Dayspring Academy leader John Legg, a 28-year-old Republican, makes education issues a significant part of his platform.
By MELIA BOWIE
Published March 31, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - The founder of Pasco's first charter school said this week that he is running for the state House District 46 seat being vacated by Heather Fiorentino.
Dayspring Academy administrator John Legg, a 28-year-old Republican, is calling for reduced taxes, more fiscal responsibility and greater teacher flexibility in schools as part of his platform.
Lower prescription drug costs, in-home care for senior citizens in lieu of nursing homes and a reduction on phone rate hikes also are key to his campaign, as is "protecting marriage" and "protecting life."
"I ran two years ago (for a newly created District 45 seat), and the voters believed in these issues," Legg said Tuesday. "We wanted to bring them back to the people of Pasco."
As an educator, Legg said he favors fewer government mandates in schools, more flexibility for teachers and greater responsibility by educators when it comes to public dollars.
As a former staff director for Fiorentino, R-New Port Richey, the charter school founder said he often heard such pleas from teachers in Tallahassee. In part, those requests led him to start Dayspring Academy, which offers kindergarten through ninth grade.
"What I want to bring to Tallahassee is (this): Let's not accept mediocrity," Legg said.
A Pasco-Hernando Community College and University of South Florida graduate, Legg said he grew up in District 46, which covers west Pasco from Port Richey to the Hernando County line. It also stretches east to U.S. 41 in the north, then tapers west as it moves south.
He first considered running in January and made his decision with "support from people like (state Sen.) Mike Fasano and Heather Fiorentino."
Saying he is entering the race later than anticipated (Election Day is April 13), Legg attributed the delay to his priorities as an educator.
"The primary reason is my school," he said, noting a need to see students through Florida Comprehensive Assessment tests. Now that he is in the race, other platform issues in his campaign include efforts to prevent pollution along the district's coastal communities by utilities and wastewater companies.
"We want to hold them accountable when they pollute our gulf . . . and not pass those costs onto the consumer," he said.
Also running for District 46 is physical therapist Dee Thomas, a Democrat, who announced a bid for the seat in November. Republican John Stewart also is campaigning for the seat.
