2020 VOTING GUIDE TIME TO VOTE!
ORANGE COUNTY TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TABLE ORANGE COUNTY
CANDIDATES FOR U.S. PRESIDENT U.S. Presidential candidates...... pg. 3
CANDIDATES FOR U.S.REPRESENTATIVE U.S. Rep candidates District 7...... pg. 4 U.S. Rep candidates District 8...... pg. 5 U.S. Rep candidates District 9...... pg. 6 U.S. Rep candidates District 10...... pg. 7
CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATOR State Senator candidates District 11...... pg. 8 State Senator candidates District 13...... pg. 9 State Senator candidates District 15...... pg. 10
CANDIDATES FOR STATE ELECTION DAY | 03 | NOV 2020 NOV | 03 | DAY ELECTION REPRESENTATIVE State Rep candidates District 30...... pg. 11 State Rep candidates District 31 ...... pg. 12 State Rep candidates District 44...... pg. 13 State Rep candidates District 47...... pg. 14 State Rep candidates District 48...... pg. 15 State Rep candidates District 49...... pg. 16 State Rep candidates District 50...... pg. 17
AMENDMENTS, LOCAL CANDIDATES, & MORE INFO Local candidates...... pg. 18-21 Amendments...... pg. 22-23 Directory of candidates and research links...... pg. 24-25 Sign the pledge to vote & additional info...... pg. 26-27 2 CANDIDATES FOR U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN (D) **DONALD TRUMP (R)
IMMIGRATION: Supports immediately IMMIGRATION: Block illegal immigrants reversing Trump’s family separation from becoming eligible for tax-payer funded practice at the border. Believes in protecting welfare, healthcare, and free college tuition. TPS and DED holders from being returned Opposes sanctuary cities and wants to to unsafe countries. Supports more restore our neighborhoods and protect our oversight and accountability on ICE and families. Wants to prohibit American CBP personnel. companies from replacing U.S. citizens with EDUCATION: Wants to ensure schools have lower-cost foreign workers. Supports equal funding and children of different mandatory deportation for non-citizen gang economic backgrounds, disabilities, races, members. and zip codes have the same opportunities. EDUCATION: Provide school choice to every Supports making public college and child in America. Supports teaching American universities tuition-free for families that make Exceptionalism. below $125,000 annually. HEALTH: Wants to cut prescription drug HEALTH: Supports giving all Americans prices, put patients and doctors back in access to affordable health insurance. charge of our healthcare system, and lower Supports a public option similar to healthcare insurance premiums. Wants to protect social security and medicare. Medicare. ENVIRONMENT: Continue to Lead the World ENVIRONMENT: Mandate new monitoring in Access to the Cleanest drinking water and for frontline communities who are more cleanest air. Partner with other nations to susceptible to climate change. Supports clean up our planet’s oceans. retrofitting buildings, upgrading schools, and ECONOMY: Wants to cut taxes to boost take- building homes sustainably. home pay and keep jobs in America. Wants to ECONOMY: Believes in ensuring the largest expand opportunity zones, enact fair trade corporations in the U.S. pay their “fair share” deals to protect American jobs, and continue of taxes while helping small businesses deregulatory agenda for energy recover. Supports incentivizing union independence. membership and collective bargaining.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 3 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 7 CANDIDATES FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
**STEPHANIE MURPHY (D) HEALTH: Introduced a bipartisan plan that will lower premiums for working families and small businesses. Wants to protect Medicare from privatization and voted to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. IMMIGRATION: Wants to create far-reaching migration change plan that secures borders and ports but strongly strongly opposes the President’s border wall, his Muslim ban, and his family separation policy. Believes in establishing a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants. EDUCATION: Strong supporter of early childhood education, announcing millions in early childhood education funding for Central Florida. Aggressively working to lower student loan interest rates, increasing Pell Grant funding, and making student loans more flexible, including the ability to renegotiate your loan when interest rates fall. ENVIRONMENT: For clean air and water, and lessening our reliance on non-renewable energy sources. ECONOMY:Supports lower taxes for working families and small businesses. Supports smart trade deals that raise American wages and help our businesses export more of their goods and products to other countries.
