House Race Pits Incumbent Against Lawyer, Student

Robert Schenck, a Republican who served nearly a full term on the Hernando County Commission, wants to keep the House 44 seat he's held since 2006.

The challengers in the race are Democrat and Spring Hill attorney Jason Melton, who is running in the place of Joe Puglia. Puglia is a Brooksville businessman who bowed out of the race after his wife was stricken with a serious illness. Puglia's name will remain on the ballot, but a vote for him will be a vote for Melton.

Also in the race is Sarah Roman, a student from New Port Richey who's running on the Green Party ticket. Roman, 22, is a mysterious candidate who hasn't done any real campaigning, hasn't been in touch with the state Green Party and has failed to reply to media requests for interviews, including queries for this story.

Some have theorized Roman is a decoy candidate meant to siphon votes from the Democrat in the race. She has denied that, saying she simply wants to bring an environmentally minded perspective to Tallahassee.

Schenck, 33, maintains he has a proven record of service and has shown leadership in just two years in the capital, but Melton disagrees, contending Schenck has squandered his chance to effect real change.

Schenck is married with three children. He earned a bachelor's of science in history from the University of Central Florida.

Melton, 34, earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a law degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He's currently engaged to be married.

Here's where Schenck and Melton stand on the issues.

Education:

Schenck, a former teacher, acknowledges the Legislature needs to do its best to preserve education funding. But he said there are other ways to improve education, and said he supports ideas like former Speaker Marco Rubio's plan to create a "world-class curriculum" for the state's schools.

Melton says Florida citizens were "lied to" by lawmakers about how state lottery dollars would be used to bolster education. He said he would fight to ensure the revenue from the lottery goes to supplement education dollars, not replace them. He says the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test should be used to gauge progress but not to punish schools that don't perform well by withholding funding. And he vowed to streamline the Department of Education.

Property Insurance:

Schenck said legislation that allows homeowners to opt out of sinkhole coverage is starting to bring premiums down in this area. He said the issue will likely be readdressed but didn't offer specifics on what might come of that effort. Melton says one idea worth attention is a reinsurance pool funded by the state's homeowners that would cover wind damage.

Economic Development:

One of the hardest punches Melton has thrown against Schenck is in this area. Melton contends Schenck has taken thousands of dollars from corporations and done little to encourage companies to set up shop here. Melton vows to be an aggressive lobbyist on the part of the district in that regard.

"How hard would it be to say, hey, how about doing businesses in Hernando County," Melton said. "(Schenck) seems to have just disappeared to his office to collect checks."

Schenck scoffs at that. He says he's played a role as a commissioner and as a legislator in bringing many of the businesses to the Hernando County Airport Park, meeting with CEOs to talk up the county's good points. He'll do the same if re-elected, with a focus on helping the district share in the new wave of "green" industry.

The Budget Crunch:

Melton says the state should reexamine its tax exemptions, acknowledging that stripping away tax-free status from luxury items such as yachts and skyboxes at stadiums wouldn't solve the budget woes but would at least be "a step in the right direction."

Schenck shys away from such an approach, calling it "a slippery slope" that could lead to increasing the tax burden on most Floridians. He said just about every area of government will have to shrink and says he has the ability to make tough decisions in that regard.

Property Taxes:

Schenck said he is proud of the work he contributed to make at least some headway toward fixing the property tax crisis. He said he'd reintroduce a bill that would turn back assessments for homebuyers to 1994 levels - before the Save Our Homes amendment took effect - with a 3 percent annual increase.

Melton maintains that one way to help make the process fairer is to assess property less than a year in arrears.

Oil Drilling:

Schenck supports the expansion of offshore drilling; he says it should happen "immediately" and as close as 50 miles from shore. Melton, who grew up in Texas and remembers washing the oil from the soles of his feet after visits to beaches there, says he is personally against expanded drilling but wouldn't necessarily vote against it if oil companies could show a need to move into new areas.

Robert Schenck

Age: 33

Education: University of Central Florida, bachelor's degree, 1998

Family: Married with two children

Professional experience: Has owned a real estate brokerage firm since 2007; Hernando County School District, exceptional student teacher, 2001 to 2002; teacher at Brooksville Central High School, 1998 to 2001

Political experience: State House of Representatives, 2006 to present; Hernando County commissioner, 2002 to 2006

James Melton

Age: 34

Education: Catholic University of America, law degree, 2002; Southern Methodist University, bachelor's degree, 1996

Family: Engaged

Professional experience: Attorney since 2002

Political Experience: None

Sara Roman

Age: 22

Education: Currently enrolled at Pasco-Hernando Community College

Family: Single

Professional experience: Child care worker for Salvation Army

Political experience: None