SD 26 candidates ‘debate’ first time face-to-face

albritton price sd 26

Lake Wales Democrat Catherine Price and state Rep. Ben Albritton held the closest thing to a Senate District 28 debate Wednesday before the Tiger Bay Club of Polk County.

While they tried to play nice, it wound up becoming a political junkie’s dream.

The seat, currently held by Republican Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Republican, will be vacant in the November election. Grimsley ran unsuccessfully for Commissioner of Agriculture in the Aug. 28 primary.

Albritton, term-limited from his House seat, is a citrus grower and partner in a grove management company. He is the former chair of the Florida Citrus Commission and served as chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and vice chair of the House Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee and the Appropriations Committee, among others.

Price, a nurse and public health administrator, is in her first run for office hoping to spur state lawmakers to promote better health care, improved access and more affordable care in the state. She also served abroad in the Peace Corps.

Both seemed to agree there should be no laws allowing recreational use of marijuana or an immediate jump to $15 an hour minimum wage, although Price said it could be done incrementally.

They even started out polite.

Albritton praised her perspective on health care (her premier issue) and her intelligence “instead of a wing nut who just wants to get elected.”

“He is quite charming and a nice guy to run with,” Price said.

Nevertheless, the two took a few definite rhetorical shots at one another.

“I am tired of criticism and over testing. This has been a pretext for stripping money from public schools and giving it to for-profit schools,” she said.

Under a written question on education from the audience, Albritton said, “I support public, charter and home schools and follow the lead of some superintendents and principals that this is not just about money. What about home life? What about the community?”

SD 26 is geographically the largest, most rural, agricultural and Republican districts. Three of four candidates who ran in last month’s GOP primary for Agriculture Commissioner live in or very close to the district.

Beginning in southern Polk County the SD 26 runs south, including all or portions of Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, Glades and Okeechobee counties.

What SD 26 is not is among the six current-Republican districts that the Florida Democratic Party has assigned special attention and funding to as “viable.” But Price said her almost continual presence among the eight counties will help her race.

“I am here because of the ‘blue wave.’ We need to have good strong debate on public issues,” Price said. “I have been all over the district and this is the first time I have met Ben … I haven’t seen him out there.”

“If you think I don’t move around in this district, keep thinking that all the way to the election. I have the endorsements and I know what I am doing. I hear a lot of non-specifics from you,” Albritton shot back.

Each insult brought a cheer from the crowd, of course.

By the end of the last reporting period, Albritton raised $241,720; Price listed campaign contributions of $38,010.

Bill Rufty

Former Ledger of Lakeland columnist Bill Rufty is Central Florida political correspondent for SaintPetersBlog and Florida Politics. Rufty had been with the Ledger from 1985-2015, where, as political editor, he covered a wide range of beats, including local and state politics, the Lakeland City Commission, and the Florida Legislature. Ledger editor Lenore Devore said about Rufty’s 30-year career: “[He is] a man full of knowledge, a polling expert and a war history buff … who has a steel trap in his brain, remembering details most of us have long since forgotten.”


3 comments

  • Catherine Price

    September 22, 2018 at 10:38 am

    Bill, Just a little follow up on SD 26 – You forgot to mention the ethics problems that Ben Albritton has down in Hardee County with regard to millions that disappeared from the Hardee County Economic Development Authority. Ben was given a pass by the Republican led Ethics Committee but people in Hardee County continue to be very upset and wanting to know where the money went. Life is very hard in Hardee County (they are actually losing population) and this money was intended to offset the hardship of having 45% of their county mined out. I have traveled all over SD 26 many times (all eight counties – I am on my way the Glades County right now) and have attended many Chamber of Commerce and economic development events. These are events that you would think Mr. Albritton would attend. However, Wednesday was the first time that I have seen him on the campaign trail. Apparently, he has been very busy raising money – too busy to attend campaign events in SD26. No doubt he will hit my campaign with some mailers and such (that he will top dollar pay for). But he is not out here talking to the people of this district – finding out what they are concerned about: jobs, education, healthcare and the environment. Needless to say he probably does not want to talk about what is happening in Hardee County – they also have a very high unemployment rate He does not want to talk about all the bad water policy that he has supported. I am seeing the environmental legacy that this Tallahasseee legislative group has left. We are out here walking and talking to the real voters. There is a real choice. Vote Catherine Price FL Senate 26!

    https://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/grand-jury-slams-grant-others-in-hardee-county-subsidy-deal/2221014

    https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/politicians-squander-millions-of-taxpayer-money/67-236660657

  • JeanReed

    September 22, 2018 at 11:17 am

    This is a good and fair evaluation of the Tiger Bay September meeting/debate. I remain wondering what the issue is/was concerning Hardee County Economic Development/missing money. Too bad that didn’t get discussed further.

  • Maria Herman

    September 22, 2018 at 10:21 pm

    Did anyone mention that Catherine has more than one degree, went back to school as an adult to get her nursing degree, helped to pass legislation to fund health care for those who can’t afford it and was instrumental in starting a free clinic? There is a lot to this woman who has helped others her whole life and only got into this race to continue this work as she saw the politicians not being responsive to the needs of their constituents. I, too, would be interested in hearing more about the missing funds Mr. Albriton is linked to.

Comments are closed.


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