Drew Wilson
South Pasadena Republican Rep. Kathleen Peters has drawn an opponent for her District 69 re-election bid in Libertarian Robert Saviola, according to Florida Division of Elections records.
The Treasure Island candidate is an Air Force veteran, conservative talk radio host and hypnotist who teaches “covert hypnotism” and “neurolinguistic programming techniques.” He also appeared in the 2009 film “House of Horrors: The Movie.”
Saviola, who filed Monday, said he filed to run through the Libertarian Party of Florida because he believes there is no difference between the Republican and Democratic parties and that neither party protects the Constitution.
“I wanted to just relax under a palm tree,” Saviola said in a press release on his campaign site. “The problem is I have children and, for them, and for all of your children and grandchildren, we need to get our Constitution back.”
If elected to the House, Saviola aims to “reduce taxes and increase freedoms” by lowering the incarceration rate for victimless crimes. Although he does not have a background in political office, he said he has the ability to “create rapport with most anyone at most any time,” which could come in handy.
Peters has represented the Pinellas County district since 2012, winning both of her state House elections with comfortable margins. Through the end of May, she had raised $52,950 for her third term.
