Sigman running for state Senate
Democratic Longwood labor attorney latest to join District 9 contest
TALLAHASSEE — Democrat Patricia Sigman, a Longwood labor attorney, is jumping into the Senate District 9 race based in Seminole County, a seat highly sought after by Democrats as one of two they’re looking to flip in 2020.
Although four other Democrats are already in the race, none has done any serious campaigning or fundraising, and
Sigman will have the support of the Florida Democratic
Party establishment.
“For too long, the agenda in Tallahassee has been set by the well-connected insiders who fund the campaigns of the politicians they know will do their bidding,” Sigman said in a statement announcing her campaign. “I’m running to change that because our future depends on ending the grip of the special interests in Tallahassee.”
She’s likely to take on Jason Brodeur, a Republican former state House member from Sanford. He
has raised $2.6 million and spent $1.8 million on the race already, although much of the money has gone to other GOP candidates.
Sigman is a 30-year resident of Longwood who graduated from Stetson Law School in 1992 and runs her own firm with her husband, Phillip. The firm specializes in labor law, representing clients in cases involving workplace harassment, gender and racial discrimination, contract and compensation disputes, wage theft and unemployment compensation claims.
Republicans currently hold a 23-17 advantage over Democrats in the Senate, and the District 9 seat, which covers all of Seminole County and part of Volusia County, is one of two where Democrats are hoping to cut away at the GOP majority in 2020.
The seat is held by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, who cannot run again because of term limits. That leaves an open seat in a historically GOPheavy area where Democrats are nonetheless optimistic about their chances.
So far, the four Democrats in the race — Alexis Carter, Frederick Ashby, Guerdy Remy and Alexander Duncan — have raised a combined $27,000.
Sigman, though, has the support of Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Lighthouse Point, who is next in line to lead Senate Democrats and in charge of the party’s 2020 election efforts. With only two contested races to focus on in 2020, Farmer’s Senate Victory committee is likely to spare no expense to boost Sigman, even as she’s already far behind Brodeur in fundraising.
The other seat up for grabs is District 39, another open seat that includes Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade. Republican Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez, of Doral, is squaring off with Democratic Rep. Javier Fernandez, of South Miami.
“Patricia Sigman has spent her career standing up to the most powerful interests Florida,” Farmer said in a released statement. “In the Senate, I know that Patricia’s unflinching dedication to upholding the values of fairness and equality mean that she will always put the needs of working families first. I’m proud to support her campaign and look forward to welcoming her to the caucus in 2020!”
Farmer, though, initially struggled to recruit a prime Democratic candidate to the race. He first sought Chris King, who was on the Democratic ticket with Andrew Gillum as a lieutenant governor in 2018 but was turned down.
But now the battle for District 9 can begin in earnest.
“It’s time we focus on the values we share to come together and unite for change in our state government,” Sigman said. “We need leaders loyal to the people and leaders who understand that ‘public service’ means serving the public, not serving themselves.”