Dave Bruderly said when he learned as a Democrat he wouldn’t be allowed to vote in the closed 4th Congressional District Republican primary, he decided he’d run for the office.
Since then he’s been running an uphill campaign in the heavily GOP leaning district. Bruderly is a veteran and professional engineer.
Bruderly said on First Coast Connect Thursday his 25 years as a small business owner gives him a perspective Republican John Rutherford does not have.
“I’m the only candidate who’s got the kind of credentials you need to be able to work effectively in Congress to promote the interests of this community,” he said. “Both with the military and economic development and the protection of our environment.”
Bruderly said since he wasn’t asked by the party to run and isn’t part of the establishment he can think independently.
He derided Rutherford’s stance on climate change, saying it’s a fact sea levels are rising and it’s a danger to Florida’s coastline.
Bruderly also sharply criticized Rutherford for refusing to debate him despite numerous requests and opportunities to do so.
Click here to listen to the entire interview with Melissa Ross.
Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.
