What could have been an easy re-election bid got very complicated for incumbent Sen. Richard Mitchell, D-Jasper, thanks to the Republican majority's first-ever shot at redrawing district maps.

Suddenly, 56 percent of the registered voters in Senate District 3 come from Marion and Citrus counties - the Republican stronghold of Mitchell's opponent, state Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon. District 3 stretches across 12 counties in Central and Northern Florida and terminates in a finger that takes in Tallahassee's east side.

Republicans see District 3 as one of five close races where the GOP has a chance to bolster its current 25-15 majority in the Senate. Even though Mitchell has out-raised Argenziano $252,560 to $130,333, both candidates are getting a lot of help from their respective parties as the battle lines are drawn.

Mitchell also is getting a boost from anti-Argenziano ads aired by the for-profit nursing home industry, which bears a grudge over her push for nursing-home reform last session. Meanwhile, Argenziano's benefiting from tens of thousands of dollars' worth of ads from the Republican Party of Florida.

Mitchell and Argenziano agree that their styles differ drastically. Where they disagree is on which style best serves their constituents. The soft-spoken Jasper native characterizes Argenziano, who's from Brooklyn, N. Y. , as a maverick who alienates people rather than working to build a consensus. She characterizes him as passive and says he's a "hobbyist legislator" who doesn't devote enough time to the job.

"He's quiet as a church mouse in representing his district," Argenziano said. "You don't have to jump on tables, but you don't just sit there and push a button, either. "

The powerful business lobby Associated Industries of Florida is among Mitchell's supporters. Both AIF and the Florida Chamber of Commerce had endorsed Mitchell's opponent four years ago, but AIF is pushing the Democratic candidate this year, even though Mitchell voted AIF's way only 57 percent of the time. Argenziano - who gained statewide recognition last year when she sent AIF lobbyist Jodi Chase a gift-wrapped box of horse manure - voted with AIF 80 percent of the time but lost the endorsement.

Mitchell also has won the endorsement of the Florida Education Association as well as of a host of labor unions, law enforcement groups and women's groups.

AIF President Jon Shebel said he was impressed that Mitchell not only voted against Senate President John McKay's plan to eliminate sales tax exemptions, but he held a news conference to oppose the powerful Senate leader.

"Sen. Mitchell stood up when it counted," Shebel said.

Mitchell says education and insurance will be the big issues next session, especially a looming malpractice insurance crisis that is sending health-care costs skyrocketing.

"On education, she seems to be going on what the Republicans are saying - that the FCAT is the best thing since sliced bread," Mitchell said of Argenziano's support of the state's standardized test used to grade public schools. "But people I listen to have a different view. In our quest for accountability, we've forgotten about people. "