Mica, Cortes win in Florida Republican wave

Much of Maitland and Winter Park were seeing red as election results rolled in on Tuesday, with Republican challenger Bob Cortes ousting incumbent Democrat State House Rep. Karen Castor-Dentel in District 30 and the landslide re-election of long-term Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica in District 7.

Cortes has previously served as a member of the Longwood City Commission since 2009, and will replace one-term State Rep. Castor-Dentel, a former Dommerich Elementary School teacher.

“Inside I feel like jumping for joy … We celebrate tonight and go straight back to work tomorrow,” Cortes said.

The City Commissioner filed paperwork in his hunt for the District 30 election just shortly after Castor-Dentel was elected in 2012, making for an extended campaign effort.

“It’s the culmination of two years of hard work. We always knew it was going to be a tough race,” said Cortes, who squeaked out the win with 51 percent of the vote to Castor-Dentel’s 49 percent with 97-percent of precincts reporting.

After consigning her loss, Castor-Dentel told a room full of her Maitland supporters not to get rid of their campaign shirts just yet – letting them know the community hasn’t heard the last from her.

“I have found my voice, and I will continue to use it regardless of the outcome,” Castor-Dentel said. “If they think they’ve shut me down, now I’m free. And we’ll see what happens … I will continue to speak for those who don’t have such access to power.”

In the Congressional race to represent Winter Park, Rep. John Mica will return to Washington, D.C., to continue his 20-plus year tenure representing Central Florida in the Capitol winning 63 percent of the vote compared to his Democratic opponent, Wes Neuman and independent Al Krulick.

“The important thing tomorrow is to put politics aside,” Mica said to a room filled with supporters clad in all-red at the Hilton-Altamonte hotel. “…We’ve got our work cut out for us.”