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CLEARWATER The Libertarian activist who is challenging state Sen. Jack Latvala, a veteran GOP lawmaker, launched his challenge from well to the right.

Tony Caso, a conservative activist and small business owner from Palm Harbor, is running on a pro-small government, anti-tax platform in his bid for the District 20 seat, which covers north Pinellas County from Largo to Palm Harbor.

Caso criticizes Latvala as an establishment Republican tied to monied interests and supporting causes some view as liberal, such as championing legislation to grant in-state tuition to the children of undocumented immigrants.

Latvala is taking it in stride.

Im always expecting a challenge, Latvala said. I take controversial positions and call them like I see them.

The controversy is part of what makes Latvala, 62, popular among centrist Republicans and Democrats. Latvala first was elected to the Senate in 1994 and served for eight years. He successfully ran again in 2010 and has served since.

He is described as outspoken and at times cantankerous. He has gone against his party repeatedly during his tenure, which Democrats, who did not run a candidate against him, can appreciate. He supports Medicaid expansion, environmental measures such as Florida Forever, and the Greenlight Pinellas transit initiative.

Sen. Latvala is one who has always been very outspoken with his political views, said University of South Florida political science professor emeritus Darryl Paulson. A lot of people like that maverick sort of image that Sen. Latvala projects. Many see that as a quality of leadership.

Caso, 65, was at the forefront of a tea party-spawned movement in 2011 that ultimately pressured the Pinellas County Commission to discontinue fluoridating the countys water supply.

Who in their right mind wants any toxic substance put into their body, Caso said during an October 2011 county commission meeting. This is all part of an agenda thats being pushed forth by the so-called globalists in our government and the world government to keep the people stupid so they dont realize whats going on.

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It's Caso vs. Latvala in District 20