LEO VALENTIN (R) HEALTH: Believes in lowering drug costs. Supports preventing excessive government intervention in the healthcare market. Supports eliminating red tape in the healthcare system. Is a pro-life candidate. IMMIGRATION: Whether its lowering our taxes, strong national security or working to stop illegal immigration, Leo believes the Trump administration is creating a strong Florida and America and supports our President. EDUCATION: Believes in having special learning plans for students with special educational needs. Believes in a culture of shared responsibility in schools. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: Promotes a low-tax environment. Wants to decrease barriers for small businesses in Florida. Wants to expand technological sector footprint.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 4 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 8 CANDIDATES FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JIM KENNEDY (D) HEALTH: Believes in a universal healthcare system. Supports lower drug prices for all, a cap for all life-saving medications like insulin, and more freedoms with paid maternal leave. IMMIGRATION: Believes in a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without a criminal record. Believes in expanding family reunification and workers’ visas. EDUCATION: Believes in increasing funding for education and raising teacher pay. ENVIRONMENT: Support research into renewable energy and incentivizing transition to sustainable practices. ECONOMY: Believes in a national stimulus bill that includes a focus on working families and small businesses and follows science-based solutions to defeating COVID-19.
**BILL POSEY (R) HEALTH: Believes that we should guarantee that those with pre- existing medical conditions do not lose their health insurance or their access to affordable coverage. Thinks we should allow those under age 26 to continue on their family plan until they have access to an affordable health plan of their own as was the law in Florida before Obamacare. Believes in allowing purchase of health insurance across state lines which would enhance competition. IMMIGRATION: Believes in securing the U.S/Mexico border. EDUCATION: Opposes common core standards. ENVIRONMENT: Opposes transitioning to renewable energy. Believes in the U.S. achieving energy independence. Believes in protecting the Indian River lagoon and investing in algal bloom research. ECONOMY: Believes in reducing taxes on small businesses and individuals. Opposes legislation like the Green New Deal and other sustainable actions which “kill America’s economic growth.”
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 5 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 9 CANDIDATES FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILLIAM OLSON (R) HEALTH: Bill will work to open up interstate healthcare competition, repeal Obamacare’s disastrous regulations, and expand quality, market- driven healthcare for all Americans. IMMIGRATION: Bill supports strengthening our nation’s borders by finishing the wall, improving border surveillance, and eliminating illegal immigration “incentives” like the Visa lottery and chain migration. EDUCATION: Supports school choice and charter schools. Supports providing individuals and businesses federal tax credits for donations to state-based K-12 scholarship programs. ENVIRONMENT: Supports investing federal funds in renewable energy innovation. ECONOMY: Believes that the time has come for it to once again be possible to support a family on a single income. As your Congressman, Bill will fight to eliminate job-killing regulations, pursue American energy independence, and unleash our economy. **DARREN SOTO (D) HEALTH: Supports Medicare for All, providing a public option to complement the Affordable Care Act. Believes in building upon Obamacare (ACA) and expanding Medicaid. IMMIGRATION: Believes in a clean DREAM Act along with an extension of TPS and a pathway to citizenship for immigrant communities. EDUCATION: Believes every child should have access to high-quality K-12 public education and college/technical education. Federal funding must be ensured for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Title 1 economically disadvantaged schools, and equal access regardless of race, religion, sex, disability, or sexual orientation. ENVIRONMENT: Believes in investing in renewable energy resources and education. Fighting for a statewide ban on fracking and offshore drilling. Believes in building a clean energy economy and reducing fossil fuel emissions. ECONOMY: Focused on bringing high-paying, high tech jobs to Central Florida. Soto is currently working on funding to develop a high-tech sensors manufacturing center in Osceola County. Believes in investments to modernize our roads, bridges, schools, and water systems, creating high- paying jobs in the process.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 6 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 10 CANDIDATES FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
**VAL DEMINGS (D) HEALTH: Supports expanding and improving the Affordable Care Act. IMMIGRATION: Supports increasing high-skill and family-based visa caps. Opposes requiring undocumented immigrants to return to country of origin. Opposes family separation at the border. EDUCATION: Believes in equal access to education regardless of zip code. Believes in making college more affordable for all individuals. ENVIRONMENT: Believes we must act swiftly to address climate change. Recognizes that Florida’s way of life and economy relies on clean beaches and bodies of water. ECONOMY: Supports providing small businesses and individuals with more assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
VENNIA FRANCOIS (R) HEALTH: Believes maintaining a private healthcare system will drive prescription drug prices down and quality of care up. Supports expanding our national medicinal and supply production. Supports “pooling” by associations, religious groups, and small businesses so that people can buy insurance at lower, group rates. IMMIGRATION: Believes border control is crucial to stopping human trafficking and drugs coming into the country. Believes “illegal” immigrants who commit violent crimes, sell or trade narcotics, or participate in human trafficking should be top priority for deportation. EDUCATION: Believes in school choice for families stuck in “failing” schools. Supports development of vocational and technical schools. Believes in reforming the federal school loan program. ENVIRONMENT: Opposes increasing environmental regulations. Supports incentives for wind power. Believes we should expand offshore drilling. ECONOMY: Supports tax cuts and opposes wealth taxes. Believes we need to reduce the number of federal regulations on businesses.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 7 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 11 CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATOR
JOSHUA ADAMS (R) HEALTH: Supports comprehensive reform that increases the amount of people eligible for Medicaid, along with a change limiting coverage to basic care. IMMIGRATION: Supports enacting E-verify to ensure a legal workforce and higher wages for Floridians. Opposes sanctuary cities in Florida. EDUCATION: Opposes Common Core. Supports American & Constitutional studies as a priority. Supports skills-based education. Supports school choice. ENVIRONMENT: Supports protecting our coasts by stopping toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee and by storing and cleaning polluted water south of the Lake. Supports defending Florida’s coastline through beach restoration and flood mitigation. Supports restoring the Everglades. ECONOMY: Supports maintaining Florida’s status as a low tax state by opposing tax increases and supporting a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority vote in the Legislature to raise taxes Supports reducing bureaucracy and reducing regulations on businesses.
