Spritz has the skills to keep district GOP red

Matt Spritz and Mike Caruso, the two candidates in the District 89 GOP primary, apparently never heard of President Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

Accusations and recriminations have been flying in both directions with each candidate assaulting the other’s character and questioning his competency and motives.

In a recent joint appearance before the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, the Marquis of Queensbury rules went out the window in the first five minutes and the dialogue between the two devolved into something resembling a verbal “cage fight.”

After sorting through the invective, examining the candidates’ background and assessing their stances on the issues, the board decided to recommend that GOP voters choose Spritiz in the Aug. 28 primary. The endorsement comes with the suggestion that both candidates tone down the volume a bit. A continuation of the blood feud will only hurt the eventual nominee’s chances of holding the seat for Republicans in the November general election. (Republican Rep. Bill Hager is stepping down because of term limits.)

Spritz, 35, has taken a circuitous route to his candidacy in the district that runs along the Palm Beach County coastline. He grew up in South Florida, graduated with honors from Emory University in Atlanta and obtained a law degree from NYU. He worked at law firms in New York and Miami before joining in 2015 a top firm in West Palm Beach.

Within a year, he had resigned to join the staff of Republican Florida Rep. Bob Rommel of Naples as a legislative aide. The career path, from top law firm to legislative aide, is far from typical. Spritz, however, says that the experience has proven invaluable by giving him firsthand knowledge of how the legislative system works. He also says it has enabled him to develop relationships that will serve him well as a lawmaker.

There’s something to that claim. Spritz has a long list of endorsements from state and local political figures, past and present, including former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux. He’s also captured the endorsements of some major organizations, including Associated Industries of Florida, the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, the Florida Fraternal Order of Police, and the Palm Beach County Medical Society.

While many Republican are loathe to buck the National Rifle Association, Spritz says he would have voted for the gun legislation passed by the Legislature following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre — legislation the NRA opposed. He also supports improved background checks to keep guns out of the hands of people with a history of mental illness.

Showing a bit of a libertarian bent, Spritz says he would support legalization of marijuana for recreational use once the federal government removes its restrictions on the substance.

Opioid use, however, is another story. He supports stricter regulation of opioid prescriptions. And he would support strong measures against fraud and abuse by recovery centers and so-called “sober homes.”

Spritz for the most part praises Florida for a good business climate, but says steps must be taken to reduce the litigious nature of the state, which he says hurts efforts to attract companies to Florida. That’s good to hear, especially coming from an attorney.

Caruso, 60, a long time resident of Delray Beach, says he’s an outsider willing to fight the status quo. As a forensic CPA his talents might be useful in keeping tabs on the state budget. Spritz, however, seems to have the people and political skills needed to get things done in Tallahassee.

Spritz