Seven Republicans are running in the Aug. 18 primary for the right to face U.S. Congressional District 9 incumbent Darren Soto in the Nov. 3 general election.
The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates' answers were fact checked and only edited for space considerations.
Ben Butler
Age: 47
Residence: Lorida
Political background: First-time candidacy
Local board/agency background: South Florida Water Management District (appointed by Gov. DeSantis), Highlands County Natural Resources Advisory Commission
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?
I am running because I believe Congress needs more people who have spent their lives solving real-world problems rather than climbing the political ladder. As a ninth-generation Floridian, dairy farmer, cattle rancher, and public servant with experience in water management, I understand the challenges facing Florida families because I live them every day. I know what it means to make payroll, manage rising costs, work through regulations, and balance competing priorities. I want to bring that practical perspective to Washington and be a strong advocate for the people of the 9th District.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Affordability and Cost of Living: Florida families are struggling with the rising costs of housing, groceries, insurance, and energy. Washington must reduce deficit spending that fuels inflation, support domestic energy production to lower costs, and remove unnecessary regulations that increase prices for consumers and small businesses.
Housing Affordability and Supply: Florida’s growth has outpaced housing supply in many communities. We need policies that encourage the construction of attainable workforce housing, invest in supporting infrastructure, and reduce regulatory barriers that unnecessarily increase housing costs while preserving local control over development decisions.
Food Security and Economic Resilience: America’s food supply depends on strong domestic agriculture. We should support family farms and ranches, strengthen supply chains, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, and ensure that the United States remains capable of feeding itself in an increasingly uncertain world.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability starts with addressing the root causes of inflation. Washington’s spending policies have driven up costs for everything from groceries to housing. We need a federal government that lives within its means, expands domestic energy production to lower utility and transportation costs, and removes unnecessary regulations that increase construction costs and limit housing supply. We also need to strengthen our economy so wages can keep pace with the cost of living. Families shouldn’t have to leave Florida because they can no longer afford to live here.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes
Florida homeowners deserve relief from rapidly rising property tax burdens. Any proposal must be implemented responsibly to ensure local governments can continue providing essential services, but taxpayers should not be punished simply because their property values have increased. Floridians should be able to stay in the homes they worked hard to purchase without being taxed out of them.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? By prioritizing affordability and reliability for consumers. Florida needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy that increases generation capacity while protecting ratepayers from unnecessary cost increases. Large industrial users, including data centers, should pay their fair share of infrastructure costs rather than shifting those expenses onto residential customers. Transparency and accountability should guide every rate decision.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Water quality remains Florida’s most important environmental challenge. Clean water is essential to our economy, our agriculture industry, our tourism sector, and our quality of life. We need continued investments in water storage, treatment infrastructure, Everglades restoration, and science-based solutions that improve water quality while respecting private property rights and supporting economic growth.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Preparing students for success after graduation. Whether a student chooses college, military service, skilled trades, or entering the workforce, our education system should focus on providing the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. We should strengthen career and technical education, support parental involvement, and ensure funding reaches classrooms where it can have the greatest impact on student achievement.
Dan Green
Age: 50
Residence: Vero Beach
2026 Election campaign profile questionnaire
Political background: U.S. Department of Defense/U.S. Department of State (2001-2009), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development (2019-21)
Local board/agency background: American Security Council Foundation
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? The honor of public service is earned. I believe I am the most prepared in terms of leadership experience, both as a civilian and as a member of the U.S. military. I served in the Trump Administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development and have led at a senior level at the U.S. Dept. of War/Defense. I am a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves with 23 years of experience, and I have led units of 50-135 members. With five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I have been tested under several challenging circumstances that have built resiliency in my approach to leadership.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Affordability: It astounds me how much we are paying for groceries when there are regulations on the books that only drive prices higher. We need to reduce unnecessary regulations and bureaucracy, facilitate price transparency, and promote greater free market competition. We should be doing more to support U.S. manufactured and grown products that support American farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers.
Restoring Constitutional Government: Congress need to build positive and constructive coalitions that focus on balancing the budget and reducing the national debt. This can be achieved, in part, by providing more effective oversight of out-of-control bureaucracies built over decades. There has never been a greater need to pass a national budget on time when it comes to serving the needs and will of our people. Passing the budget is also a major national security concern; it is a core issue that will assist in achieving a more affordable way of life for our nation.
