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The Times Recommends Bill Heller For Florida House!

Florida faces difficult challenges, and too many Tampa Bay incumbents blindly follow House Republican leaders and embrace bad policy.

Even when House leaders correctly identify areas that need work, their approach is too extreme. The state's growth management law needs an overhaul, but they removed the law's most meaningful provisions. Republicans were right to move toward changing the way teachers are evaluated, creating a system of merit pay and abolishing tenure for new teachers. But they overreached in the specifics, refused to negotiate — and the bill was vetoed.

On other issues, House Republicans were flat wrong. The GOP-controlled House voted to open the door to oil drilling in state waters (failed to pass the Senate), increase restrictions on abortion (vetoed by the governor) and create slush funds for legislative leaders (vetoed by the governor). It is time to move back toward the middle.

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Bill Heller District 52

Rep. Bill Heller has been a positive force in the House since he was first elected four years ago. The Democrat is knowledgeable about state issues, and reflects the values of this district, which covers northeast St. Petersburg. He faces a strong challenger, but Heller deserves to be re-elected.

The former dean of the University South Florida St. Petersburg has a strong grasp of education issues. He voted against the Republican-backed teacher tenure bill this year, and he wants to reduce the emphasis on standardized tests, increase money for education and improve teacher quality. He supports education reform, but he wants teachers and other stakeholders to help craft the plans.

Heller, 75, voted against gutting growth management and additional restrictions on abortion that were pursued by the Republican leadership. But he is not particularly partisan and stakes out his own positions, such as supporting tuition vouchers for private schools. He says building a light rail system should be a state priority, and he wants to focus on creating jobs and strengthening ethics laws.

Jeff Brandes, 34, is a first-time Republican candidate whose family has deep roots in the community. His family owned Cox Lumber Co. for decades before selling it in 2006, and Brandes manages his family's real estate holdings. He preaches conservative ideals such as cutting taxes and red tape, but he is short on specifics.

Brandes says he could be more effective than Heller as a member of the Republican majority, but there is little to support that claim. Heller is an energetic, well-informed lawmaker who represents the district well.

In House District 52, the Times recommends Bill Heller.

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With One Month To Go, Our Volunteers' Hard Work Is Paying Off

This weekend our campaign will reach an important milestone with only 30 days remaining until Election Day. Vote by mail ballots are being returned, and undecided voters are beginning to break towards Bill, or our opponent, Jeff Brandes.

There is no more critical time than now to keep Bill's positive message moving forward, and the campaign would like to thank all of our volunteers who have done so much to help us get to this point. To put it frankly, their efforts have been outstanding!

Time after time, supporters, colleagues, former students, all have walked through the door of our campaign office to dedicate their time because of how Bill has impacted their lives and the community. They have made thousands of phone calls and knocked on thousands of doors, sharing their personal stories with fellow citizens, and as the map above shows, the response has been fantastic.

However, we still need your help with contacting thousands more voters during the last month of the campaign. If you haven't had the opportunity to volunteer, and want to help make a difference, get in touch with the campaign's Field Coordinator, Luke Kosar, at (727) 678-1275, or by email at luke@voteheller.com.

Volunteers Needed For Campaign Phone Bank!

The biggest challenge with any campaign is getting your message to the voters. Though this will always seem like a daunting task, with the help of volunteers like you it can be accomplished in no time.

The Bill Heller Campaign is looking for folks that want to help spread the word about Bill's leadership and service here in the community. Phone calls can be made every weekday between the hours of 4-7pm in our campaign office (located at 4201 4th St N, St. Pete), or from the comfort of your own home.

If you think you might be interested in this critical component of our campaign, please call our Field Coordinator, Luke Kosar, at (305) 457-8018, or email him at luke@voteheller.com.

New Campaign Office Now Open

The Bill Heller Campaign is pleased to announce the opening of our new campaign office! Besides being a comfy place to escape the summer rain showers, the new workspace will serve as a meeting place for volunteers, supporters, as well as the nerve center of our effort to send Bill Heller back to Tallahassee.

We invite you to stop by and check us out. We have campaign signs, literature, and all around pleasant company. The office is located at 4201 4th St N, just north of the Pepin Restaurant.

Campaign Website Launched!

The Bill Heller Campaign is pleased to announce the launch of its new interactive website.  We're gearing up to begin volunteer activities and www.voteheller.com is the place to go to sign up, stay informed, and show your support.  You can volunteer to canvass on foot or by phone, make a contribution, or just read up on Bill's background. 

Pinellas County needs Bill Heller in Tallahassee -- and Bill needs your help to win this election.  Please get involved, and spread the word to your friends and neighbors too.