For Democrats in the Florida Legislature, the long road back to respectability runs right along the Broward coastline. It’s an uphill climb, but with a great view.
It jogs past Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beachfront, winds through upscale Coral Ridge and past the condo canyons of Galt Ocean Mile, followed by the quaint Old Florida charm of little Lauderdale-by-the Sea (don’t blink!) to a rejuvenated Pompano Beach.
This is the heart of Florida House District 100, which has been in Republican hands for as long as anyone can remember.
For eight years, this seat has been held by Chip LaMarca. Term-limited, he cannot run again in November.
Every two years, LaMarca was tested by a Democrat, and every time, he won, on the strength of a nice-guy image and strong name recognition.
But long before LaMarca, this affluent sliver of east Broward was basically a Republican Party heirloom.
Before LaMarca, the seat was held by George Moraitis. Before him it was Ellyn Bogdanoff, and before her it was Connie Mack IV, and before him it was Debby Sanderson — for 18 years.
With LaMarca out of the picture, Democrats think they have found a strong candidate to loosen the GOP grip on this rare, reliable patch of red in a deep-blue county. And if that “blue wave” is real, this might be the year.
He is Michael Ferguson, “Ferg” to his old pals at Cardinal Gibbons High School, where he played football and lacrosse before launching his legal career.
He comes from a close-knit Irish family where service to country is important.
Right out of Nova Southeastern Law School, he joined the Air Force, where his law degree was a prized asset. As a judge advocate in Europe, he prosecuted felony-level crimes and rose to the rank of captain.
He’s now a civil trial lawyer at Krupnick Campbell Malone in Fort Lauderdale, at 32.
“I need to be a voice of a new generation,” he said over coffee at Crema Gourmet, a coffee shop in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
The store’s windows look out over the newly-named President Donald J. Trump Boulevard, and that visual really sticks in Ferguson’s craw.
The sign was part of a behind-the-scenes deal in Tallahassee to stick Trump’s name on a state road and put it out of the reach of town residents, who wanted to amend the charter to remove Trump’s from a town sign (Ferguson’s brother Patrick, an environmental lawyer, was a vocal leader of the charter change effort).
It showed Michael Ferguson how twisted Tallahassee’s priorities are.
“It was very frustrating — a microcosm of what’s happening at the state and national level,” he said.
He will appear on the ballot as Michael Terence Ferguson, but not until November, when he will face one of four Republicans: Yoni Anijar, Raul Gallon, Eric “Doc” Stelnicki or Chris Vincent.
That could work to Ferguson’s advantage. While Republicans battle each other this summer for the GOP nomination (to be decided in the primary on Aug. 18), Ferguson can keep knocking on doors and saving campaign money.
He figures he has hit 4,000 houses so far. According to the Broward elections website, registered Republicans have a 5-point lead over Democrats in the district (36% to 31%) and 30% are not in either party. He would have to peel off some Republicans and dominate among NPAs to win. It’s difficult, but not impossible.
This state House seat is largely within the new 25th Congressional District, where both parties will spend millions to motivate voters. (This is where Rep. Jared Moskowitz is seeking re-election, and his race is a high priority for Democrats nationally).
Walking door-to-door, Ferguson emphasizes the need to address housing affordability, and forget divisive, petty Republican culture war politics.
“I think a lot of people are fed up and disgusted,” he said. “Our cops can’t even afford to live in the communities they serve.”
A well-financed candidate in the race is Stelnicki, a plastic and craniofacial surgeon. Through May, he had raised $199,000 and loaned his campaign $122,000.
If Stelnicki is the Republican nominee, it would set up a classic Tallahassee confrontation between a doctor and a trial lawyer, two groups historically at odds at the state Capitol.
Ferguson raised $30,000 and loaned his campaign $33,000 through May.
His candidacy fits into a larger mosaic because there are 34 Democrats in the 120-member House.
Democrats need to flip seven seats and reach 41 just to break the GOP super-majority that allows them to do whatever they want. It’s a very long road, and it starts here.
Steve Bousquet is Opinion Editor for the Sun Sentinel and a columnist in Tallahassee and Fort Lauderdale. You can contact him directly at sbousquet@sunsentinel.com or (850) 567-2240.
