Florida House District 55 | Democratic primary
Winner: Darryl E. Rouson
The winner of this primary will face a write-in candidate in this overwhelmingly Democratic district in November. The pair met once before in a March special election. Both are known for activism, progressive politics and competitiveness.
| Darryl E. Rouson, 53 | Charles McKenzie Jr. , 52 | |
| Experience |  The incumbent is an attorney and former president of the St. Petersburg NAACP chapter, where he fought for diversity on the St. Petersburg Times board and at City Hall. Gov. Charlie Crist nominated him to the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. |
 A longtime education activist and minister, he is the state coordinator for Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He also sits on the board of directors for the Florida Council of Churches and ACLU Florida. He has campaigned for fair wages for farm workers and for corporate diversity. |
| If elected . . . | Rouson wants to reduce recidivism in the prison population by promoting faith-based programs. He wants to unite churches, corporations and neighborhood leaders to combat local crime and promote economic development. He supports more funding for schools and courts. | McKenzie says he wants to expand living wage jobs by investing in education and supporting innovative industries. He also wants to broaden the state’s school grading systems to focus less on tests and more on academic progress. He supports universal health care. |
| Their plans for shoring up property insurance | Asked governor to call a special legislative session to discuss disturbing trends in homeowners insurance. | Says lawmakers have been soft on insurance companies and need to discourage rate increases. Supports a tax increase on cigarettes to help cover any state-provided coverage. |
| Opinion on Amendment 5, which would repeal school property taxes but require replacement revenue, such as higher sales tax | As a member of the state tax commission, Rouson helped push Amendment 5 forward. He said it will reduce property tax bills by about 25 percent by abolishing a portion that goes exclusively to schools. The Legislature would have to replace that money from other sources, most likely a higher sales tax. “I don’t want to rob one penny from public education. I will fight with every ounce of me to secure public funding at a greater level than where it is now.” | McKenzie said the tax swap plan is dangerous and unreliable. Low-income families that depend heavily on public schools and do not own property will be hit the hardest, he said. “Amendment 5 is a direct assault on the school children of District 55 and their parents . . . This amendment jeopardizes funding for our public schools at a time when public school teachers and students are already under assault by the Republican-led Legislature.” |
| Assets | House, other property, cars, stock | Savings accounts, state pension |
| Liabilities | Bank loan, mortgage loan | Credit card, education and bank loans |
| Net worth | $300,000 | $54,352 |
| Income | Attorney salary and fees | Church donations |
| Personal | Married to Angela Rouson; 8 children. Graduate of Xavier University and University of Florida law school. Overcame a drug addiction. | Married to Lorna Washington; three children. Graduate of University of Central Florida. Overcame childhood in foster care. |
| Web site | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes |
About the job: District 55 includes parts of four counties: Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota. The term lasts two years, and representatives make a yearly salary of $30,336.
