I am running for State Representative to give the voters of Pasco County a choice.  A choice between the status quo, and change.  A choice between destroying women’s rights, and preserving their freedom to choose.  A choice between sacrificing public safety to the gun lobby, and sensible life-saving regulation of the constitutional right to bear arms.  A choice between the continued depletion of our public school system, and reinvesting in our teachers and faculties and children.

 

A choice between central governmental control from Tallahassee, and allowing local
leaders to decide what is best for our communities.  Our representatives are in the thrall of a governor who is more focused on his national ambitions than on the needs of common Floridians. While our governor distracts attention away from his failures by fighting meaningless culture wars, Floridians continue to struggle under the crushing weight of housing costs and insurance premiums which are the highest in the nation.

 

The Republican Party of Florida touts itself as a vanguard against government intrusion into the free market, while it outlaws corporate policies that it opposes.  It claims to protect the freedom of Floridians, while it punishes those who support gay rights and minority equality. Rather than making efforts to protect Florida’s vulnerable ecosystem, our leaders remain in the pocket of big oil by ignoring climate change and halting programs that encourage renewable energy and conservation. By opposing health care to millions of poor Floridians; by censoring academic freedom; by stigmatizing LGBTQ+; and by disarming renters and unions, the Republican Party shows its stripes as the party of the powerful over the disfranchised, the elite over
the masses, the rich over the poor.

I pledge to represent all citizens of District 56.  I have lived here for 18 years after moving to Florida 26 years ago. I am a retired public defender. I graduated from Harvard College and Washington and Lee Law School. I have never held public office, and I look forward to serving you with energy, diligence, and compassion.