15 minute read
Forum draws candidates & lively crowd
FIRST CANDIDATE FORUM GETS FEISTY
HOMETOWN EVENT FEATURES NINE RACES
Florida Keys candidates in nine political races fielded questions on July 18 from four local panelists at Hometown’s first election forum. The lively audience included Democrats, Republicans, non-party affiliates — and a cash bar in the lobby of Tennessee Williams Theater.
As the event entered its third hour, moderator Todd German repeatedly reprimanded the politically divided audience for booing, cheering aggressively and shouting responses to questions and answers. Those questions came from U.S. 1 Radio news director Joe Moore, Citizen newspaper editor Chris Seymour, Key West business owner Paul Menta and Key West Weekly editor Mandy Miles. Questions were either drafted by the individual panelists or submitted in advance by members of Hometown, a nonpartisan voter education and advocacy group.
A video of the event is available at hometownkeywest.com and on its YouTube channel. Below are excerpts from the forum. Additional races are included at keysweekly.com.
SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 1 (KEY WEST)
Darren Horan fielded all the questions for the District 1 school board race, as his opponent, Gabrielle Brown, “called yesterday and had an emergency, and it absolutely is an excused absence,” German told the audience.
How do you respond to the claim that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ endorsement of local school board candidates politicizes those nonpartisan races?
Horan: “I’m a governor-endorsed candidate and I’d say that if it was Andrew Gillum, Nikki Fried or any other governor in office. I’m sure many of you would like the governor to stay out of races, but I’m going to be transparent. I’m endorsed by him. I’m not running as a Republican. I’m not running as a Democrat. I’m running as a nonpartisan. Because I believe, in this age, you need to have someone who represents all people. … I’m a product of Monroe County schools and of this environment, and I’ll continue to be a product of this environment once I sit on that dais.”
SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 5
In the Upper Keys school board race, incumbent Sue Woltanski is a retired pediatrician who has kids in the school system. She faces challenger Alexandria Suarez, a former teacher and current prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office.
How will the Parental Rights in Education Bill affect local schools?
Woltanski: “I think it’ll depend on how the board responds to it. We do have a diverse number of families, including single parents, families with two moms, grandparents. When a child comes to school they need to feel safe. I fully feel that our teachers will continue to make them feel that way. I think we as a board need to support teachers to let them know we want them to continue to embrace the diversity in our schools.”
Suarez: “I stand with Gov. DeSantis on the Parental Rights in Education bill. It calls for transparency in curriculum. It also stands for making sure these gender identity and sexual orientation discussions are not taking place in kindergarten through third grade. We need to focus on academics with our students. … And it helps teachers — good teachers, unbiased teachers — get back to teaching.”
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 120, REPUBLICANS
Incumbent Jim Mooney, Rhonda Rebman Lopez and Robert Scott Allen
What would you do to try to fix the wind insurance rate problem we’re facing?
Mooney: “The special session on insurance was, at best, interesting. One thing I did debate was trying to get Citizens back in a posture they were put in place for, which was as a last resort. The hardest part in Tallahassee is making people understand that Monroe County is different. We are the leaders in the state with regard to FEMA and wind load, yet many counties are sub, subpar. And those subpar counties are what lead to overall insurance rate escalation, thus impacting all of us.”
Rebman Lopez: “Let me tell you what the problem is in Tallahassee. We’re top heavy on trial attorneys that put an R beside their name. We need tort reform. In other states that implemented tort reform, their (insurance) rates went down. … We are a sue-happy state and a judicial hellhole for suing, and whenever we get sued, the costs are passed on to us with our insurance premiums.”
Allen: “Everything I can.”
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 120, DEMOCRATS
Adam Gentle, Daniel Horton Diaz
What would you do to try to fix the wind insurance problem we’re facing?
Gentle: I’m sure everyone saw the recent article about $100 million in litigation fees that Citizens Property Insurance pays due to fraud. I would appoint a commission to investigate so our insurance dollars are actually being used to pay for repairs and not to settle fraudulent claims. We have to remove the corruption from the marketplace and bring in new actors by trying something Charlie Crist is proposing by making it so if you want to sell car insurance in Florida, you also have to offer homeowners’ insurance.”
Horton-Diaz: “Monroe is a donor county when it comes to insurance. The folks in Tallahassee don’t understand the uniqueness of this community, that our building standards are way higher. I want to build relationships with people on both sides so you can have conversations and communicate the uniqueness of this county. We shouldn’t be paying so much into the system when we don’t claim much back.”
What would you do in Tallahassee to help with our housing problem?
Horton-Diaz: You have to fight for your place in the budget. When it comes to housing we’re not gonna build our way out of this problem. We have to take a hard look at vacation rentals, AirBnbs. We need to prioritize the people homesteaded in your community and put limits on the amount of homes that can be used for those purposes. We shouldn’t be allowing properties owned by hedge funds or other corporations to be running the same racket when so many families are struggling.”
