September 7, 2008
By John Johnston, Managing Editor
Boca Raton News

For House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach), governance is seldom simple, but it is “about getting results.”

And, no, he hasn’t become a Democrat - even though his latest newsletter is filled with endorsements from Democrats as Hasner seeks reelection to his District 87 house seat.

“It’s about getting results,” he says again. And according to Hasner, by definition, an elected official who represents only his party doesn’t get results.

Of the Democrats who’ve endorsed him, Hasner said, “These people are agreeing — you don’t just vote the party”.

“Over past six years I have demonstrated that I represent everybody in the district,” Hasner said, “and I have a proven record of results on issues.”

He pointed to renewable energy, property taxes, health care and environmental progress, i.e., sewage outfall legislation he sponsored, and that sunsets the discharge of sewage into the Atlantic.

Hasner said he was “honored” by the showing of Democrat support. “I welcome the support of Democrats and I welcome the support of Independents.”

Jewish Vote

What Hasner also welcomes is the challenge of what he calls “a new opportunity for the campaign” of Republican Presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain - getting traditionally Democratic voters to vote Republican.

“I think there is still a lot of doubt in the Jewish community about Senator Obama,” Hasner said.

Hasner climbed further out on that limb saying, “I think right now there are more Jewish voters considering voting for a Republican than ever before - and some for the first time ever.”

He said the current presidential campaign “demonstrates this is not the best time to be beholden to any party.” Hasner said that McCain offered the best “commander-in-chief” choice for the nation, along with the other experience McCain’s many years in public service have provided.

Back on his own campaign, Hasner said, and while his basic political philosophy would always be Republican, “It doesn’t matter what political party you belong to, we are all Floridians, and I work every day to represent everyone. I am not in Tallahassee to win a popularity contest; I’m there to get the job done for you. And that means addressing the issues to help make Florida affordable and get our economy going strong again.”

Hasner will face Democrat Robert Ostrov who defeated Todd Maki last week for the right to oppose Hasner this fall. Ostrov lives in Wellington and is a former New York prosecutor.