2020 VOTING GUIDE TIME TO VOTE! - Hope CommUnity Center
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2020 VOTING GUIDE TIME TO VOTE! ORANGE COUNTY
ORANGE COUNTY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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
REPRESENTATIVE
ELECTION DAY | 03 | NOV 2020
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
healthcare insurance premiums. Wants to
Supports a public option similar 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 10ORANGE 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 11ORANGE 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 12ORANGE 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 13ORANGE 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 14ORANGE 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: Understands 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 15ORANGE 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 16ORANGE 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 17LIST 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 18LIST 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 19LIST 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
environmental racism, and transparency, create a sound
education,
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/
20LIST 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
21AMENDMENTS 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.
22AMENDMENTS 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.
23DIRECTORY OF CANDIDATES U.S. House of Representative Contact info Candidates (Districts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) Leo Valentin (R)-District 7................................jesse@leovalentin.com / (321) 345-8010 Stephanie Murphy (D)-District 7...............................................................(202) 225-4035 ........................................................................info@StephanieMurphyforCongress.com William Garlington (NPA)-District 7..........................................................(407) 890-9821 ................................................................................info@billgarlingtonforcongress.com / 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..................................................campaign@valdemings.com 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 / LindaStewartForSenate@Gmail.com Louis Minnis (R)-District 15........................(321) 355-3447 / louminnis2020@gmail.com Victor Torres (D)-District 15..................(407) 846-5187 / torres.victor.web@flsenate.gov State Representative Candidates (Districts 30, 31, 44) Bob Cortes (R)-District 30....................(850) 717-5030 Bob.Cortes@myfloridahouse.gov Joy Goff-Marcil (D)-District 30........(407) 623-1010 Joy.Goff-Marcil@myfloridahouse.gov Keith Truneow (R)-District 31........................(352) 801-5862 / Keith@KeithTruenow.com Crissy Stile (D)-District 31...........................(352) 735-1950 / crissy@crissyforflorida.com Bruno Blanco (R)-District 44..................................................................... Geraldine Thompson (D)-District 44..........................................................(407) 245-0288 .......................................................................Geraldine.Thompson@myfloridahouse.gov (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 /
................................................................................................travaris@votemccurdy.com
Jeremy Sisson (R)-District 47..................................407.613.2588 / info@votesisson.com
Anna Eskamani (D)-District 47.....(407) 228-1451 / AnnaEskamani@myfloridahouse.gov
Jesus Martinez (R)-District 48.................................................info@jesusmartinez48.com
Daisy Morales (D)-District 48.....................(321) 438-6315 / DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com
Robert Prater (R)-District 49................407-283-9142 / voterobertprater2020@gmail.com
Carlos Smith (D)-District 49.............(407) 681-5433 / Carlos.Smith@myfloridahouse.gov
Rene Plasencia (R)-District 50....(850) 717-5050 / Rene.Plasencia@myfloridahouse.gov
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/
2526
TIME TO VOTE!
Take the pledge today to show your commitment to voting in the
election on November 3rd, 2020! Scan the URL code or visit the link
below to sign our pledge.
If you need assistance or more information about early voting, vote by
mail, voter education, or voter registration please CALL or TEXT our
Time to Vote Hotline:
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Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or
intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Activities intended to
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