District boundaries: All of Brevard and Indian River counties, as well as part of east Orange County.
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Political/government/civic experience: While I’m not a career politician, I have become involved in local politics over the last few years to restore balance to our community and our country. I was elected as a delegate from our district to the Democratic National Convention in 2016 and was then elected state committeeman of the Brevard Democratic Party. In that role, I helped to lead, reform and rebuild the BrevardDems as a vibrant, active, participatory organization that is reflective of the values of local people. I have also worked on several grass-roots campaigns to elect candidates to local office, to support the Save Our Lagoon referendum, to raise funds for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and to protect the water at Standing Rock.
What should Congress do to help in the efforts to clean up the Indian River Lagoon?
The Indian River Lagoon is the center of our economy and way of life. Congress must protect and enforce the Clean Water Act, support Brevard’s Save Our Lagoon Plan with matching funds, expand the National Estuary Program, and increase research into the algal blooms plaguing our lagoon and Florida’s coastline.
How would you proceed on immigration reform?
Comprehensive immigration reform should protect America and honor what it means to be American. From the treatment of Dreamers to family separations, our immigration system is out of step with our values. Let’s build safe pathways to legal status for asylum-seekers and the immigrants on whom our economy relies.
What specific changes would you make in the federal health care policies?
We must make health care a right for every American by supporting Medicare for All. This is sound health-care policy, but also makes sense on economic grounds. Switching to a single-payer model increases efficiency and lowers costs by reducing overhead and improving our ability to negotiate drug prices.
Political/government/civic experience: Kiwanis Club (president and Legion of Honor); School Academic and Vocational Committees; Quarterback Club (12th Man Award); Civic Association president; Civilian-Military Relations Council; American Cancer Society (director); Methodist Church trustee; youth fellowship leader; Miss Softball and Little League (coach); financial sponsor of more than 100 teams, leagues or other youth programs.
In short, stop putting bad stuff into our lagoon and remove bad stuff already there. A holistic approach between local, state and federal governments, which I have been an active partner, is needed. As co-chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus, I will continue to ensure Congress is part of the solution.
We must achieve operational control over our southern border. Eliminate the visa lottery. Eliminate chain immigration. Mandate E-verify to make sure guest workers go home afterward. Those already here illegally can apply for renewable permits (if no crimes and no welfare) while they get in line for citizenship.
Increase real competition. I have voted to repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which allows insurance companies to avoid antitrust laws. Also voted to allow insurance companies to write policies across state lines, so they don’t need the added non-value expense of having legions of lawyers and lobbyists in every state.