**RANDOLPH BRACY (D) ENVIRONMENT: Supports holding polluters accountable. Supports expanding aquatic preserves. ECONOMY: No comment. HEALTH: No comment. IMMIGRATION: Opposes requiring government agencies to use E-Verify immigration check for employment. EDUCATION: No comment.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 8 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 13 CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATOR
JOSH ANDERSON (R) HEALTH: No comment. IMMIGRATION: No comment. EDUCATION: No comment. ENVIRONMENT: Supports efforts to address sea level rise and develop sustainable energy. ECONOMY: Believes in lowering taxes.
**LINDA STEWART (D) HEALTH: Supports drawing down Medicare funds to expand access to healthcare. Supports capping of insulin prices. Advocated for expansion of the use of medicinal cannabis. IMMIGRATION: Supports allowing undocumented individuals being eligible for in-state tuition and for certain undocumented individuals to be admitted to the Bar. Supports sanctuary cities. EDUCATION: Supports legislation to increase teacher starting salary. Opposes the culture of testing that is prevalent in Florida. Believes taxpayers’ money should be funding Public Schools, not private schools. ENVIRONMENT: Opposes offshore drilling. As County Commissioner, fought to prevent development East of the Econlockhatchee River. Opposes any Fracking in Florida. Fought to secure a record 100 million for the Florida Forever Trust fund. ECONOMY: Supports funding of Visit Florida, which helps to promote Florida’s Tourism industry. Supports collection of Florida’s Sales Tax from out of state retailers who currently do not pay these taxes.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 9 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 15 CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATOR
LOUIS MINNIS (R) HEALTH: Supports free market solutions for healthcare. Supports increased healthcare options for uninsured, unemployed, and working poor. IMMIGRATION: No comment. EDUCATION: Supports investing in/protecting educators including their pay and safety training to protect students as well. Supports increased income for educators working in-person and/or remotely. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: Supports work to open up businesses amid the pandemic to aid workers. Supports requiring drinking water, shade, and annual heat illness training for farmworkers and outdoor workers. Wants to restart the economy as soon as possible by helping businesses to reopen, is focusing on small businesses. Wants to increase employment rates.v
**VICTOR TORRES (D) HEALTH: Believes in expanding Medicaid statewide. Supports increased mental health funding. IMMIGRATION: Believes Florida is a state that has and should continue to accept immigrants. Strongly opposed SB 168 in 2019, which would have required local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law. Opposes sanctuary city bans. EDUCATION: Believes in increasing high quality education as a way to create high-paying jobs. Believes in adequately funding Florida’s public schools. Supports increased funding for apprenticeship programs for students. ENVIRONMENT: Believes we must work to curb climate change Supports holding polluters accountable Supports strong ocean conservancy ECONOMY: Believes in creating jobs and job training programs. Believes in finding ways to retrain our workforce and give younger workers the opportunity to find jobs in our competitive environment.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 10 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 30 CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
BOB CORTES (R) HEALTH: Believes life at every stage is precious. Wants all Floridians to have access to quality healthcare. Wants to establish policies that attract more physicians to Florida to foster more nursing and tech support training programs. Supports senior care reform to protect the elderly from financial fraud, physical abuse, and consumer misinformation. IMMIGRATION: No comment. EDUCATION: Wants students to have access to more skills education, parents to have more choices, and fair pay for teachers. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: In favor of keeping taxes low and regulations reasonable so small businesses can succeed without government interference. Believes in diversifying the Florida economy. Holds state vendors and contractors accountable for the delays in providing financial relief to those effected by COVID-19.