Gentle: “We need to focus on getting more money from the appropriations for the housing issue and I think that’s been a great failure of our current representatives, is leaving money on the table. It’s shocking to me that on July 7 our governor announced a $22 billion surplus in the state of Florida and yet we still have a housing crisis. We need representation that’s going to fight for the dollars we need and deserve.”
COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 5
Incumbent county commissioner Holly Raschein is facing a challenge from repeat candidate Jose Peixoto for the Upper Keys, District 5 seat.
On vacation rentals:
Raschein: “Much of our vacation rentals are regulated by the state. But when you have a piece of property, and are following all the guidelines, how do you tell someone what they can and can’t do? I don’t know where we land on that, exactly, but I do believe there’s room for much improvement.”
Peixoto: “I think communities, not the state, should address their own issues with vacation rentals and other issues. What’s good for Key Largo won’t be good for Key West, or Miami.”
COUNTY JUDGES
The Florida Bar strictly limits what judicial candidates can say publicly during their campaign.
Candidates Al Kelley and Jason Smith were not allowed to answer questions about the current shortage of prosecuting attorneys in the State Attorney’s Office and how it will affect trials and sentencing.
In a polite and respectful exchange, in answer to a question about maintaining peace in a courtroom, both emphasized the importance of treating people with respect, particularly in cases involving mental illness.
How many jury cases have you tried to verdict?
Kelley: “I’m not a statistical lawyer. I’ve done hundreds of trials in general, but I don’t keep track of how many trials I’ve done. I’ve done a lot of landlord-tenant cases and small claims trials.”
Smith: “I’ve tried over 100 jury trials and over 50 felony cases and over 50 drug cases in my first stint at public defender. We need more jury trials, not less. It’s becoming a dying art, but the system loses accountability when we keep pleading out cases. And the key to jury trials is getting jurors from this community.”
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 28TH DISTRICT
Democrat Robert Asencio was the only U.S. House candidate in attendance at Monday’s forum. Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez is in Washington, D.C. and conservative candidate KW Miller told German he was “on his way to the Vatican,” German said.
Asencio, who served in the Florida House from 2016 to 2018, told the audience, “I seek elected office to break through the B.S. that’s dividing our country.”
In answer to a gun control question from Moore, Asencio, a retired police officer who served six years in the military, said, “As a retired police officer who’s been shot at multiple times, I don’t believe open carry laws are the solution. I don’t believe in introducing more firearms to the equation.” But he dismissed the possibility of banning guns as implausible.
SCHOOL TAX SHIFT REFERENDUM
The Monroe County School District is asking all Keys voters to approve a tax shift that they have passed every four years for more than a decade. The school district levies an additional half-mill of property tax that can be spent on operational costs, including employee salaries. In exchange, the district reduces by the same amount the tax that can only be used for capital, or construction, projects. There is no net increase in taxes for property owners, but the formula provides more flexible, operational funding for employee salaries. School board chair John Dick reminded the audience that the school district, like all employers, struggles to recruit and retain employees due to the high and increasing cost of living in the Keys.
JIM McCARTHY
jim@keysweekly.com
LOUD MUSIC FINES & SMOKING AT PARKS
New state laws change policy on many matters
State legislators sent a number of bills that appropriated funds and set policy to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for approval during the last legislative session in Tallahassee. Of the 269 bills signed by DeSantis, 145 set policy that took effect July 1. Several Keysspecific bills passing through the legislature allocated $51 million for various projects and set guidelines for vessel mooring, specifically in Key West. Other approved bills now change law on a number of issues throughout the state and the Keys.
HB 921 - CAMPAIGN FINANCING
Passing through the House on March 10 and the Senate on March 4, the bill that became law prohibits contributions from foreign entities for federal and state candidate elections, including contributions to political party committees and contributions for campaign ads. Before the bill became law, Florida imposed no specific restrictions on foreign contributors. But there were limits on contributions to sponsors of initiative petitions and opposing committees during the period of petition circulation. The new state law emulates current federal regulations restricting contributions from foreign entities for elections.
SB 1110 - GREASE WASTE REMOVAL
Legislation approved by the House and Senate requires haulers to dispose of grease waste at a disposal facility and prevents them from returning grease waste or graywater to a grease interceptor or trap. Fats, oils and grease are usually found in kitchens as ingredients or byproducts of cooking. Improper disposal, usually down kitchen sinks, can cause environmental damage. In a sewer system, fats, oil and grease can solidify and accumulate around the insides of underground sewer pipes, which can lead to blockages, backups, pipe bursts and overflows. The bill requires that upon completion of grease waste disposal, the disposal facility operator and the hauler must have records verifying that fats, oils and greases were properly disposed of. Those who violate the law could face a $2,500 the first time and a $5,000 fine the second time.
HB 105 - SMOKING REGULATIONS
Counties and municipalities are allowed to restrict smoking, except for unfiltered cigars, within public beaches or parks. The Florida Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits people from smoking, vaping or using tobacco at indoor workplaces. State law previously preempted the regulation of smoking and did not allow counties or municipalities to regulate smoking.
