In Kissimmee and Poinciana's State House District 46, Democratic voters will choose between the incumbent and a challenger in the Aug. 18 primary; the winner moves on to the Dec. 3 general election against Republican Michael Cruz and independent Ivan Rivera for the seat in Tallahassee.
In District 47, because the only two qualified candidates are a pair of Democrats, all voters in the district that includes western parts of St. Cloud, Buenaventura Lakes and a small portion of south Orange County will vote in the Aug. 18 "universal primary" to determine who goes to the Legislature to replace Republican Paula Stark, who did not file paperwork on time according to the state's Department of Elections and lost a pair of appeals to be added to the ballot.
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.
District 46
Jose Alvarez
Age: 62
Occupation: Real Estate and Business Consultant
Residence: Kissimmee
Political background: Kissimmee City Commission, 2012-20 (Mayor 2016-20); District 46 representative, 2024-current
If re-elected, what are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Transportation and Infrastructure. Osceola County continues to grow, and we are not keeping up with the demands. We need to work collaboratively with partners at the federal and local levels to address the concerns and priorities of the district.
Attainable housing is a serious issue throughout this region. The costs of property taxes, property insurance, and increased construction costs are passed on to the consumer. We need a comprehensive approach that increases the supply of attainable and workforce housing and encourages responsible development. By working with local governments and public, private, and nonprofit partners, we can help ensure working families can afford to live in the communities they serve.
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 support streamlining the permitting process, encouraging mixed-income and workforce housing near jobs and transit, and partnering with the private sector and nonprofit organizations for options. We need to ensure growth pays for itself without placing an unfair burden on current residents. We also need to tackle the rising costs, including property insurance, property taxes, and infrastructure costs.
People who work in Osceola County should be able to afford to live in Osceola County.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.
This will severely impact counties, municipalities, and schools if this passes. Public safety and infrastructure projects will be very hard hit, along with the services that residents have come to expect.
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 center developers should pay for the upgrades needed to electric, water, sewer, and transportation systems so existing residents are not left subsidizing new development. Regulators should require water-efficient cooling technologies along with impacts on the aquifer before approval. They should be located in commercial/industrial areas and should be encouraged to invest in energy efficiency and on-site backup generation that meets environmental standards.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Protecting our natural resources, as we are located in the headwaters of the Everglades. It is essential to preserve our natural resources as we face increasing pressure on our aquifer, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and water quality. It is essential to preserve Florida's ecosystems and ensure clean water for future generations with smart growth policies that preserve environmentally sensitive lands, strengthen stormwater management, and reduce nutrient pollution in our waterways.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education, regardless of where they live. Many issues contribute to this challenge, such as teacher shortages, inadequate funding, and increasing political polarization. We must recruit and retain excellent teachers by offering competitive salaries, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, and creating an environment where educators are respected and supported.
Robert LeWayne Johnson
This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they've done to provide answers to the following questions.
Age: 69
Occupation: Decorated military veteran; attorney; Retired, Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Military
Education: PH.D, Walden University, 2008-2012; J.D., Barry University
Residence: Kissimmee
Political background: Ran for District 46 in 2024
If elected, what are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Johnson, on his campaign website, lists his top issue as eradicating homelessness. He does not specify how he will solve this issue. However, since leaving the military in 2016, Johnson has focused a lot of his attention on veteran homelessness.
Johnson lists his second issue as increasing salaries for teachers. He does not suggest how this should be done.
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? Johnson did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not ascertain his policies on this issue from the available information. Johnson did however run for this seat two years ago and listed affordable housing as a priority.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Johnson did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not find any information about where he stands on property taxes and the ballot measure.
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? Johnson did not respond to this questionnaire and we found no information about his thoughts on this issue.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? As a candidate for House Seat 46 two years ago, Johnson listed cleaning up Central Florida lakes and waterways as a priority.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? From what we could find, Johnson has not addressed this issue.
District 47
Anthony Nieves
Age: 51
Occupation: Full-time caregiver
Education: Bachelor of Science, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYU
Residence: Kissimmee
Political background: Kissimmee City Commission, 2012-20 (Mayor 2016-20); District 46 representative, 2024-current
If elected, what are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
The cost of living is squeezing families from every direction. I still drive a 2007 Kia Rondo with over 250,000 miles because I'd rather spend my money on my family than a new car payment. Meanwhile, people working full time are wondering how they'll afford groceries, rent, or childcare. That's not a personal failure. It's a failure of leadership. We need a government that's focused on lowering costs for working families instead of protecting special interests making life more expensive.
