Two Democrats File To Challenge Brown-Waite

BROOKSVILLE - Two Democrats whose names are likely familiar to voters have plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite for the 5th Congressional District seat.

David Werder, a 52-year-old disabled former truck driver from Spring Hill, and Carol Castagnero, a 69-year-old former educator from Lakeland, have filed to challenge the Brooksville Republican, who is seeking a third term.

It will be Werder's fifth bid for elected office and his third attempt for the 5th District seat.

Castagnero ran for the state Senate District 15 seat in 2004, losing to Paula Dockery. She ran for governor in 2006.

When asked why he wants to make another go of it, Werder quipped: "Fame and fortune."

Then, a couple of beats later: "To do the right thing."

For Werder, who moved to Florida from New Jersey in 1978, that means reforming the health care industry by having the government purchase and run hospitals.

"It's hard not to want the systems in other countries when you see the ability to get health care compared to being held hostage by your wallet here," he said.

Troops should be withdrawn from Iraq and the money put toward health care, he said. He would push for alternative energy such as solar and wind and opposes drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, though he admits that he thinks that is probably inevitable. He favors doing away with the Electoral College.

Werder, who has taken some community college courses and is single, is making the same pledge as in past elections to donate half of his salary to help seniors and veterans pay for prescription medication.

He said he has collected more than 1,300 of the 5,554 signatures needed to get on the ballot.

Werder is also considering a nickname for the ballot that plays up his claim to fame: In 1982, Werder sat atop a pole in Clearwater for 439 days to protest the price of gasoline.

"I'm thinking about 'Flagpole Sitter," Werder said, adding that many people he has approached in his quest to collect signatures "don't know the name Werder, but as soon as I mention 'flagpole sitter' they say, 'Oh, you're him.'"

Castagnero didn't return a call seeking comment but, according to election materials, she was raised in the coal-mining town in Western Pennsylvania.

During her bid for governor, she ran on a platform that included pledges to get rid of the FCAT, improve child welfare and elderly care systems and reform health care.

She is married with one child.

The two were the only Democrats who had filed for the seat as of Friday.

Jim King, a veteran and political novice from Land O'Lakes, is the sole Republican to file so far.

A spokesman for Brown-Waite declined to comment on her two Democratic challengers.