Casting his opponent as out of touch with Broward County values, Ken Keechl laid out the case why he should be elected to the Florida House of Representatives.
Keechl, a former Broward County Mayor, was the featured speaker at the August Dolphin Democrats meeting. He told a packed room at the Pride Center that it appears a wave is coming that will sweep the entire Democratic ticket to victory in November.
“I believe this is one of those races where you can be swept in at the right time,” Keechl said. “We’re going to win so big in Broward County and statewide they’re not going to know what hit them.”
Keechl is seeking to oust incumbent Florida Representative George Moraitis, a Republican, from the District 93 seat. The district covers the eastern side of Broward County from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean west to Dixie Highway and from Boca Raton south to Hollywood. It has slightly more registered Republicans than Democrats, a rarity in Broward County.
“This is the time to take this guy out,” Keechl said.
Citing Moraitis’ past votes against adoption rights for same-sex couples and his sponsorship of last year’s controversial “bathroom bill,” Keechl said it is time for new leadership.
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“This gentleman does not share our values,” Keechl said. “He should not be representing us in Broward and I’ll be damned if I let him do it. He just doesn’t care.”
As Keechl was speaking in Wilton Manors, Moraitis took the stage in Sunrise at a Donald Trump rally -- alongside Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee -- urging Republicans to vote.
Having participated in forums with Moraitis and observed his voting record in the House, Keechl said it is clear Moraitis does not understand his constituents. Keechl said Moraitis is anti-abortion, pro-fracking, pro-open carry and just doesn’t get the transgender issue all together.
“He sponsored the transgender bathroom bill….is that really what we need to be doing?,” Keechl said.
Keechl traveled to Tallahassee when the legislature was in session and said he was appalled by the transgender bathroom debate.
“This was nothing more than homophobic discrimination directed at those of us who are GLBT because we got marriage equality,” Keechl said. “By the time this committee hearing was over, they were arguing that if you love someone of the same gender then you are probably going to go into a bathroom and molest a child. They were saying these horrible things.”
A practicing attorney, Keechl defended the services offered by Planned Parenthood, which he said covers much more than abortions. Keechl told the audience he lost his first partner to AIDS and said it was Planned Parenthood which provided his first HIV test.
“We all know they do more than women’s choices,” he said.
Before facing Moraitis, Keechl must defeat Doug Oberman, a 22-year-old Florida Atlantic University student in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Oberman was in attendance at the Dolphins meeting and Keechl recognized him twice during his time at the podium.
“I’m gonna beat you dude,” Keechl said, adding Oberman is “a great guy who shares our values.”
As of Aug. 24, Moraitis held a $192,613.99 to $70,959.58 advantage in reported campaign contributions. Keechl is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union and Sun-Sentinel.
