Congressional District 11: Webster faces challenge from Cottrell

Central Florida GOP stalwart Daniel Webster faces a challenger in a district rated as one of the region’s strongest Republican strongholds.

Dana Cottrell, a teacher and progressive critic of Webster, has filed to run against him in U.S. Congressional District 11 in hopes of unseating him in Washington.

Cook Political Report rates the district, which covers five counties, as a “solid” Republican district. Voter registration data shows Republicans hold about an 18-point edge.

The district includes parts of Lake County — including Minneola, Leesburg and Tavares — as well as Sumter, Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties. It also includes voters in The Villages. once again after Boehner stepped down.

Dana Cottrell, 49, is a Spring Hill mother who used to work as a teacher in Hernando County and also for the Department of Defense overseas. She’s not currently employed and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Florida.

Dan Webster’s platform includes trying to fix a “broken” Washington, D.C., according to his campaign website and advertisements. He says the House of Representatives is “blinded by power” and “paralyzed by politics” in a TV campaign commercial.

Webster’s campaign didn’t return calls and emails seeking comment for this story.

A critic of Webster’s voting record, Cottrell said the middle class has been left behind under President Donald Trump’s administration and the Republican-controlled House and Senate, adding that although some are doing well with stock market investments, “I tell them they’re one emergency away from bankruptcy.”

“The rich have gotten tax breaks and the poor have gotten nothing,” Cottrell said.

Webster has long been in favor of allowing more members of Congress to have a say on policy decisions, rather than deferring to party leaders, which is why he made the bids for House Speaker.

In another television commercial, he said the government is spending far too much money too fast and called for a balanced budget amendment.

Within the district, Cottrell said homeless is rising, and there is a lack of both affordable and senior housing.

She believes in fully funding Medicare for all Americans, and eliminating Medicaid. Those effected in that elimination would be covered by the “Medicare for All” system, her website states.

On the environment, she said she supports “full enforcement” of the Clean Water Act and wants emissions reduced to help battle climate change.

From a policy perspective, Cottrell pitched herself as a better choice for voters on women’s health-care issues and her support of the LGBTQ community.

“I think I’m more in touch