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Democrat Greg Pilkington of Indian Lake Estates has announced plans to run against U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross in the 2018 general election.

LAKELAND Democrat Greg Pilkington of Indian Lake Estates has announced plans to run against U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross in the 2018 general election.

He joins a short field of candidates who have filed federal elections papers to represent U.S. House District 15, which includes much of northwest Polk County and parts of Hillsborough and Lake counties.

That list includes Democrats Raymond Pena Jr. of Lakeland, and Cameron Magnuson of Washington, D.C. Others include Loretta Leah Lax Miller, a Republican from Clermont, and Jeffrey Rabinowitz, also of Clermont, who filed under no party affiliation. Under the Constitution, a person must be a resident of the state when elected.

Ross, a Lakeland Republican, was re-elected in November to a fourth two-year term.He defeated DemocraticJim Lange of Lutz with 58 percent of the vote.

Representativesare paid $174,000 per year.

Pilkington, 54, said he sees an advantage over Ross, who was closely allied with PresidentDonald Trump during thepresidential campaign andserved on Trumps transition team following his victory in November.

Pilkington said thatis certain to cost Ross some political capital among those Republicans and independents who are increasingly disenchanted with Trumps leadership.

He was one of Trumps earliest and staunchest supporters, he said, adding that Ross Tea Party leanings are out of step with an electorate ready for more progressive values.

Though a political ingnue, Pilkington, who grew up in Charlotte, N.C., was appointed to that citys mayoral International Cabinet, an advisory body to the City Council that provides input and recommendations on a variety of topics, including international affairs and promoting diversity.

His resume covers a broad spectrum of international experience, most recently as executive officer for budget and strategy for the World Customs Organization, an intergovernmental organization based in Brussels, Belgium.

He served in the appointed position for nine years. His resume also includes stints in international trade, serving as a global project manager for DHL Worldwide Express, and as a program management adviser for FedEx Express.

Pilkington received a bachelors degree in business administration from Pfeiffer University in 1999, followed by a masters in international business studies from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina in 2001.

He and his wife of nearly 30 years, Beth, have three grown children.

Pilkington lists several key issues important to his campaign, including strengthening and protecting Social Security without increasing age limits. He said additional funding can be derived by removing the maximum Social Security tax cap from $127,200 to no limit on earned income.

He supports a single-payer health-care system and is in favor of passing proposed legislation that would expand Medicare to everyone.

Pilkington says that if elected he would fight for comprehensive immigration reform. He views the expansion of a wall on the Mexican border as wasteful and ineffective.

Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528.

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Democrat plans to oppose Ross in 2018 House election - News Chief