**JOY M. GOFF-MARCIL (D) HEALTH: Wants to expand Medicaid and provide affordable healthcare access to more Floridians. IMMIGRATION: Voted NO for SB 168 which prohibits state sanctuary laws voted NO for SB 664 which would require government agencies to use e-verfiy immigration check for employment. EDUCATION: Believes public schools are not being adequately funded by the state. Wants to reduce standardized testing and and give teachers and schools control of their curriculums. Wants to make public education a priority again. ENVIRONMENT: Believes that climate change is an existential threat to Floridians and that we lack a commitment at the state level to combat Climate Change right now. Supports funding Florida Forever initiative, standing up for local waterways, and fighting for clean energy. ECONOMY: Supports diversification of Florida's economy. Believes we need to continue to expand state support and education for district 30 entrepreneurs to launch and grow their small businesses
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 11 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 31 CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
CRISSY STILE (D) HEALTH: Advocates for safe care for seniors with needed oversight. Supports disability rights. Advocates for the state to require certification for mental health training. Supports the block grant approach to contain medicaid spending. IMMIGRATION: Supports Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants to earn working, encouraging a path to citizenship. EDUCATION: Believes in increasing funding for public schools as well as teacher pay. ENVIRONMENT: Believes in preserving our forests, lakes, and waterways to sustain our environment. Believes in preserving our parks and green spaces. Supports protecting rural areas from development. ECONOMY: Believes in jobs and good wages for everyone who is able to work. Believes in increasing Florida’s unemployment compensation. Believes we need an efficient unemployment system. Wants to make sure the government only collects what is necessary without wasteful spending.
KEITH TRUNEOW (R) HEALTH: Does not support abortion rights/ does not believe abortion providers should receive tax payer funds. Supports Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Does not support affordable health care for all. IMMIGRATION: Supports protecting U.S. borders and “deporting illegal aliens found in our jails and prisons.” EDUCATION: Supports school choice. ENVIRONMENT: Fully supports the agricultural industry. ECONOMY: Opposes tax raises on families and small businesses.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 12 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 44 CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
**GERALDINE THOMPSON (D) HEALTH: Supports programs that expand access to health care for more Floridians. IMMIGRATION: Supported bill that authorized in-state intuition for non- citizen individuals. Voted NO for SB 168 which prohibits state sanctuary laws. Voted NO for SB 664 which would require government agencies to use e-verIfy immigration check for employment. EDUCATION: Supports salary increase for public school teachers & staff. Wants to reform school testing procedures, replace high stakes testing with a system of evaluation that more accurately measures student learning. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: Advocates consistently for the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively. Supports legislation that advances fair wages and equitable treatment for all individuals in the workplace.
BRUNO PORTIGLIATTI (R) HEALTH: Does not support abortion rights and does not believe abortion providers should receive tax payer funds. IMMIGRATION: Believes we need to enforce our current immigration laws before reforming our current system. Government needs to construct a streamlined system that allows families to enter our country legally and does not incentivize the illegal crossing of our border. EDUCATION: Strong supporter of the Florida Opportunity Scholarship. Wants to expand vocational training opportunities in Florida schools. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: Supports less government regulation, allowing private sectors and individual citizens to shape the state. Wants to fix Florida’s broken unemployment system to help our displaced workers purchase food and pay rent. Wants to prevent COVID-19 related lawsuits and eliminate barriers that slow the ability of businesses to reopen.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 13 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 47 CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
**ANNA ESKAMANI (D) HEALTH: Supports medical cannabis. Supports rehabilitation programs for those suffering from the opioid crisis. Advocates for affordable health care for all. Supports mental health awareness. IMMIGRATION: Advocates for marginalized communities, immigrants, and those who live with disabilities. EDUCATION: Supports increased arts and culture funding. Supports salary increase for public school teachers & staff. Wants reform for school testing procedures, replace high stakes testing with a system of evaluation that more accurately measures student learning. Wants to add mental health and crisis intervention programs. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: Supports utilizing new technologies and securing affordable housing funds to create smart infrastructure that supports the growth of all Floridians. Believes no one should live in poverty, therefore she supports fair wages and taxes, small businesses, unions and economic upward mobility.
JEREMY SISSON (R) HEALTH: Supports programs that expand access to health care for more Floridians. IMMIGRATION: No comment. EDUCATION: Supports salary increase for public school teachers & staff. Supports offering parents vouchers to send their children to their school of choice. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: Supports utilizing new technologies and securing affordable housing funds to create smart infrastructure that supports the growth of all Floridians. Does not support rent control. Supports small businesses.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 14 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 48 CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DAISY MORALES (D) HEALTH: Advocates for affordable health care for all Wants to expand Medicaid and mental health awareness. Supports abortion rights. IMMIGRATION: Advocates for marginalized communities, believes everyone should be provided the same opportunity. EDUCATION: Unders tands that all children deserve access to quality learning in a safe environment, especially in underserved communities. Will work across the aisle to get public schools fully funded and restore dignity to our teachers with competitive salaries. Daisy will focus on and fight for innovative school safety measures without arming teachers. ENVIRONMENT: Devoted to advocating for sustainable economic development and job creation. ECONOMY: Devoted to creating fair wages and taxes. Supports small businesses, entrepreneurs, and unions. Will work to increase access to affordable housing, hold developers accountable to build more affordable housing units, and work with agencies to help the homeless.