Building Peace Through Strength: It is important to prioritize when and where our national leaders decide to use military force. Detering our main adversaries requires us to build our capabilities, capacity, and resiliency and to spend judiciously. The most significant national security threat to our nation is the People’s Republic of China. The U.S. Dept of War must be prepared to deter, defend against, and, if needed, defeat them. After five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have learned that we must always be prepared for worst-case scenarios.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
I believe the current federal 21st Century Road to Housing Act is a strong step forward to address housing affordability. This facilitates the building of additional homes which will help to address cost issues. According to Time Magazine, the bill will “streamline environmental reviews in an effort to speed the process of constructing homes.” This includes providing recommendations on zoning reform, supporting local communities on loans and grants, and stopping large corporations from turning single family homes into tax shelters and business ventures that restrict American families from being able to start their American dream.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.
We should endeavor to reduce the tax burden on Floridians when affordability issues are so important. Individuals are better positioned to spend their hard-earned tax dollars than government and the proposed constitutional amendment will promote more responsible budgets, reduce waste and fraud, and allow residents to keep more of their paychecks.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
I am greatly concerned about the impact of data centers on the electrical grid, water usage, noise pollution and other quality of life issues. We must ensure consumers, our water supply, and our quality of life are protected first and foremost. It is important to learn the lessons of how other states have dealt with data centers and, where appropriate, incorporate them into public planning. I am greatly concerned about the impact of data centers on the electrical grid, water usage, noise pollution and other quality of life issues.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? It is incredibly important to address the health of the Florida aquifer, our waterways, and lakes. Water pollution has taken its toll on the quality of our water. Droughts, algae blooms, and nitrogen levels in the water are factors that affect Florida’s environment.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Our most precious national resource is our children. There is no simple answer. The single biggest societal issue affecting Florida’s public education is the impact of artificial intelligence on how students learn. While there are many benefits of AI, there is increasing evidence it is degrading the educational quality of our students as it is often used to supplant traditional and more effective means of learning. We need to be proactive in our approach, testing different models of learning with AI, providing resources and support to teachers and keeping parents informed about how this technological change is impacting their children. We owe this to Florida’s families.
Jorge Martinez
Age: 61
Residence: Orlando
Political background: Business owner in first candidacy
Local board/agency background: Central Florida Foundation, St. James Cathedral Finance Council, Winter Park, East Orange, Orlando Chambers of Commerce, Give Kids the World.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
School choice and parental rights: Expand plans for parents to choose schools for their kids. Get rid of the Department of Education and allow states and parents to have more of a voice on the school curriculum. Ensure that all schools teach reading, writing, math, science and history rather than gender or political ideology.
Affordability: reducing high cost of living due to government overspending - reduce government spending and cap increases. Limit the negative effect of over regulation and taxes on small businesses. Address the insurance crisis in Florida.
Immigration Reform: Deal with passing and adjusting legislation on DACA, passing the FACE Act.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
Housing affordability can be addressed by reducing the impact fees (taxes) that municipalities are putting on home building. Also address issues with insurance and insurance availability. Lastly reduce the fees and other hidden costs related to home ownership and home acquisition.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes (no further explanation was given)
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Data centers that are built need to be in extremely rural areas that do not affect residential or farmlands. We also need them to be self-sufficient when it comes to power generation and water needs. Clean energy like solar, natural gas and the use of new nuclear mini power stations will help to ensure that our utility bills don't increase.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? The preservation of our wetlands and waterways. The natural beauty of Florida is accentuated by those issues. The persistent problem with the runoff from Lake Okeechobee and its effect on the Everglades, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. The issue with red tide and seaweed growth are directly related to that.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? School choice. Let's give all families the choice to determine where their kids go to school. Low-income families are most affected by the lack of choice. Wealthy families have the means to choose. Why don't all families have the same choice?
Justin Story
Age: 47
Residence: St. Cloud
Political background: First-time candidacy
Local board/agency background: “Proudly None”
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I deserve nothing in this race. I plan to earn the vote of every citizen in District 9 by listening to the people and representing their interests, not special interests or Washington insiders. As a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer and former F/A-18 fighter pilot, I bring a proven record of service, leadership, and putting duty before self.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Secure our borders and sovereignty. Pass a clear and concise constitutional amendment to end birthright citizenship for children of foreigners with no parental ties to the United States and close the loopholes visa holders exploit to fuel birth tourism. We must also continue strong enforcement of our immigration laws.
Reduce the size of government. We must immediately cut wasteful and fraudulent federal spending, eliminate duplicate programs, and pass a balanced budget amendment. We are no longer borrowing from our children’s future, we are purposely stealing from them.
