Republicans compete to take on Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Aug 1, 2010 — Sun Sentinel

Anthony Man

Aug. 1, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Door to door campaigning in blistering summer heat. Getting slammed by anonymous Internet commenters. Pleading for money.

For the next three weeks that's the life Karen Harrington, Robert Lowry and Donna Milo have chosen.

The three are competing for the Republican nomination to take on U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston -- someone seen by every independent analysis as having a virtual lock on re-election.

"They might hold her down to 60-40 [percent] rather than 65-35, but she's so solid in this district," said Kevin Hill, a political scientist at Florida International University, who lives in the 20th Congressional District.

Among Wasserman Schultz's advantages: "She's got a heavily Democratic district. She's very successful at constituent service. She's always on TV."

Harrington, Lowry and Milo aren't deterred from going all out to win the nomination on Aug. 24 in the 20th District, which includes all or parts of Cooper City, Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Oakland Park, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise, Tamarac, Weston and Wilton Manors in Broward plus parts of 13 Miami-Dade County communities.

"It's a very spirited primary," said Richard DeNapoli, president of the Republican Club of Greater Hollywood. "I could see any of them winning."

The three candidates generally share common views on many current issues.

All three think the health overhaul law championed by President Barack Obama and supported by Wasserman Schultz should be repealed. If it can't be repealed, Harrington and Milo said, Congress should kill it by cutting off any funding.

Harrington and Lowry said they support the stance by congressional Republicans against extending unemployment benefits by adding to the deficit instead of cutting spending elsewhere.

Milo differs, opposing extension of unemployment benefits completely. "The best form of unemployment assistance that you could give to Americans would be to reduce regulation on small business," as a way to create jobs.

Ideally, Lowry said, he'd like to transform unemployment benefits to a system in which a prospective employer would get the check and use the money to put people back to work.

All support extending tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush, which independent analysts estimate would cost 20 times as much as extending unemployment benefits, even if the cost isn't offset elsewhere.

"We can't take from the ones that are working and give it to the ones that are not. So, no, I don't agree that they're the same," Harrington said.

Lowry and Milo said they're lifelong Republicans -- and brag that the first presidential votes they cast were for Ronald Reagan. Harrington is new to the party, registering as a Republican in January.

Each is a political newcomer with an extensive business background.

Milo, 49, of Miami, is a building contractor and plumbing contractor. Harrington, 46, of Davie, is a restaurant owner. Lowry, 51, of Hollywood, owns and operates assisted living communities.

And they share a belief that Wasserman Schultz should -- and can -- be ousted.

Lowry expressed it the most strongly. He gained national media attention last year when he attended a Republican club event at a Hallandale Beach gun range and practiced by shooting at a target with the initials DWS written next to the head. He said he had no idea the initials were on the target or who put them there.

"With every passing day ... we're seeing more and more people go away from Debbie Wasserman Schultz. You wouldn't want me to repeat what some people say when I got up and knock and say I'm running against Debbie Wasserman Schultz," Milo said.

The winner of the Aug. 24 Republican primary will be on the November ballot, along with no-party-affiliation candidates Stanley Blumenthal, of Sunrise, and Robert Kunst, of Miami Beach.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4550. Extensive coverage including interviews and videos featuring Milo, Harrington and Lowry is on the Broward Politics blog at SunSentinel.com/BrowardPolitics.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0067-47500402