Florida’s 2004 Race for the Senate

Issue Profile: The Environment

The race for Florida’s seat in the US Senate between Democrat Betty Castor and Republican Mel Martinez has been heating up, giving us a good perspective on where voters sit on particular issues. On the environment, the candidates seem to hold similar positions, but their relative importance varies greatly. Castor clearly believes that the environment is a top priority. She lists it second in her “On the issues” section of her website, and thoroughly describes her stance, which includes which includes preventing off-shore oil drilling, preserving the Everglades, reinstating the Clean Air and Water acts and the Superfund system, reducing global warming and shifting energy policy away from dependence on fossil fuels. She has made campaign stops focused on the issue, has been endorsed by former high level environmental officials, and has a solid record on the issue from previous public service.

Mel Martinez, on the other hand, seems to have many other priorities ahead of the environment. His website lists it in the “Stronger Communities” section of the issues, and gives one brief paragraph about his interest and stance on the issue. He specifically mentions two local concerns- off-shore oil drilling and Everglades restoration, but takes no stance on any other enviromental issue, such as whether he is for or against addressing global warming, or how his energy policy fits into his views on the environment. He has not focused on the issue once in any press release or speech, and has not made any major campaign stops to plug his stance on the environment. In short, he seems to present the minimum answer to reassure local interests.

The environment is an important issue to Florida voters, judging from the vehement reaction to the idea that Kerry is in favor of off-shore drilling. Indeed, parties seem to agree on issues particular to the state, such as the restoration of the Everglades and opposition to off-shore oil drilling. But apart from these particulars, Democrats and Republicans in Florida are divided over the government's larger role in protecting the environment.

As Hanna Pitkin reminds us in The Concept of Representation, we must keep in mind who exactly the candidates represent on this particular issue in order to make normative judgments about their representation. The environment is an issue plagued by special interests, from corporations to environmental lobbies, as well as by a multitude of particular local concerns. These interests are strongly associated with the two parties. Without more agreement among Florida Democrats and Republicans on larger environmental issues, it is only appropriate that Martinez and Castor represent their individual parties and interests on this issue. Indeed, they could not truly represent all Florida voters with one single policy choice.

Works Cited

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