Protect our God-given liberties. Aggressively fight every attempt by the federal government to infringe upon our natural rights. Protect our liberties by fighting tooth and nail against any and all encroachments on our Bill of Rights.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
We have to level the playing field. Expand the capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of primary residences so families can keep more of the equity they have built. Limit Wall Street investors and hedge funds from dominating the housing market. Extend the same tax advantages to individual homeowners that are currently given to landlords and developers.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.
Local governments can function effectively without continually raising taxes on homeowners. The data clearly shows that tax relief stimulates economic growth and ultimately strengthens local budgets when paired with spending discipline.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida should decentralize its energy markets to increase competition and fast-track natural gas power plants along with the development of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs). We must pursue safe, reliable, clean, and affordable energy solutions rather than forcing ratepayers to subsidize the massive power demands of data centers and other power intensive industries.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Over-development is destroying our farmland, natural areas, and floodplains due to haphazard and improper planning. Also, leveling farmland or natural areas for federally subsidized solar farms is not, nor ever will be, an environmentally friendly solution.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Preserving and expanding school choice and curriculum options so that parents, not bureaucrats, have control over their children’s education.
Marcus Carter
Age: 42
Residence: Kissimmee
Political background: 2024 District 9 NPA candidate
Local board/agency background: None.
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?
I've done the work it takes to get around the money and run the kind of campaign necessary to truly restore authentic representation. What I learned back in 2016 with President Trump's first election was that one man alone will never save us, and that was never the way it was supposed to be in the first place. Our political system is indeed rigged to support the elite at the expense of the American people, and until the American people do more to change that themselves, that is how our leaders will continue to operate. That's why my campaign runs exclusively on volunteers from right here within the district, and why I will never accept money from corporations or special interests. We're out to prove there is indeed a pathway around money in politics.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Address the ongoing mental health epidemic: A mental health epidemic can be seen in our schools, in our hospitals, and on the streets of our cities. In the past 18 months, while knocking on more than 20,000 doors, I have never encountered a voter who wasn't thinking of someone when I brought up mental health. Yet it seems no one is truly doing anything about it.
We feed pills to the mentally ill without a clear indication that they help, even raising suspicions that they might be making things worse. I will be calling on Congress to formally declare the mental health epidemic a national emergency, prompting a special subcommittee consisting of representatives who do not take money from Big Pharma and have no other conflicts of interest to begin a deep and transparent dive into the multifaceted attack on Americans' mental health. At the end of the day, though, it truly takes a recalibration of our moral compass as a society. And that requires each individual, not some guy in Washington.
Housing and the Economy: The safest and most efficient way to stimulate the economy is by ensuring a healthy and robust housing market. The way the housing market has changed over the past decade has brought us to a point where intervention is necessary. I was pleased to see the recent legislation banning investment companies from owning single family homes, but there is still more to be done. I would love to include a nationwide home loan program that affords every American the opportunity to purchase a home similarly to how veterans purchase homes using their VA certificates. This would result in lower mortgage rates, no PMI, and possibly no down payment at all. I believe it would create a real pathway for millions of renters who would find themselves spending less on their mortgage than they ever did on rent while building equity of their own.
Social Security: The Social Security Administration has already announced a benefit payment shortage just a few years from now, and the economic implications are dire.
Virtually every American alive today has lived in a world where Social Security was considered doomed to fail. Politicians kicked the can down the road until they finally ran out of road. But we can prevent the collapse in a way that doesn't shatter our economy. I believe the only mathematical way to stabilize it is by removing the income cap on Social Security withholding entirely. Once the program is stable, the work must begin to sunset Social Security once and for all. Not tomorrow, and not even in ten years, but over time in a way that neither strips benefits from those who will depend on them nor robs younger Americans who may never receive what they contribute.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida's affordability issue?
This is precisely why it is one of my top priorities.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.
Not only does it cut straight to the heart of affordability, it also requires governments to cut back on their wasteful spending and bloated budgets. I understand the concerns of citizens in our more rural areas, but I do not fear we will lose essential services. This referendum is essential to restraining our elected officials' addiction to spending our money. While residents in Glades County may not immediately see the silver lining, and I understand their perspective, I'm confident the state will compensate for any shortfalls that truly exist once waste, fraud, and abusive spending practices are reined in.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida's utility regulators respond?
The natural resources required to maintain AI data centers are simply untenable. While elected officials see the tax revenue as the incentive, at what cost does that newfound revenue come to our water table, our electric grid, and, despite Governor DeSantis' assurance that data centers will shoulder the burden, our energy costs as well?
This is a classic example of elected officials doing what is best for themselves and their donors without considering what is best for the people they serve. As for energy costs in general, I believe they also need to be heavily scrutinized. Solar fields placed throughout the state are not a cost-effective use of our land and natural resources.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida?
