Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee for governor, visited Gainesville Monday night for a fundraiser, where she spoke about supporting new industries and criticized her opponent.
More than 300 people attended the event at Villa East on North Main Street — where donations were asked for but not required.
“I feel like half of Gainesville is here tonight,” Sink said in an interview before the event, which was closed to the press.
Sink, the state’s chief financial officer, said Florida’s economic crises were due to a housing boom and bust, and the best way to prevent another recession would be to diversify the state’s economy.
“What we have to do differently, is we can’t get wrapped up in these big real estate plays,” Sink said. “We have to nurture businesses that represent businesses of the future, like biotech, and manufacturing, and health care, and research — like right here at the University of Florida.”
She touted her business plan, which calls for supporting small business with tax credits and a three-year state income tax exemption for new businesses.
Sink also attacked her opponent, Republican nominee Rick Scott, who has been running ads criticizing Sink for her support for some of President Obama’s policies.
“He keeps brining Washington into the picture,” Sink said of Scott. “I think he should be running for president or U.S. Senate.”
She also criticized Scott for the amount of personal money he’s spent on the campaign.
“He’s already spent $70 million of his own personal wealth to buy the governor’s office, and you know, I just refuse to let him hijack our state.”
The latest Mason Dixon poll, released last week, showed Sink leading Scott by seven points (47-40 percent).
Her running mate, Rod Smith, who prosecuted serial killer Danny Rolling as a state attorney and served as Gainesville’s state senator, also attended the fundraiser in his hometown.
Smith said as lieutenant governor he’d work on issues important to Gainesville.
“While I will be as fair as possible, I am, of course, at heart a gator,” he said.
In addition to supporting Shands and UF, he said he’d work on policies involving criminal justice, the judiciary and agriculture.
Sheriff Sadie Darnell, a democrat, said she was supporting Sink, because of her support of law enforcement and public safety.
She also said she was concerned about Scott’s plan to cut $1 billion from the state’s prison budget.
“I think he’s speaking from a place of which he doesn’t have much knowledge,” Darnell said. “The things that he’s talking about don’t make sense ,and they seem to be very risky from the standpoint of public safety.”
About 15 UF College Democrats attended the event, and some were helping with registration.
Kristin Klein, the group’s president, said Sink is a strong candidate because she appeals to Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
She also lauded her professional background. Before becoming CFO, Sink worked in the banking industry.
“She’s a businesswoman,” Klein said. “She knows how to cut spending and create jobs.”
