The two men who want to challenge state Rep. Ron Saunders in November both are Republicans and both want to rein in spending, but that is where their similarities end.

Former Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson is running against Matt Gardi, information systems manager for the Monroe County State Attorney's Office, in the Aug. 24 primary. The winner of the primary will face incumbent state Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West, in November.

Name recognition

McPherson has more name recognition, especially in Key West, and is familiar with the workings of Tallahassee, where he frequently lobbied for local issues such as affordable housing.

"Morgan has a proven record with affordable housing in our district, and I think his prior experience as mayor, and in Tallahassee, mean that he's more prepared, and I think he's truly committed to this community," said Lydia Estenoz, a longtime McPherson supporter who works at Florida Keys Community College. "Politicians will do the popular thing, while leaders will do the right thing. Sometimes Morgan has gotten some knocks on his head for proposing to do the right thing, and I admire that about him."

Acevedo support

But that name recognition may not be a good thing, as many voters remember McPherson as the politician who publicly supported ousted Schools Superintendent Randy Acevedo, who was convicted last August of three counts of official misconduct.

Estenoz said the Acevedo issue is one that is emerging as more relevant in the local School Board race, "Although I do think that people in Key West may be more sensitive to that than in the Upper Keys," she added.

"McPherson has more name recognition because he was mayor, but I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing," said Chris King, who supports Gardi. "I don't think anyone in the Upper Keys is going to vote for a Key West Bubba. Matt is the person I would want making decisions for me at the state level. He has ideas and he has a plan. I like Morgan; I just don't want him in charge."

Tallahassee ties

McPherson touts his experience in the state capital and with state leaders and lobbyists during his two terms as mayor, but those Tallahassee ties alarm Gardi, who is calling for legislators to remain in their home districts, represent their constituents and use technology such as video conferencing to conduct the state's legislative business.

Gardi wants to end the special interest lobbies, some of which have donated heavily to McPherson's campaign.

The "corralling" of lawmakers every year in Tallahassee makes it easy for special interest groups to "buy" their desires, Gardi says.

Let the legislators stay home and represent their people, and make the lobbyists travel the state spending their own money to meet with them, Gardi said, also calling for a drastic 25-percent reduction in state spending and salary caps of $100,000 for state employees.

He accuses McPherson of speaking in generalities without presenting any firm ideas or solutions to the state's financial problems.

"I have concrete solutions and I think Morgan is void of those," Gardi said.

Pie in the sky

But Gardi's plans are "pie in the sky" issues, Estenoz said. "It sounds good as a sound bite, but when you look closer it's not feasible."

McPherson acknowledged that spending should be reduced, but said he would like to see a 5 percent reduction, compared with Gardi's 25 percent.

"We'd have to cut $17 million from the budget to decrease it by 25 percent. That's not even realistic and it would cripple our state," McPherson said, concerned that such drastic cuts would almost surely result in losses to education, which he lists as a top priority.

Key issues

Education, property tax and insurance are the key issues facing Florida, McPherson has said.

His "plan" is to eliminate the corporate income tax in Florida so as to provide incentive for businesses to set up shop in the state, create jobs and help mom-and-pop businesses.

McPherson also said he does not believe the state's financial situation is as dire as Gardi claims.

"I don't believe special interests control Tallahassee," McPherson said, adding that the current system of gathering legislators in the capital is the perfect method for lawmaking in a democracy.

But Gardi points to McPherson's campaign finances as proof of the power of lobbyists and special interest groups.

Campaign dollars

To date, McPherson has collected $47,750 in donations and $22,357 in in-kind services, and has spent $27,063.

In contrast, Gardi has raised $1,630, loaned himself $3,000 and accepted $711 in services. He has spent $3,201.

Gardi's financial support has come mainly from Florida Keys residents who have donated $20 to $200.

McPherson's support has come from mainland Florida, Gardi said after analyzing McPherson's campaign finances.

From calculations of the $70,000 McPherson has raised, only 9 percent of contributions come from within District 120, Gardi wrote in a recent e-mail to McPherson and media representatives.

When Gardi removed McPherson's relatives from the donor list, he found that only 4 percent of donations are from within the district, compared with Gardi's 62 percent of local donations.

McPherson has received more than $30,000 from the Republican party, and also has received several $500 donations from consultants, lobbyists and real estate developers.

Gardi calls it "an example of someone trying to buy an election," while McPherson views it as a testament to his experience in Tallahassee and his diverse network of supporters.

mmiles@keysnews.com