There are several, whether it's related to overdevelopment or invasive species. However, in our district, my greatest concern exists in and around Lake Okeechobee. I learned how growth to the north created a more polluted Kissimmee River, how chemicals have found their way into the lakebed. I learned how dissatisfied citizens are with the water management system. I learned how politics comes into play when determining where water gets to flow and how, in the end, the people who suffer the most are those who live in and around the lake.
I understand this is primarily a state and local issue, and I would ask Secretary Kennedy to come down and investigate the effects these chemicals have had on both our health and our environment.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
The federal government accounts for approximately 25% of public school funding nationwide, and our education system is broken nationwide. It is a national issue. We can certainly abolish the Department of Education and pass those funds directly to the states, but I would propose establishing a set of criteria that must be met in order to receive those federal dollars, including ensuring woke agendas are not being taught to our children, and requirements reincorporating skilled trades into school curricula, conducting more early childhood development evaluations to better understand how students learn, and providing a greater variety of learning environments suited to those different learning styles.
We need to bulldoze our blueprint for education and rebuild a new system from the ground up, one that serves the needs of the 21st century instead of relying on methods developed in the 19th century.
Steve Rance
Age: 59
Residence: Ocoee
Political background: County Councilman, Cass County, Indiana
Local board/agency background: City Plan Commission, Logansport, Indiana
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I am not a career politician or a creature of the Washington establishment; I am a veteran, a business professional, and a pastor who has spent my entire life answering the call to serve and protect. My leadership style was forged in the discipline of the United States Air Force Security Forces and grounded in the moral clarity of ministry. Central Florida families are feeling entirely forgotten by the current political class. I bring a combination of real-world legislative budgeting experience, a servant’s heart, and a proven backbone. I am running to execute a mission: to secure our borders, stop the reckless spending causing inflation, protect parental rights, and fiercely defend our constitutional freedoms.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
The Unsecured Southern Border & National Security. The total collapse of our border is bringing fentanyl, human trafficking, and criminal illegal aliens directly into Central Florida neighborhoods. I will fight to fully fund and finish the border wall, deploy advanced military surveillance technology, increase the number of active border patrol agents, and enforce a policy of immediate deportation for criminal illegal aliens.
Crushing Cost of Living & Excessive Inflation. Reckless federal spending and big-government bureaucracies have severely eroded the purchasing power of hard-working Florida families. I will work with the America First coalition to block massive omnibus spending bills, vote to aggressively audit and downsize wasteful federal agencies, and push to unleash American energy production to drastically reduce fuel and utility costs across the nation.
Encroachment on Parental Rights & Family Values. Federal overreach and radical ideological agendas are continuously attempting to push their way into our public school systems, undermining the ultimate authority of parents. I will support legislation that ties federal education funding strictly to academic transparency and parental rights, ensuring that schools focus entirely on core education—like reading, writing, math, and science—rather than political or social agendas.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
At the federal level, housing affordability is primarily driven by three things: high interest rates caused by massive federal spending, skyrocketing building material costs due to overregulation, and inflation. To fix this, Congress must first restore fiscal sanity to lower inflation, which will allow the Federal Reserve to safely bring interest rates down so families can actually qualify for a mortgage again. Secondly, we must slash the burdensome supply-chain regulations and energy restrictions that make it drastically more expensive to manufacture and ship construction materials. Locally, we need to champion policies that increase housing supply without creating massive government dependencies or picking winners and losers in the free market.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.
I believe that families should not have to continuously pay the government rent just to live on their own property. I strongly support the "Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes" amendment (Amendment 3) heading to the November ballot. Raising the non-school homestead exemption to $250,000 gives immediate, direct relief to Florida families who are being squeezed out of homeownership by rising costs. The amendment protects our long-term interests by lowering the non-homestead assessment increase cap to 5% to protect small businesses, requiring a five-year residency requirement to protect local taxpayers from sudden out-of-state surges, and explicitly mandates remaining property taxes must be prioritized for core services like public safety, infrastructure, and flood control.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Utility regulators must prioritize the financial stability of Florida families and small businesses ahead of corporate interests. While tech innovation is important, everyday rate-payers should never be forced to subsidize the massive energy demands of incoming data centers through higher monthly bills. Regulators need to implement strict cost-causation principles: if a data center requires a massive expansion of the power grid or specialized infrastructure, that specific commercial entity must bear those capital infrastructure costs—not the residential consumer. We must remove artificial barriers to reliable, dispatchable power like natural gas and nuclear energy, ensuring our grid's capacity grows responsibly without compromising energy security.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida?
