Both the Democrats in the primary race for the seat in State House district 115 
are similar in that both are well-liked gringos, perennial candidates who have run before and who are running wholly positive campaigns. In fact, some people who know them both are having a hard time making a choice.
But if the end game is to take out Republican State Rep. Michael Bileca and flipping the seat to blue, then Ross Hancock presents the better odds.
First, let’s look at just the numbers.
Both Hancock and Pinecrest chiropractor Jeffrey Solomon have run against GOP incumbents, but in 2012, Hancock came closer to beating Erik Fresen (lost 51 to 49%) than Solomon got to beating Bileca (lost 53 to 47%). And, even more importantly, he did it with far less money. Hancock had $8,230 to Fresen’s $265,800. Solomon spent $75,000 to Bileca’s $523,000.
Read related story: Perennial candidates may face off in House 115 Dem primary
Also, if Bileca beat Solomon in a year when Obama topped the ticket, there is no reason to think he can’t beat him again when Hillary is expected to cause less excitement among Democrats.
Hancock, meanwhile, may have additional appeal:
- He put his money where his mouth is this time, loaning himself $100,000 to get his message out. He was able to afford a giant billboard on U.S. 1 at 104th Street right on top of the Keg South in Pinecrest which he has
secured through the general election (two million sets of eyes a day!) and still has more than $80,000 left. Solomon has loaned himself $5,300 and raised $18,500, but he has spent almost $18,000 so he only has $6,000 left. - Hancock speaks Spanish, almost fluently. Hancock has been taking Spanish lessons for almost a year now. He wanted to be able to speak to the Hispanic voters in their language. He was on Buenos Dias Miami, Tomas Garcia Fuste’s Mira TV show, Saturday morning.
- He was once a registered independent. One of his yard signs — Hancock has two versions — states “declare your independence,” and he plans to appeal directly to these voters in the general. This could also attract Republican voters who may not be happy with their presidential nominee.
- He has a lot of influential endorsements. And that can translate into a lot of votes. The United Teachers of Dade endorsement pulls teachers and their families and people who think education is important. Ditto for the United Faculty of Miami-Dade. The SAVE endorsement pulls the gay vote and their families. The AFL-CIO endorsement pulls public employees and their families.
But don’t take my word for it. Go to the website for each candidate. If you look at even just the about page, you will see a huge difference. Solomon’s entire page is dedicated to how he has developed his professional career as a sports medicine celebrity. One almost gets the feeling this election presents another professional opportunity. Hancock’s is more about his dedication to environmental causes and his family.
Ladra also saw Hancock turn a Republican voter right in front of my eyes in the parking lot at the Coral Reef Library over the weekend. Well, actually, the Palmetto Bay voter was uncommitted — until Hancock told her about Bileca’s 
votes on open campus carry and fracking laws. Now, she’s voting for him. She even took a yard sign home!
And those signs! In all her years covering campaigns and elections, Ladra has never seen such a great sign, which is basically a photo of Hancock, paddling through the Everglades in a kayak he built out of mahogany marine plywood.
He built his own kayak! If that doesn’t scream Tallahassee I don’t know what does.
In 115 primary, Ross Hancock is best bet against Bileca added by Ladra on
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