Democrat Tracye Polson files to run in HD 15

The race to succeed outgoing Rep. Jay Fant in Jacksonville’s House District 15 has its first Democratic entrant as of Friday.

That candidate: Dr. Tracye Polson.

Polson, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist by trade, has mulled a run since the spring.

Her goal in running is to “give people in this district a real choice.”

“I don’t think they’ve had a real choice in a long time,” Polson said.

The first Republican in what will be a crowded field — the widely-endorsed, establishment-backed Jacksonville lawyer Wyman Duggan — got in the race a month ago and will report $50,000 raised in August alone, showing the kind of fast start that is a hallmark of Tim Baker/Brian Hughes clients.

Polson isn’t concerned about that, or the inevitability of serious Republican money coursing into this race.

“I’m not thinking in terms of competing with Republicans,” Polson said.

Her strategy includes going “door to door” to get the message out, “learning more about what’s important about District 15”; she believes “dollars will follow.”

Polson is excited about her campaign team also, “good people who know what they’re doing.”

Polson is not impressed with the incumbent Republican, Rep. Jay Fant, saying that he “doesn’t have a very good track record” of legislative accomplishment.

Among the issues that drive Polson: an economy that “isn’t working for everyone,” and a need for good jobs for working class people.

As well, Polson asserts that “every child deserves a quality public education,” and access to health care.

“This is a serious time for our state and country,” Polson contends.

She’s a candidate who is well-regarded by Democrats from different camps in the local party, and one can expect her to present a spirited challenge to the Republican candidate … and perhaps, to political orthodoxy itself.