The single biggest priority must be the long-term infrastructure, management, and preservation of Florida's clean water supply, specifically focusing on flood control and the health of our local aquifers. In Central Florida, rapid growth makes it crucial that we protect our natural water resources from runoff and contamination while maintaining modern, resilient stormwater infrastructure. We must focus government efforts on real, tangible conservation and infrastructure projects—such as localized Everglades restoration and updated water treatment facilities—rather than wasting taxpayer funds on globalist green-energy mandates that kill American jobs and do nothing to improve the local environment.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
The complete restoration of parental rights and academic transparency. God gave children to parents, not to the government. The primary failure in public education has been the mission-creep of radical social agendas replacing foundational learning. We need to eliminate federal bureaucratic overreach from the Department of Education and push decisions back to local communities. Funding should follow the student, and every parent deserves absolute transparency regarding what is being taught in their child's classroom.
Thomas Chalifoux
Age: 78
Residence: Orlando
Political background: Osceola County School Board (2000–2008); Osceola County Republican Executive Committee State Committeeman (2000–2004)
Local board/agency background: Kissimmee Board of Adjustment, Osceola County Rapid Transit Committee, Osceola County Vocational Advisory Board, Board of Directors, Osceola County & St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce, Vice Commander, Disabled American Veterans
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? America does not need another career politician; it needs proven leadership. I have pledged to serve only two terms, then come home. Congress should have term limits, members should be prohibited from trading individual stocks, and they should live under the same laws and health insurance system as every American who struggles to pay for insurance and gets very limited coverage. Public office should be about service, not personal enrichment.
I served our nation for 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Colonel. After military service, I spent nearly five decades building businesses that created thousands of jobs throughout Central Florida in construction, commercial real estate, franchise restaurants, property management, and agriculture. I have already built my career. I am not looking for another one. I am asking for two terms to fight for Florida families, restore accountability in Washington, and then I will come home. That is my promise.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Restore Accountability in Washington: Career politicians have created a government that spends too much, accomplishes too little, and answers to itself instead of the American people. We need congressional term limits, a ban on congressional stock trading, balanced budgets, and full accountability for every taxpayer’s dollar.
Secure the Border and Enforce Immigration Law: We must finish securing our border, enforce our immigration laws, and remove criminal illegal immigrants. Every nation has the right and responsibility to know who enters the country and to keep its citizens safe.
Lower the Cost of Living: Washington's reckless spending has fueled inflation that affects every Florida family. We must reduce unnecessary regulations, encourage American energy production, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and allow small businesses to grow so families can once again afford housing, groceries, and everyday necessities.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
As a lifelong general contractor and commercial real estate developer, I have watched government make housing increasingly expensive. Inflation fueled by excessive federal spending has dramatically increased construction costs. At the same time, excessive regulations, permitting delays, impact fees, and government bureaucracy have added substantial costs before construction even begins. We need policies that reduce inflation, streamline permitting, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and encourage the private sector to build more attainable housing.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes
Florida homeowners should not face automatic tax increases simply because their property values rise. Local governments should live within their means just as Florida families do. Meaningful property tax relief will help seniors, working families, and small businesses remain in their communities.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Consumers deserve utility rates based on efficiency—not monopoly profits. Having owned and operated a private water and wastewater utility for 16 years, I understand utility regulation firsthand. Too often, utilities are rewarded for increasing costs instead of controlling them. We need greater transparency, stronger oversight, and policies that put ratepayers first. Regarding data centers, Florida should welcome innovation while ensuring adequate power generation and protecting our natural resources.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Water quality is Florida's greatest environmental challenge. Protecting Florida's water begins upstream. For years, treated wastewater discharges, stormwater runoff, excessive nutrients, and other pollutants entering the Shingle Creek and Kissimmee River watershed have contributed to downstream water-quality challenges affecting Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Okeechobee, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Everglades.
Having served for 30 years in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I understand that successful water management requires practical engineering solutions—not political talking points. We need stronger accountability for water polluters, better stormwater management, meaningful nutrient reduction, additional water storage, and long-term solutions that improve water quality while protecting communities from flooding. Florida should never have to choose between protecting families from flooding north of Lake Okeechobee and protecting our estuaries from damaging discharges. We must do both.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
The single biggest issue is accountability. During my eight years on the Osceola County School Board, our district added more than 22,000 students while building 11 new schools during one of the fastest periods of growth in our history. Every child deserves an excellent education regardless of where they live. That begins with attracting and retaining outstanding teachers, empowering principals, maintaining classroom discipline, measuring academic performance honestly, and ensuring taxpayers receive value for every education dollar invested. Leadership matters, and high expectations produce better results.
