By Eric Staats
Naples Daily News
12/07/07

State Sen. Burt Saunders announced Friday that he would challenge U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV in 2008 for his seat in Congress -- but with a twist.

Saunders said he will have no party affiliation in his run against fellow Republican Mack.

That means he will not have to beat Mack in the Republican primary to get a spot on the general election ballot in November.

Saunders, a Naples attorney, said he will remain a registered Republican and, if elected, will caucus with the Republican Party and will support the Republican leadership in Congress.

In a low-key announcement at the Collier Athletic Club in Naples, Saunders emphasized his ties to the community and said his bypassing the Republican primary will open up the decision on who will represent congressional District 14 to more voters. Only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary.

“I believe we can send a message to Congress that we seek solutions to problems, not gridlock and political warfare,’’ Saunders said.

The district stretches along the Southwest Florida coast, taking in all of Lee County and parts of Collier and Charlotte counties.

Democrat Larry Byrnes, a professor and former dean at Florida Gulf Coast University, also is running against Mack, who hails from Fort Myers.

Mack spokesman Jeff Cohen said Saunders’ decision to run with no party affiliation is about more than what Saunders is telling.

“I think it’s a clear sign that he understands the breadth and depth of support for Connie among Republicans and conservative voters,’’ Cohen said.

Mack has held the office since 2004.

Saunders announced his run for Congress with his wife, medical oncologist Lillian Love, at his side and with only reporters, a campaign manager and intern in the room. He stood in front of a red, white and blue banner that read, “Burt Saunders for U.S. Congress.’’

Saunders said the lack of fanfare doesn’t mean a lack of support for his candidacy.

He said he didn’t invite anyone to Friday’s announcement and hasn’t sought endorsements. He said he doesn’t expect GOP leaders in Collier County to endorse his campaign. Republicans who know him will vote for him in November anyway, he said.

“I’m still a Republican,’’ Saunders said.

Neither Collier County GOP Chairwoman Carla Dean nor Vice Chairman Doug Rankin could be reached for comment Friday night.

Saunders didn’t mention his “no party affiliation’’ status until the end of his remarks Friday.

He started by recalling his 25 years in public life in Southwest Florida and his roles as Boy Scout troop leader, Little League baseball team sponsor and board member for Project Help, a 24-hour crisis center and hotline.

Calling his 10 years in the state Legislature a high point in his life, he said he has focused on economic diversity, lowering taxes, improving health care and public education, protecting the environment, eliminating government fraud and fighting crime.

Saunders cannot run for re-election to the Florida Senate because of term limits. He was elected by 34 votes in 1998 and ran unopposed in 2000, 2004 and 2006.

Saunders was Collier County attorney from 1982 to 1986 and a Collier County commissioner from 1986 to 1994 before being elected to the Florida House for one term.

In 2006, he ran for Florida Attorney General but dropped out of the race.

In a sign of the campaign to come, Cohen disputed Saunders’ record as a tax fighter, calling him a “liberal tax raiser.’’ Cohen cited votes to eliminate sales tax exemptions in 2002 and to delay the repeal of the intangibles tax in 2001.

Saunders said Congress has been crippled by bickering and political warfare and unable to solve problems facing the nation.

He said the “global war on terrorism is our greatest challenge’’ and that “we must continue to pursue terrorists wherever they hide.’’

“But we do not have endless resources and we must be smart about how they are utilized,’’ he said. “Forging true international coalitions and better understanding of our enemy will ensure our victory.’’

Saunders called for a stop to illegal immigration, tamper-proof biometric identification cards for all non-citizens, a national commitment to develop alternative fuels, affordable health care and protections for American workers.
 

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