HB 1421 - SCHOOL SAFETY
School district boards and charter school governing boards are required to enact plans that reunite families when public K-12 schools are closed or unexpectedly evacuated due to natural or manmade disasters. Law enforcement officers responsible for responding to schools in the event of an assailant emergency are required to participate in active assailant drills.
SB 1054 — FINANCIAL LITERACY IN SCHOOLS
Students entering their freshman year this coming school year will be required to take a personal financial literacy and management course in order to receive their high school diploma. Before the bill became law, school districts were required to offer a financial literacy course as an elective, but it wasn’t a graduation requirement. Financial literacy instruction includes earning income, buying goods and services, taxes, investing, debt management and credit scores.
FLORIDA STATUTE 316.3045 — LOUD MUSIC IN VEHICLES
Effective July 1, drivers playing excessively loud music can be pulled over by law enforcement. Specifically, the law forbids a vehicle from playing music or other sounds that are “plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from the vehicle.” Citations for violating the law could cost motorists between $114 and $116, depending on which Florida county issues the ticket.
HB 7065 — FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE
A priority of House Speaker Chris Sprowls, the new law provides all fathers with resources and inspiration to enhance their positive involvement in their children. Specifically, the bill aims to strengthen mentorship for at-risk boys and aids noncustodial parents struggling to pay child support. The law also requires Florida’s child welfare system and home visiting programs to increase engagement with and provision of services to fathers.
PIXABAY/Contributed
MESSAGE FROM THE SHERIFF
I would like to remind everyone two-day lobster mini season is July 27 and 28. Anyone who plans to catch lobster in Monroe County during the two-day season should familiarize themselves with both state law and with local ordinances in the Florida Keys. I want to remind everyone of the following: • Remember: You must have a recreational saltwater fishing license and a lobster permit to harvest spiny lobsters. Make sure to review the rules for the area in which you will be harvesting lobster. Rules and laws vary depending on where you are in the Florida Keys.
• Marine thefts commonly happen in the Florida Keys and thieves see mini season as an opportunity to target people who are not careful with their valuables. Make sure you remove electronics, fishing and diving gear from your boat when you’re not on it and store this equipment somewhere secure.
• The Sheri ’s O ce will have extra patrols at boat ramps, bridges and on the water. Anyone caught with illegal lobster will be charged accordingly. All Sheri ’s O ce boats will be on patrol, and deputies will be operating a number of personal watercraft donated to the Sheri ’s O ce by Riva Motorsports & Marine of the Keys. They donate WaveRunners® each year to be used for law enforcement purposes such as this, as well as for regular patrols of hard to reach shoreline areas and residential canals.
• Please drive carefully. Pay attention to those around you, be patient and don’t pass in no-passing zones. Drinking and driving is, of course, illegal; drunk boating is also illegal and our o cers will be watching for this dangerous behavior on the water as well as on the roadways of the county. • A new dedicated website, www.keyslobsterseason.com, includes interactive videos with need-to-know dive and boating safety tips, up-to-date rules, regulations for lobster hunting within the Keys such as daily limits and correct harvesting techniques. It also stresses avoiding prohibited, no-take zones within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary boundaries.
Mini-season is a great time for residents and visitors alike and I want to ensure everyone is aware of the law, and behaving in a responsible, and safe, manner.
Monroe County Sheriff, Rick Ramsay
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‘DRAG QUEEN BINGO’ CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY Monthly event is always a sellout hit
In an event that has proven incredibly popular since its inception, Marathon Community Theatre’s “Drag Queen Bingo” hosted “Christmas in July” to another sellout crowd on July 17. Hosted by Marathon’s own drag queen JJ Mills and a cast of MCT regulars since its first event, the bingo nights draw dozens of attendees costumed for the rotating monthly themes. With flowing drinks, a timeless game and plenty of drag queen sass, “Drag Queen Bingo” regularly sells out within minutes or hours of tickets becoming available. And the results speak for themselves – within the last year alone, proceeds from the monthly event have totaled nearly $30,000 for the nonprofit theater.
“Drag Queen Bingo has been an outrageously fun event each month for the community and a successful fundraiser for MCT,” said theater president Joanne Zimmerman. “We owe this success to JJ Mills and our dedicated volunteers.”
For more information or to find tickets to the next event, visit www. marathontheater.org or call 305743-0994.
— Alex Rickert
MCT’s anniversary party for ‘Drag Queen Bingo,’ a ‘Christmas in July’ event, saw holiday-garbed bingo players celebrate a year of success with tens of thousands of dollars raised for Marathon Community Theatre. Topping off the night was a well-deserved 60th birthday celebration for host and drag queen extraordinaire JJ Mills. LARRY BENVENUTI/Contributed
Fighting for the
Florida Keys
As your County Commissioner, Holly’s priorities include:
Streamlining local government and focusing on efficiency when serving County residents Planning and implementing resiliency measures to preserve and protect our environment and combat sea level rise and other climate-related threats Addressing workforce housing challenges to promote a robust local economy
