Like Osceola County’s other legislator, Republican Rep. Fred Hawkins, Jr. of District 42, Kristen Arrington is a first-term member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Arrington is a Democrat in District 43, representing Kissimmee and areas west of Lake Tohopekaliga. She spoke with the News-Gazette to talk about her first session in Tallahassee, voting record and favorite bills, and what she thinks is in store for the 2022 session, which starts Jan. 11.
Osceola News-Gazette (ONG): You had worked as a strategist for other local candidates’ campaigns, then suddenly in summer of 2020 you jumped into the District 43 race. What motivated that?
Kristen Arrington (KA): Like many people who looked at things during the pandemic a little different, this race came up around the dinner table. Brandon (Arrington, her husband, a County Commissioner), and I were concerned about the list of candidates. I’m pro-Osceola, constantly worried we’re not getting our fair share, and felt none of them had that concern. The more I thought about it, how backwards the process was to help the unemployment situation, and how Osceola at the time had the highest unemployment rate in the state. I thought, “Now more than ever, we need someone who’ll be strong for Osceola.” I waited until the last minute because I wanted to make sure I’d do it for the right reasons. I spent just 66 days on the campaign trail, speaking in my own voice.
I found I’m more probusiness than I thought. I want to help our workers, but I want to make sure businesses want to come to Florida and flourish, not Georgia or other places because we made it harder for them.
ONG: Now elected, how have those dinnertable conversations gone, with your husband (and mother-in-law, Supervisor of Elections Mary Jane Arrington) governing on a county level and you on the state level?
KA: During COVID the Capitol was closed so I often felt alone on state things, even though I’m one of 120 (legislators). He’s one of five (commissioners). Locally you get to see things happen. At the state level it’s more policy and fixing problems. I like that stuff so it’s a good fit for me.
ONG: Talk about being part of the state-level minority party.
KA: I was told, and I knew, I’d be a freshman Democrat. I like making relationships with people. I heard from the other side of the aisle.
ONG: Talk about some of the accomplishments made for Osceola County in your first year.
KA: One piece I got through committees was school guidance services, making students aware of career and technical pathways. Having two Valencia and O-Tech campuses each here and being a Valencia student, I think every student should know about every opportunity, especially those close to home, and delivered to them in a language they understand. I also co-sponsored the online sales tax bill, with proceeds going to refill the unemployment fund and reduce business taxes. That’s a game changer for small businesses.
ONG: You were taken to task for some of your voting record by other Democrats. Is it harder to vote down a party line, or for your convictions?
KA: Democrats are more free-willed than our Republican counterparts. I love that. I don’t get a hard time from the party. Of course, there are groups who don’t feel that way. I’m great friends with my colleagues and I didn’t feel the pressure to vote “for the team.” (Orlando Rep.) Anna Eskamani sits right in front of me, we’ll disagree on things and tell each other why.
ONG: What committees will you sit on in 2022? What bills do you hope to pass?
KA: I was re-appointed to last session’s committees: the Education and Employment Committee, which is big because it has subcommittees under it, and I sit on the Post-Secondary and Lifelong Learning subcommittee. I’ll serve on the Tourism and Infrastructure Appropriations Committee, on the Professions in Public Health Care Committee, and the state redistricting committee – we should see some maps soon.
Hydrilla on our lakes is a very big deal. I want to get with FWC and see what we can do in the long term. Education funding is very big deal, and affordable housing is a big deal for Osceola County.
ONG: You’ve got to already go back out and campaign. What’s that like?
KA: It’s different trying to get re-elected. I couldn’t campaign during special session, and from January through March 12, I can’t campaign or ask for donations. We’ll have to cram it into certain areas, and with redistricting, my district might change.So it’s a challenge, and I’ll be campaigning on my record and providing community updates to as many people as possible.
