Florida Rep. Dan Gelber easily won election Tuesday to the state Senate, beating newcomer Dean Santoro, by a three-to-one margin, 99,724 votes to 37,772, in a district spanning parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
A political force in the Florida House of Representatives, the former Democratic minority leader campaigned on promises to improve public education, to provide health insurance for 3.8 million uninsured Floridians by giving incentives to employer-based health care plans and to address the inequities in Florida's tax structure.
The 320,000 voters in District 35, which borders the north shore of Miami-Dade County and includes parts of Hollywood,Pembroke Pines and West Park in Broward County, chose the experienced politician over a rookie, who offered voters "a unique opportunity to break from the politics of the past."
A graduate of Tufts University and University of Florida, Gelber has been an advocate for education, healthcare, public safety and the environment concerns throughout his legislative career.
Gelber believes that Florida is being transformed from a mid-wage, low-cost state to a low-wage, high-cost state, a path that could jeopardize the state's future and the well-being of its residents.
"The great challenges of our state begin and end with Florida's public education; we've funded education in this state on the cheap," Gelber said. He wants to raise standards, but not use the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, the FCAT, as the "sole organizing principle" of school accountability.
Santoro, a University of New Haven alumnus, has a bachelor's degree in computer science and a master's degree in management. Like Gelber, Santoro also believes "education is the most important issue in my district and in the state."
The two candidates agreed that restructuring the education system is crucial; however, Santoro wants to cut local and state government spending, while Gelber, criticizing his opponent, says "reform and relief must be together."
Catherine Thomas
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