JESUS MARTINEZ (R) HEALTH: Advocates for affordable health care for all. IMMIGRATION: No comment. EDUCATION: Supports better working conditions for teachers, salary increase for public school teachers & staff, and public school reforms. ENVIRONMENT: Devoted to advocating for sustainable economic development and job creation. ECONOMY: Believes small businesses should receive better resources in order to operate efficiently. Supports legislation to protect small businesses in recession. Dedicated to advocating for more aid and resources to help renters become owners.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 15 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 49 CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
ROBERT PRATER (R) HEALTH: Fighting to introduce more affordable health care options for our district, keeping us and our families safe both medically and financially. IMMIGRATION: No comment. EDUCATION: Prater has worked for decades as a public school teacher in Orange County. He said he is running for the Florida House to give a voice to teachers. ENVIRONMENT: No comment. ECONOMY: Focused on building our economy though more electives and available job training--this includes integrating vocational training at the high school level. This includes integrating vocational training at the high school level. Hopes to reintroduce wood shop and economics classes back into the middle school system, which he believes are important courses that teach trade skills and a working knowledge of our country’s economy.
**CARLOS SMITH(D) HEALTH: Believes healthcare is a human right, that no person should have to suffer because they can’t afford expensive coverage or medication. Co-sponsored the Healthy Florida Program, which would accomplish universal coverage and guarantee healthcare as a human right here in Florida. IMMIGRATION: Believes that no person is illegal. Filed the Florida Trust Act which would have forbidden Florida’s governments, schools, and law enforcement from complying with ICE detainer requests without a warrant. EDUCATION: Wants to provide affordable education at public universities to everyone. Introduced the 'Restore Our Bright Futures Act', which dramatically expanded the number of eligible students for Bright Futures. ENVIRONMENT: Devoted to advocating for sustainable economic development and job creation. ECONOMY: Believes all employers should adopt common sense procedures to ensure their workers have access to cool water, shade, and short breaks during periods of intense heat. Believes in increasing the minimum wage. Carlos is fighting for small businesses and works with local chambers of commerce to ensure their voices are heard.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 16 ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT 50 CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
**RENE PLASENCIA (R) HEALTH: Helped sponsor FL H1189 - Genetic Information for Insurance Purposes bill which prohibits life insurers & long-term care insurers from canceling, limiting, or denying coverage, or establishing differentials in premium rates based on genetic information. IMMIGRATION: No comment. EDUCATION: As a previous OCPS teacher, he will fight to strengthen public schools and increase teacher pay. Is a fierce advocate for students with special needs and their families. ENVIRONMENT: Committed to protecting our waterways and environment. Voted for 690 million in funding for environmental projects. Started the Indian River Lagoon Delegation. ECONOMY: Wants to promote the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs.
NINA YOAKUM (D) HEALTH: Believes access to affordable, quality healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. She will work to expand Medicaid to cover the more than 800 thousand uninsured Floridians, make access to mental health readily available for all, prioritize care for those affected by the ongoing Opioid crisis, and defend women's reproductive rights. IMMIGRATION: Nina believes we must all be given equal opportunity to pursue our own happiness. Nina will amplify the voices of our Black, Puerto Rican and immigrant communities.. EDUCATION: Fully fund our public K-12 public schools as well as vocational and technical schools. Increase wages for teachers and other school staff members ENVIRONMENT: Wants to ban fracking. Make our state a global leader in renewable energy innovation, especially in regards to solar energy.Achieve environmental justice for marginalized communities. ECONOMY: Nina recognizes that the shortage of affordable housing in the Orlando area is one of the most severe in the U.S. She will ensure full funding of the Sadowsky Trust Fund to create more affordable housing.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican ** = Incumbent 17 LIST OF LOCAL ELECTION CANDIDATES
