Press Releases

St. Pete Times Endorses Will Weatherford
Aug 06, 2010

House 61, Republicans

Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, is one of the primary reasons voters have a say in easing the budget-busting class size amendment in November. Weatherford, chair of the House Education Policy Council, championed Amendment 8, which would replace inflexible caps on individual class sizes in favor of schoolwide averages. If voters approve, it would save the state and local school districts as much as $1 billion a year by some estimates — money that can be put to better use elsewhere during these austere times.

That effort alone is enough to recommend Weatherford, 30, in the Republican primary for House District 61, which encompasses east and central Pasco and a portion of New Tampa. He is Republicans’ strongest choice for the November ballot. Weatherford is designated to become speaker of the House in 2012.

Kevin Wright, 55, of Wesley Chapel, is the owner of a small Tampa-based company that produces and sells T-shirts. He is a tea party advocate critical of both parties for failed leadership in Tallahassee. Wright thinks big, calling himself a Walt Disney Republican and offering grand ideas. But on one of the most pressing issues facing the Legislature — balancing the budget — he promotes unworkable plans to eliminate property taxes in favor of a sales tax, and he wants to expand lottery games. Trying to squeeze more money from people who can least afford it is an unfair way to make ends meet.

In the Republican primary for House District 61, the Times recommends Will Weatherford.