Campaign and Election in 2008
Dr. Heller was among three Pinellas legislative candidates endorsed by the Suncoast Group for the Sierra Club, with Carl Zimmerman and Janet C. Long. He was endorsed by the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, and Associated Industries of Florida. He also won the endorsement of the St. Petersburg Times. They cited his ability to work across party lines and experience as an educator and former administrator with USF. They credited him with legislation that reduced the influence of the FCAT, working to ensure that autistic children would be able to receive health care coverage, and with the designated driver law. They believed he would be able to help prioritize educational programs in an era of reduced expenditures and increasing budgetary constraints. They also said he would offer insight into the problem of making windstorm insurance coverage more available and more affordable.
Representative Heller won re-election on November 4, 2008, defeating Republican Ross Johnson with 60% of the vote. Their campaign was good-natured with them waving to voters side by side on the same St. Petersburg street corner. He had support from Republican mayors Rick Baker of St. Petersburg and Frank Hibbard of Clearwater.
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