Court of Appeal District 5 Orange County Sheriff Judge Kerry I. Evander John Mina (D) RUNNING FOR: Retaining his seat Orange County Sheriff in the Fifth District Court of SHORT BIO: John Mina has been Appeal. serving with the Orlando Police SHORT BIO: Judge Kerry Evander Department for 28 years, being is a judge on FL’s 5th District Court appointed Chief of Police in 2014. He of Appeal, holding his seat since was elected Orange County Sheriff in 2006. Prior to this position, he served 2018, hoping to continue working on as Circuit Judge for the Eighteenth lowering Judicial Circuit. crime and increasing accountability WEBSITE: and transparency. https://www.5dca.org/Judges/Chief- WEBSITE: Judge-Kerry-I.-Evander https://sheriffjohnmina.com/about/
Judge Meredith L. Sasso Property Appraiser RUNNING FOR: Fifth District Court of Appeal Amy Mercado (D) SHORT BIO: Judge Sasso began RUNNING FOR: Orange County her legal career in private practice in Property Appraiser general liability and auto negligence. SHORT BIO: Since 2016, Amy In 2016, she joined the Office of the Mercado has been serving as State General Counsel to Governor Rick House Scott where she ultimately served as Representative for District 48. She is Chief Deputy General Counsel. She running to ensure schools and public joined the Fifth District Court of safety departments are funded with Appeal in 2019, increased transparency from her office. being appointed by Rick Scott. WEBSITE: http://amymercado.com/ WEBSITE:https://www.5dca.org/Jud ges/Judge-Meredith-L.-Sasso Florida Supreme Court Judge F. Rand Wallis Carlos G. Muñiz RUNNING FOR: Fifth District Court RUNNING FOR: On ballot for of Appeal approval to retain his seat on SHORT BIO: Prior to any appointed Florida Supreme Court. position, Judge Wallis worked was a SHORT BIO: Justice Muñiz was Partner at a Law Firm for 8 years. He appointed by Governor DeSantis in was first appointed to the 9th Judicial 2019. Circuit Court by Governor Crist Before being appointed, Muñiz before being appointed to the 5th served on the staff for Secretary District Betsy DeVos on the general counsel Court of Appeal by Governor Scott in for the Department of Education. He 2013. has worked for elected officials prior, WEBSITE: including Pam Bondi and Jeb Bush. https://www.5dca.org/Judges/Judge- WEBSITE: F.-Rand-Wallis https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/ Justices/Justice-Carlos-G.-Muniz
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican (I) = Independent 18 LIST OF LOCAL ELECTION CANDIDATES
State Attorney Apopka City Council Seat 2 Monique Worrell (D) Yesenia Baron RUNNING FOR: State Attorney RUNNING FOR: Apopka City Council SHORT BIO: Monique Worrell Monique Seat 2 was born in Brooklyn, New York. A first- SHORT BIO: Yesenia Baron is heavily generation American, she has fought for involved in the Apopka community, justice in this community for over twenty aiding in events such as sponsoring years. She did not prepare her life around the Apopka Fair. She is a special a run for state attorney, however, her life agent has prepared her well. She brings a with the Florida Department of Law holistic perspective on justice from Enforcement. experience as a defense attorney, law WEBSITE: https://yeseniabaron.com/ professor, assistant state attorney, and chief legal officer. WEBSITE: https://www.moniqueforstateattorney.com Gene Knight RUNNING FOR: Apopka City Council Seat 2 Jose Torroella (I) SHORT BIO: Gene Knight is a lifelong RUNNING FOR: State Attorney Apopkan, having served as an Army SHORT BIO: Jose Torroella has lived reservist and worked at several local and practiced criminal law (3 years as businesses in the city. He believes in a prosecutor; 29 as criminal defense balancing the budget and focusing on attorney) in Orange and Osceola the city as a whole. counties, as well as throughout WEBSITE: Florida. He is a naturalized U.S. https://www.facebook.com/geneknight citizen for over 32 years now. Prior to campaign/ becoming a U.S. citizen he was a Spanish citizen. He hopes you will stand with him as he fights crime in all our neighborhoods. Nick Nesta WEBSITE: http://josetorroella.com/ RUNNING FOR: Apopka City Council Seat 2 SHORT BIO: Nick Nesta is a licensed real estate broker in FL. He is focused on sustainable growth, smart spending, developing partnerships, and a smart pandemic response. WEBSITE: https://www.nickforapopka.com/
Diane Velazquez RUNNING FOR: Apopka City Council Seat 2 SHORT BIO: Diane was elected to the Apopka City Council in 2014, supporting efforts to rebuild city parks and being a member of many local organizations. She has lived in Apopka since 2005 after retiring from the NYPD. WEBSITE: https://dianeforapopka.com/
