Brian Mast, Lauren Baer disagree on algae, environmental solutions in District 18 race

In the wake of Palm Beach County closing beaches and Martin County removing lifeguards due to suspected red tide, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast and re-election challenger Lauren Baer agreed Monday that eliminating algae blooms must be a priority for whoever represents the Treasure Coast in Congress. 

More:What is red tide? Health risks to pets, people

During a meeting with TCPalm's editorial board, the Republican congressman from Palm City and the Palm Beach Gardens Democrat running against him said they agree on some solutions to toxic blue-green algae blooms in the St. Lucie River and many other environmental issues that could hurt local waterways. 

Mast has received acclaim from some local environmental groups for his work to support policies that could cut algae, but faces criticism from progressive environmental groups and Democrats for supporting cuts to environmental regulation in other parts of the country and a lack of criticism of polluter-friendly officials. 

But Baer said Mast has been too late to propose solutions for environmental problems and criticized his bills for not fully addressing problems at the source. 

Mast's ideas

Mast touted several environmental bills and policies during Monday's meeting. 

He has pushed for Congress to authorize and fund a reservoir to cut discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and has been critical of Gov. Rick Scott's administration's response to toxic blue-green algae blooms plaguing the Treasure Coast and Southwest Florida. 

He also has pushed the Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District to lower Lake Okeechobee levels during the winter in an attempt to prevent discharges during the summer. 

He said the blooms are the No. 1 issue in the district and any member of Congress who represents the area must make it their priority and repeatedly question and work with governmental entities to find solutions. 

"If this isn't the No. 1 thing that you work on, going up against, battling those groups every single day, you cannot be successful on this issue because it takes every single moment of the day to go out there and do that," Mast said.

Baer says 'too little, too late'

Baer said Mast's bills have not gone far enough, and were filed too late to help prevent or lessen this year's blooms. She said Mast should have filed the bills soon after getting elected, and accused him of using the bills to help him boost his profile in an election year. 

"The type of legislation that he's introducing now in the midst of an election year could have been introduced in the first months that he was in office. These ideas of prioritizing health and human safety with respect to regulating discharges are not new," Baer said. "Environmental activists in our community have been talking about that for decades." 

She argued that any member of Congress should look at the blooms holistically, and argued for pollution limits for the lake. Nitrogen and phosphorus feed the blooms. 

Mast said he has discussed pollution limits while serving, and mentioned he was the first Treasure Coast lawmaker to vote for reforming federal price supports for the sugar industry. The industry's farms south of Lake Okeechobee block the natural flow of excess water south to the Everglades. 

Baer's campaign has launched an effort called "Brian Mast is Toxic," attacking his environmental record by listing votes he took against environmentally friendly policies and his support of Trump administration officials who have been friendly to corporate polluters and deny climate change.  

Endorsements 

Mast has been endorsed by Bullsugar and the Everglades Trust. 

Baer has earned support from the League of Conservation Voters, a liberal-leaning environmental group based in Washington.

District 18 

The District 18 race, covering Martin, St. Lucie and northern Palm Beach counties, is one of several closely watched swing districts throughout the country. 

More: Brian Mast, Lauren Baer get national attention 

Nonpartisan political analysts — including Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Inside Elections — predict Mast will win the race, but faces a tough opponent.

Baer hopes to overcome in a year where political analysts expect a "blue wave" of anti-Trump sentiment and strong national support for female candidates.