George Moraitis responds to Ken Keechl’s challenge in HD 93 race

Republican Rep. George Moraitis (YouTube)

Though Rep. George Moraitis has always been outnumbered by Democrats in the left-of-center Broward legislative delegation, the Fort Lauderdale Republican expressed confidence on Wednesday after Ken Keechl‘s announcement he’s running against Moraitis this year.

Keechl, a former Broward County commissioner and mayor, criticized Moraitis as being out of step with voters on social and environmental issues, as well as for voting for a budget Keechl said did not adequately fund the school system.

Moraitis went on the offensive Wednesday afternoon, saying it is Keechl whose priorities miss the mark.

“While I appreciate his prior service as a county commissioner, Ken Keechl has lost his last two elections and it is interesting that he did not mention a word about Florida’s economy, creating jobs, or supporting Port Everglades in his campaign announcement,” Moraitis said in a statement to FloridaPolitics.com.

The remark nods toward Keechl’s reputation locally as something of perennial candidate. After successfully ousting former Broward Commissioner Jim Scott in 2006, Keechl mounted losing campaigns for his old seat in 2012 and 2014 after a narrow defeat in 2010 at the hands of Republican Commissioner Chip LaMarca.

His campaign for House District 93 is Keechl’s first state-level run, however.

Moraitis also responded to Keechl’s digs at his record on education and environmental restoration funding.

“I will also note that we recently passed a state budget that invests a historical record amount in our public schools in addition to nearly $200 million in Everglades restoration to improve our environment,” Moraitis said.

The HD 93 race is shaping up one of 2016’s most interesting state House races. Moraitis has cut a moderate profile in Tallahassee, fighting for beach renourishment efforts and other local priorities, and could make the case Broward is best represented by someone who has the ear of Republican leaders.

Keechl, however, may pounce on Moraitis’ votes in favor of pro-gun legislation in a presidential election cycle expected by many to favor Democrats.

One statehouse insider appraised the race as a pure toss-up in the wake of Keechl’s announcement, handicapping the odds of flipping the district into the “D” column at 50/50.