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican (I) = Independent 19 LIST OF LOCAL ELECTION CANDIDATES Soil and Water Supervisor Seat 1 Bobby Agagnina Nate Douglas Tim Veigle RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil and Water Supervisor Seat 1 and Water Supervisor Seat 1 and Water Supervisor Seat 1 SHORT BIO: Bobby Agagnina is an SHORT BIO: Nate Douglas is a life- SHORT BIO: Tim Veigle works with educator in Central Florida. He is long resident of Central FL, Watson Realty and the Orlando focused on protecting our wetlands running on expanding sustainable Realtors Association. His goals are to and rural areas from development, transportation, address increase community engagement education, environmental racism, and transparency, create a sound and support major efforts highlighted budget, and to advocate for and building public trust within the in the Green New Deal. community goals with position. the Commission. WEBSITE: WEBSITE: WEBSITE: https://www.agagninafororange.com/ https://www.douglasfordistrict1.com/ https://voteveigle.com/ Soil and Water Supervisor Seat 2 Karolyn Campbell Sean McQuade RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil and RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil Water Supervisor Seat 2 and Water Supervisor Seat 2 SHORT BIO: Karolyn Campbell began SHORT BIO: Sean McQuade has getting involved with environmental extensive experience in working with work as a volunteer with Orange County environmental nonprofits focused on Soil and Water Supervisor Daisy Morales. recycling and farming. He is focused on She is the Vice President of the Central sustainability, public education, and Florida Chapter of the Federally expanding community partnerships. Employed Women and was appointed by the Mayor and has been serving on the WEBSITE: Orange County Disability Advisory Board. https://www.vote4sean.org/
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/ockch2o/? hc_ref=ARS4a95x-aVmV- GSoBSkwonEXW4-Jd3_GaIu_6e1fA- SelmciyUgj72pbT9Vvnir0VU&fref=nf
Soil and Water Supervisor Seat 3
Raquel Lozano Daniel Romero RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil and RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil and Water Supervisor Seat 3 Water Supervisor Seat 3 SHORT BIO: Raquel Lozano was born SHORT BIO: Daniel Romero is a biology and raised in Central FL, focused on professor and environmentalist. serving underrepresented communities. He is focused on conservation of our She is also focused on pushing for water and natural resources. sustainable initiatives and protecting our ecosystem. WEBSITE: WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/DanielforSWC https://voteraquel.com/
20 LIST OF LOCAL ELECTION CANDIDATES Soil and Water Supervisor Seat 5
Mark Meta Jimm Middleton Alaina Slife RUNNING FOR: Orange RUNNING FOR: Orange RUNNING FOR: Orange County Soil and Water County Soil and Water County Soil and Water Supervisor Seat 5 Supervisor Seat 5 Supervisor Seat 5 SHORT BIO: Mark Meta is a SHORT BIO: Jimm is a SHORT BIO: Alaina is running professor at Seminole State retired U.S. Air Force on a platform of conserving our College. He is outspoken member, running to green spaces, natural about the lack of transparency improving the maintenance of resources, and sustainable among the Supervisors and is current systems to take a development/waste committed to education and proactive approach. management. partnerships. WEBSITE: WEBSITE: WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/el https://www.facebook.com/Alain https://votes4mark.com/ ectJimm/about/? aSlifeSoilandWaterDistrict5/? ref=page_internal ref=page_internal
21 AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT 2020
AMENDMENT 1- SUFFRAGE States in the state Constitution that only U.S. citizens who are 18 years old or older can vote in federal, state, local, or school elections. What it means: This amendment would change one word in Section 2 of Article VI in the state Constitution on who can vote in the state. It currently states that “Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered.” The amendment would change “every” to “Only a.” Example: This amendment would have no legal impact on voting in Florida. AMENDMENT 2- MINIMUM WAGE Increases the state minimum wage to $15 by 2026. What it means: This amendment would gradually raise the current Florida minimum wage of $8.56 an hour to $15 an hour. The minimum wage would increase to $10 in September 2021, and increase $1 every year until reaching $15 in 2026. Example: This would affect all of Florida’s minimum wage workers, providing a much higher baseline income than before. This would also affect any businesses in the state, causing them to comply with the wage increase as well. AMENDMENT 3- ELECTIONS Establishes a top-two open primary system for state office primary elections. What it means: Under current election rules, you must be registered with a party to vote in our closed-primaries. This amendment would create a top-two system that would list all candidates on the primary ballot, allowing all registered voters in Florida to choose. The top two candidates would then move onto the general election. Example: This would affect all voters in the state of Florida, allowing those who are not party-affiliated to vote in primaries as well. This may also lead to the top two candidates being affiliated with the same party, leaving some voters without an actual choice in the election.
