to portray himself as a local. Shives is legitimately a local, a former pastor and the creator of a very successful micro-camping trailer manufacturer.

Shives has contributed mostly his own money. Gentry has raised most of his money from Tallahassee’s lobbying corps. So far, they’ve spent about the same amount on resources.

Shives claims that Gentry is not a local and cannot be trusted because he is a creature of the swamp. Gentry has also argued that Shives wants to raise taxes.

Florida Daily spoke with Shives, who was clearly frustrated by Gentry’s line of attack. Shives says Gentry’s claim that he wants to raise taxes is based on the idea that Shives has taken a strong stance in favor of eliminating property taxes. Gentry’s claim is that Shives will have to raise other taxes to make up for the revenue loss, and thus favors higher taxes.

Florida Daily has discussed this issue and concluded that Gentry’s claim is incorrect.

Florida Daily confirmed to Shives that he did not want to raise taxes. Shives explained that the replacement revenue should be neutral at worst, but would rather simply eliminate property taxes and pay for them with less government spending. Shives has further argued that if you have to continue paying property taxes to the government, you remain in the position of never really owning your home, but always renting it from the government.

Shives has taken action and sent Gentry a cease and desist letter. Based on Florida’s laws, they’re unlikely to do much good, no matter how much freedom one candidate takes with another’s views.