By Javier Manjarres
The increasingly contentious Republican congressional primary race between Representatives Sandy Adams and John Mica took an odd detour of sorts as both reps “just happened” to find themselves sitting mere feet away from each other at the Town House Restaurant in Oviedo. Florida. Adams had planned her meeting location on her public calendar well over a week in advance, while Mica’s “coincidental” appearance occurred without any prior public notice at the very same restaurant in downtown Oviedo. Coincedence?
Even more oddly, the two representatives wound up sitting about five feet away from one another- so close that the conversations at each of the tables were easily audible to the other group. As one can certainly imagine, the simultaneous meetings were very awkward and tense. Congressman Mica’s meeting ended first, and he then made his way over to Adams to greet both her and her guests. Mica told the table that he was meeting with past supporters and that he was just “trying to reconnect with some ol’ constituents.”
For those of you who may not know, the creation of two new Congressional districts in Florida and the other redistricting changes that were slated to occur this year have wound up pitting Mica against Adams in the Republican primary for her current seat. Mica could have run for re-election in the newly drawn 6th congressional district , which happens to encompass about 70% of his current congressional seat.
Mica, a 24-year congressional member since 1993, and Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will face a daunting challenge if he stays in the race against Adams simply because he is considered an ‘establishment’ or ‘D.C. Insider’ career politician who are largely responsible for the scope of our national debt problem. Mica is considered to be a ‘big spender’ and he rightly caught substantial flack for supporting the High Speed Rail initiative, the Obama Stimulus-supported rail program that Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected along with the federal funds to help fund the project. Mica’s is termed out of his position as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the end of this year.
Fellow freshman Congressman Rich Nugent believes that it’s the “kiss of death” for Mica or any other 20-year incumbent who’s properly identified as part of the DC “establishment.” Nugent also believes that Mica is likely unable to go “real negative” against Adams, and that Mica will likely have to contend with the potential nationwide anti-establishment wave of support that Adams will surely receive and embrace.
National grassroots efforts to support Adams have already begun, and those same efforts could very well begin targeting Mica in the near future.
13 Responses to “Adams and Mica’s “Coincidental” Congressional Diner Date”
They are both solid on being against illegal immigration so it is unfortunate they are going up against each other
They are both solid on being against illegal immigration so it is unfortunate they are going up against each other
Mr. Mica is just another big government Republican for whom Congress has become a lifelong career. It’s time for him to ride off into the sunset.
Were Mr. Mica truly gracious, and I believe him to be a gentleman based on the few occasions I’ve been with him, he will not just endorse Ms. Adams but campaign for her.
We shall see.
For those that don’t know the Town House Restaurant in Oviedo has good food at a fair price and no frills. It is where local yokels go to meet and greet or as they say in Oviedo, where the chickens come home to roost.
If Mica was here he either had inside info that Representative Adams was going to be there or he was lost. Kinda reminds me of EX, and hope he stays EX, Congressman Allan Grayson.
Congress is working on the ground transportation bill and it is stalled. Part of the problem is that 18% of our gas taxes are held ransom for bike paths along side our roadways, Bike trails and billions spent in the past on making our roadways look like parks. And guess who is the Chairman of the Transportation committee that fiddled away the control he could have had over this wasteful spending. In PA they were actually paving bike paths along roads that were so full of potholes that drivers wouldn’t use the road.
As a note, when Seminold county wanted to turn old Rails to Trails, we raised our sales tax to do so. We didn’t raid the Highway Trust Fund.
Time to go BIG MIKE.
This article is a joke. I see no point in it other than to be a blatant hatchet job.
To say Mica should run in a district that is no were near his house is preposterous. Mica lives in 7th district and has represented it with distinction. I see no reason for him to bow down to Sandy Adams just because she thinks she owns it.
Mica does his job with little fanfare and boasts a 94% lifetime rating from the ACU. I like Mica because he is a true conservative and like another poster mentions, he is a gentleman. Folks like that are becoming few and far between.
Have any of you ever eaten at Town House? The food is incredible and its an institution, providing a rare mix of Sunday churchgoers and hungover UCF students. I don’t think the churchgoers or the UCF kids announce publicly they are going to dine on gloriousness either. Alas, I digress……
This story is littered with, dare I say, lies. It’s late and I’m too tired to go all over all of them, but lets point out the sloppy reporting getting the number of years Mica has been in Congress wrong. (HINT: its less than 20, forget 24 that this “journalist” claims).
I’ve searched for Congressman Adams’ public calendar on her campaign and
official websites. Can you direct me to where it is located? As a
constituent, I’d like to know where to meet her.
try http://www.sandyadams.com/ then sign up for her email.
TYhis is her campaifn siter. She cannot run election info through her congressionsl site but you can sign up for her newsletter here.
She has done great work so Dont forget the petition and a donation
I am glad that Mica,s mom has set things straight exepet there is a report on the web that over 70% of his electors are in the new 7th district when in fact over 70% are in the new district 6 and over 70% of Adams ecectors are in the new district 7. So let Mica address that..
Wont you be glad when the elections are over. We wont have to hear about politics for about one or two days after the election.
Mica has done some good work in Congress, but he has been around a long time. Maybe too long. He was for the bullet train. That alone is worthy of his ouster. But, in his defense what politician worth their salt can refuse the lure of billions to spend?
It is time for fresh blood in our representatives. We’ve just begun the house cleaning that’s been needed for decades. There is something about the beltway environment that corrupts almost all who are sent there. Power is the narcotic of choice in that neighborhood and it is irresistible and highly addictive.
Adams is fresh blood with a fresh view and a clean slate. I see it as a win win.
Please all the Sandy supporters that are chiming in here, what actually has she done since being elected except be the front barking dog for the Tea Party? She is loud, but has gotten nothing done whatsoever. She is also a career politician shown by her 8 years in the house, again, with nothing to show. Her only contributions have been bills helping law enforcement that were real no-brainers. “All those who support puppies and kittens, say Aye”
MICA NEEDS TO GO – HIS TRANSPORTATION AGENDA WILL KILL AMERICA IF THE GLOBAL WARMING FARCE DOES NOT!
Sandy Adams has been a disappointment to many – running as a fighter and former County Sheriff – she pledged to take the rights of Americans face on and fight for us. Earlier last year when asked why she or other Federal legislators are not stopping Obama and his Executive Orders – her response, “What do you want from me – I’m a Freshman legislator?” I WANT YOU TO EARN YOUR SALARY! DO SOMETHING!
Her votes on various damaging bills to the taxpayers shows she does not read the bills nor does she have someone intelligent working on her staff to give her proper knowledge about upcoming legislation.
There has to be other candidates to jump in – but whomever does jump in be prepared for a fight. The RNC wants Mica because he has become a Progressive – you can see that in his legislation and his attitude toward the voters and his staff’s attitude, “If you are unhappy with him, don’t vote for him!”
BTW, one of Sandy Adams high level staff was at our Deland912 meeting last week and tried to remain incognito! HUM!
Here is what Rep. Sandy Adams has done in congress so far.
http://thatsmycongress.com/house/repAdamsFL24112.html
Here is what Rep. Joe Mica has done in congress so far.
http://thatsmycongress.com/house/repMicaFL7112.html
Both are Pretty Conservative. Each has voted for a couple of liberal bills, but not too many. Only difference between the two, experience. Mica has the experience and Sandy Adams does not.