What a difference a letter makes.
After two unsuccessful Congressional runs as a Democrat, Jim Roach is attempting another try for the Cape Coral House District 77 seat currently filled by Republican Rep. Dane Eagle.
This time, however, Roach has a different strategy. He is changing the “D” to an “R,” facing Eagle as a Republican next year, reports Betty Parker for News-Press.com.
Roach tells Parker he is “more of an issues candidate than a party candidate,” and believes that to succeed in Southwest Florida, a candidate must with the Republican primary.
Any dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party in the Coral Gables region comes from a reluctance of the party to invest serious money into area races, choosing to focus more resources on winnable matchups. It certainly appears to Roach that things were not going to change in 2014.
His reluctance to attack Republican opponents made Roach more attractive to the GOP, and the decision to switch parties a little easier. Party officials also were more receptive to his views.
“The letter behind the name should not be that important,” Roach told the Lee County-based news site. “I don’t talk about parties, or what the party position is, I talk about what’s the right thing to do … I can be the Democrat who runs and loses, or I could change parties and run as a Republican in the primary, where the races are really decided. It’s not a philosophical decision, it’s pragmatic.”
Roach has not officially filed papers to run. However, since he lives in the region and is gaining support, another campaign is likely.
If Roach does make a bid for the House seat, he says will focus on two issues: supporting pension systems and Medicaid expansion. Eagle wants to reform pensions and opposes Medicaid expansion.
It is still uncertain if Roach will be welcomed with open arms by GOP primary voters.
Parker writes that Lee County’s Republican Chairman Terry Miller said he had discussed Roach’s decision. The party welcomes new members and recognizes that members don’t always agree on everything, Miller said.
Read Parker’s original article at www.News-Press.com.
