Daytona Beach International Airport upgraded its facilities last year, using federal funds that U.S. Rep. John Mica helped secure. Then Mica worked with airport and Volusia County officials to attract AirTran, which announced Friday that it will begin low-cost service from Daytona Beach in January.

Mica also helped Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University partner with the airport for its "Teaching Airport" program, an extended classroom and research facility for business, air traffic control, meteorology and flight degrees. Eventually, the Teaching Airport will become part of ERAU's proposed aeronautical research park, which Mica also supports.

The seven-term Republican from Casselberry usually votes the party line on national issues, but his passion is in helping improve the quality of life in the cities and counties in his district, which includes western Volusia County and all of Flagler County. His Democratic opponent, John Chagnon of St. Augustine, cannot match Mica's ability to build consensus in support of local projects.

In addition to the airport examples, Mica has helped Daytona Beach secure funds for its HOPE VI housing initiative for low-income residents, helped Bethune-Cookman College obtain money to expand its nursing school and helped expand and upgrade the local Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic. He is working with Pierson leaders to get health-care facilities and with Spring Hill in west Volusia to get a new youth center.

Mica also helped block the proposed sale of national forest lands, including 1,000 acres in the Ocala National Forest. And he worked hard to keep the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involved -- in spite of the Corps' resistance -- in the massive Rose Bay restoration project.

Chagnon, a former teacher, has held no political office, although he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Palm Coast in 2003. Many of his positions are on target, such as calling for election reforms and revision of federal education laws. Troublingly, his campaign literature is filled with innuendoes that imply, incorrectly, Mica is connected to corruption and even "a secret plan to destroy the USA." On his own positions, he is sometimes inconsistent and misinformed. He has not made the case to unseat Mica.

Mica, if elected to his eighth term, could become chairman of the House transportation committee. His work on that panel was critical in building the I-4 bridge over the St. Johns River and in helping Palm Coast solve some of its traffic congestion problems. Mica says he would continue to seek improvements in airport security, such as investing in better baggage-screening technology. And he would continue to advocate for a commuter rail that would ease traffic congestion between west Volusia County and Orlando. Mica has earned re-election.

· RECOMMENDATION: John L. Mica for U.S. Representative, District 7