Russell Relies On Foundation of Campaigns Past

Meet the gentler John Russell.

The 52-year-old acute care nurse practitioner is back for another crack at the 5th Congressional seat held by Brooksville Republican Ginny Brown-Waite. Past races have gotten nasty, including an alleged shoving episode between Russell and Brown-Waite's husband.

Russell has also been critical of his own party members, including state Chairwoman Karen Thurman.

Russell says the bump with Brown-Waite's husband never happened and defends his assertion that state Democrats have not always stuck to traditional party ideals, but acknowledges he might have come off in the past as a little too passionate.

He said his two previous attempts at the seat have made him a seasoned campaigner.

"I've got to smile more and talk softer," he said, and then smiled.

While his demeanor might change, Russell says his stances on the big problems the nation faces have not wavered since the last election.

"All the same issues are there, they're just worse," he said.

Russell favors an immediate but systematic withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

He said his profession and interaction with patients has only deepened his motivation to revamp the health-care system. He favors a single-payer plan, and said he would fight to ensure the Veterans Administration is properly funded.

He is renewing calls made during his previous campaign for a national catastrophic insurance fund to help spread the risk posed by the country's natural disasters including, of course, hurricanes that ravage Florida.

Russell supports an aggressive public investment in research and development of alternative energy sources: "Where we can lead the world, and where we are currently failing, is in the field of energy," he said. He opposes expanded drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

He says he would challenge the cozy relationship between big corporations and the legislative branch by pushing for stiffer regulation of the banking and mortgage industries.

Russell, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., won the 2006 primary election and got 40 percent of the vote against Brown-Waite in the general election. He says that should help lend credence to his assertion that he's the Democrats' best chance to wrest back the seat Karen Thurman lost to Brown-Waite in 2004.

Voters, he contends, will see he represents a clearly "different path" from the last four years.

"I feel very comfortable how I perform one-on-one against Ginny Brown-Waite," he said.

John T. Russell

Age: 52.

Resides: Dade City.

Family: Engaged.

Education: Bachelor's degree from the D'youville College School of Nursing; master's degree in health systems management from Niagara University and The State University of New York at Buffalo; master's degree in nursing from the University of South Florida.

Religion: Roman Catholic.

Hobbies: running, tennis, ice hockey.

Last book read: "Shock Doctrine," by Naomi Klein.

Most admired: The wives and families of troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.