22 AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT 2020
AMENDMENT 4- DIRECT DEMOCRACY Requires voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second general election. What it means: This means it would require constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at two successive general elections to become effective. Currently in Florida, if voters approve an amendment at one general election, it becomes part of the constitution. In Florida, constitutional amendments require a 60% supermajority vote to become effective. This requirement was added to the constitution in 2006. Under Amendment 4, the supermajority requirement would apply to both elections. Example: This would affect all voters and residents in Florida, because it gives the power to the voters on whether or not they want certain constitutional amendments to be passed. AMENDMENT 5- TAXES Increases the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years. What it means: This amendment would extend the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years. Currently, if a person moves to a new home, they have two years to transfer them "Save Our Homes" benefit to have the new home assessed "at less than just value." The amendment would increase that time period to three years rather than two. Example: A "yes" vote supports extending the period during which a person may transfer Save Our Homes benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years. A "no" vote opposes extending the period during which a person may transfer Save Our Homes benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years. AMENDMENT 6- TAXES Allows a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. What it means: This amendment would allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. The discount would be in effect until the spouse remarries, sells, or otherwise disposes of the property. If the spouse sells the property and does not remarry, the spouse's new primary residence may receive a homestead tax discount not exceeding the dollar amount from the most recent ad valorem tax roll. Example: A "yes" vote supports allowing a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. A "no" vote opposes allowing a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.
23 DIRECTORY OF CANDIDATES
U.S. House of Representative Contact info Candidates (Districts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) Leo Valentin (R)-District 7...... [email protected] / (321) 345-8010 Stephanie Murphy (D)-District 7...... (202) 225-4035 ...... [email protected] William Garlington (NPA)-District 7...... (407) 890-9821 ...... [email protected] / Bill Posey (R)-District 8...... https://billposey.com/contact/ Jim Kennedy (D)-District 8...... https://www.kennedyforflorida.com/contact/ William Olson (R)-District 9...... https://billolsonfl.com/contact/ Darren Soto (D)-District 9...https://soto.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email Vennia Francois (R)-District 10...... https://venniaforcongress.com/contact/ Val Demings (D)-District 10...... [email protected]
State Senate Candidates (Districts 11, 13, 15) Joshua Adams (R)-District 11...... 407-233-3342 Randolph Bracy (D)-District 11...... https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s11 Josh Anderson (R)-District 13...... https://www.joshforflorida.com/get-involved Linda Stewart (D)-District 13...... (407)-222-5109 / [email protected] Louis Minnis (R)-District 15...... (321) 355-3447 / [email protected] Victor Torres (D)-District 15...... (407) 846-5187 / [email protected]
State Representative Candidates (Districts 30, 31, 44) Bob Cortes (R)-District 30...... (850) 717-5030 [email protected] Joy Goff-Marcil (D)-District 30...... (407) 623-1010 [email protected] Keith Truneow (R)-District 31...... (352) 801-5862 / [email protected] Crissy Stile (D)-District 31...... (352) 735-1950 / [email protected] Bruno Blanco (R)-District 44...... Geraldine Thompson (D)-District 44...... (407) 245-0288 ...... [email protected]
(NPA) = No Party Affiliation 24 DIRECTORY OF CANDIDATES
State Representative Candidates, continued (Districts 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50) Kamia Brown (D)-District 45 (unopposed)...... (407) 297-2001 Travis McCurdy (D)-District 46 (unopposed)...... (407) 603-0460 / ...... [email protected] Jeremy Sisson (R)-District 47...... 407.613.2588 / [email protected] Anna Eskamani (D)-District 47.....(407) 228-1451 / [email protected] Jesus Martinez (R)-District 48...... [email protected] Daisy Morales (D)-District 48...... (321) 438-6315 / [email protected] Robert Prater (R)-District 49...... 407-283-9142 / [email protected] Carlos Smith (D)-District 49...... (407) 681-5433 / [email protected] Rene Plasencia (R)-District 50....(850) 717-5050 / [email protected]
Research sources and Candidate websites: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/trump-campaign-announces-president-trumps-2nd-term-agenda- fighting-for-you/ https://joebiden.com/joes-vision/ https://www.leovalentin.com/ http://www.stephaniemurphyforcongress.com/ https://www.kennedyforflorida.com/issues/ https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/11291/documents/2020/6/kennedy_jim.pdf https://billposey.com/issues/ https://posey.house.gov/issues/ https://www.darrensoto.com/issues https://billolsonfl.com/testimonials/ https://www.givegreen.com/candidate/val-demings https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2019/08/21/rep-val-demings-makes-gun-control-legislation-high-priority/ https://valdemings.com/ https://venniaforcongress.com/priorities/ https://www.isidewith.com/candidates/vennia- francois/policies/environmental https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/138089/randolph-bracy-iii? categoryId=37&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E,E&p=1 https://www.floridareportcard.com/legislator/sen-randolph-bracy https://electadams.com/issues https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/11291/documents/2020/7/adams_joshua.pdf https://lindastewartforflorida.com/issues/ https://floridapolitics.com/archives/316362-joshua-anderson-seeks-route-to-sd-13-on-bipartisan-issues https://www.voterobprater.com/who-is-robert-prater https://www.carlosguillermosmith.com/issues https://www.ninaforflorida.com/ https://www.votecoachp.com/ 25 26 TIME TO VOTE!
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