Mica Eager to Move On from Primary
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
By: Matthew Peddie

Both republican candidates in US congressional District 7 are dusting themselves off after a bitter battle for the seat. The winner, 20 year veteran congressman John Mica says challenger Sandy Adams put him through the most negative campaign of his life.

John Mica won handily in the end, capturing 61 per cent of the vote, but in his victory speech to a buzzing crowd of supporters at a Casselberry Sports bar, he acknowledged the campaign was grueling.  

"I don’t think we’ve every mobilized anything like this in our lives," he said. " It was a very difficult race. I could tell you that everything but the kitchen sink was thrown at us but I’d have to include the cabinets and all the appliances too.”

In the weeks leading to the election Tea Party favorite and District 24 representative Sandy Adams piled on the pressure, labeling Mica a big spending, establishment Republican and cheerleader for President Obama.

Mica says he’s pleased to have the campaign behind him.

“We tried to stay positive and respond where we could but it was probably the most negative campaign I’ve ever had to experience and made it very unpleasant for me and my family.”

After calling Mica to offer congratulations, Sandy Adams said she was glad the race put the spotlight on conservative values.

Adams was unsure about her political future.

"I’m a firm believer that when one door closes another one opens and I follow the path I’m led," she said.

University of Central Florida Political Science Professor Aubrey Jewett, says he wasn’t surprised at the vitriol in the race.

“Certainly it’s been negative, certainly it’s been personal, but that often happens in primaries where the candidates are very much alike on policy," said Jewett.

"I mean these two people are very conservative republicans when it comes to policy. The policy differences are pretty slim.”

Jewett says he thinks the two representatives will be able to put aside their differences in spite of the heated primary fight.

"I do expect they will be able to heal these wounds up," said Jewett.