Transparency. People have every reason to be frustrated with government. When I'm knocking on doors, I hear the same thing over and over: people don't think anyone in Tallahassee is listening. They're right. Too many politicians in Tallahassee listen to special interests instead of the people they were elected to serve. That's why I don't accept corporate PAC or special interest money. When I cast a vote, it won't be because someone bought it. I'm not for sale.
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've raised my family here, and it shouldn't be harder for the next generation to build a life than it was for mine. Housing isn't just expensive anymore. It's becoming unattainable. Working full time should be enough to afford rent, a mortgage, or the insurance premiums that come with owning a home. We need more affordable housing, stronger protections for renters, real accountability for the insurance industry, and an end to corporations buying up neighborhoods while families get pushed out.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.
I understand why people are looking for relief, but eliminating property taxes without replacing that funding would hurt our schools, libraries, firefighters, law enforcement, and local services. I'd rather fix what's driving families to the breaking point in the first place: rising insurance costs and the overall cost of living.
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? Every time a utility bill goes up, I think about the families I've talked to who are already deciding what they can afford to go without. Groceries, medicine, rent...something has to give. Regulators should be protecting people, not just approving higher rates. Utility companies shouldn't be able to keep shifting costs onto everyday Floridians while their profits grow.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? How quickly we're losing conservation land and wetlands to over development. I've fought against toxic coal ash being dumped into Osceola County and stood with efforts to protect Split Oak Forest. I lived through Hurricane Ian in Kissimmee after it had weakened to a tropical storm; it still dumped more than a foot of rain, flooding entire neighborhoods. We can't keep paving over the land that protects our communities.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Vouchers pulling money away from public schools. That funding pays for the teachers, aides, and services students actually rely on. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I've had to navigate disability services in our schools, and I've seen firsthand what happens when schools don't have the resources to give every child the support they need.
Jorge Figueroa
Age: 50
Occupation: Small business owner
Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix.
Residence: Kissimmee
Political background: N/A
If elected, what are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Affordability. Families are struggling with rising housing costs, property insurance, and everyday expenses. I will work to increase workforce housing, reform Florida's property insurance market, expand workforce training, and support small businesses that create good-paying jobs. My focus is on practical solutions that make Central Florida more affordable and create greater economic opportunity.
Education and workforce development. We need stronger public schools, expanded career and technical education, and better partnerships between schools, colleges, and local employers. By preparing students for high-demand careers and supporting lifelong learning, we can strengthen our workforce, help businesses grow, and create more opportunities for families across Central Florida.
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 starts with increasing supply. I support streamlining permitting, encouraging responsible workforce housing, and protecting funding dedicated to affordable housing. We also need meaningful property insurance reform, because insurance costs continue to drive up rents and homeownership costs. Together, these solutions will help make housing more attainable for working families across Central Florida.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.
I support meaningful property tax relief, but eliminating property taxes entirely would reduce funding for essential local services like public safety, roads, and parks. I favor targeted relief for homeowners while pursuing long-term affordability through property insurance reform, increased workforce housing, and responsible budgeting that protects the services our communities depend on.
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's utility regulators should prioritize affordability, transparency, and reliability. As demand grows, including from data centers, utilities should ensure costs are not unfairly shifted onto residential customers and small businesses. Investments in grid modernization, energy efficiency, and diverse energy sources should help meet future demand while keeping utility bills as affordable as possible.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Protecting our water resources is the biggest environmental challenge in House District 47. As our region continues to grow, we must safeguard lakes, wetlands, and groundwater while planning responsibly for future development. I support investing in water quality projects, protecting conservation lands, and promoting smart growth that balances economic development with environmental stewardship.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? The biggest issue is declining enrollment in many public schools, driven by changing demographics, rapid growth in some areas, and fear and uncertainty affecting some immigrant families. Florida should strengthen public schools by investing in student enrollment, supporting teachers, expanding career and technical education, and ensuring every child feels safe and welcome in the classroom.
