Drew Wilson
Lake City Republican Rep. Elizabeth Porter has drawn a Democratic challenger for her House District 10 seat, dashing her chances of going a third cycle in a row without major party competition.
Fredrick “Rick” Schutte IV filed Friday to run for the seat. The Live Oak resident and Army veteran has been working as a lawyer since the early 1990s and before that he worked as a sheriff’s deputy in Miami-Dade County. In addition to running his law practice, the Florida State University alumnus is the judge advocate for the Suwanee chapter of Disabled American Veterans.
The last time Porter had a Democratic challenger was in the 2010 cycle, before redistricting. She won that contest in the old District 11 with 54 percent of the vote. Porter went unopposed for a second term in 2012, and in 2014 her only competition was a pair of write-in candidates who combined for less than 2 percent of the vote on Election Day.
A lack of challengers has meant Porter hasn’t had to raise much money to win re-election. Her 2010 campaign, when she had to run in a three-way Republican primary, brought in about $100,000. She took in $45,000 in 2012 and $74,000 in 2014 when she ran unopposed. Through August, Porter has raised $8,400 for the 2016 cycle, though she hasn’t posted any contributions since March.
Democrats outnumber Republicans in District 10, though the ones who make it to the polls lean toward the GOP. Schutte’s candidacy, while quite the long shot, may produce an entertaining race. Either way, Porter won’t take 100 percent of the vote this time.
