Campaign 2010

 

United States Senator

 

 

 

 

Kendrick Meek

You could say Kendrick Meek was raised on politics. His mother, Carrie, served in the Florida House and Senate from 1979 to 1993 and then in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003. After graduation from FAMU with a BA in criminal justice, Meek served in the Florida Highway Patrol rising to the rank of Captain before running for the Florida House of Representatives where he served from 1995 to 1998.

In 1999 Meek ran and won a seat in the Florida Senate. In fact, in 2002, as a member of the Florida Senate, he helped lead the struggle to get an amendment on the ballot reducing class size. This initiative was successfully placed on the ballot and consequently was approved by Florida voters.

Meek moved onto the national scene when he won the office he currently holds in the U. S. House representing the 17^th congressional district of Florida. When one of the U. S. Senate seats opened up, Meek wasted no time announcing his intention to run for that office.

Meek and his wife, Leslie, have two children. “Public service is a legacy I learned from my mom, and that I hope to pass on to my own kids.  Whether it’s making sure students can learn, or reworking mortgages to keep families in their homes, it’s my privilege to fight for Florida, and it’s a fight I look forward to continuing in the United States Senate.”

 According to his website, www.kendrickmeek.com, Meek  supports “a fair solution to Florida’s foreclosure crisis; high-quality, affordable health care for all who need it; a strong education for our children; a cleaner planet; and better financial management of taxpayer dollars in Washington.”

 News stories:  Crist support is soft►    Florida CFO Alex Sink endorses Kendrick Meek for U.S. Senate► Senator Bill Nelson endorses Meek►

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Burns

“I’ll be your voice in the U.S. Senate,” proclaims Kevin Burns,  senate candidate from South Florida. Burns is concerned that “Washington doesn’t understand the impact of its actions at the local level” and was prompted to launch his campaign for the Senate.

 Serving two terms as Mayor of North Miami and having run successful small businesses, Kevin Burns brings a broad range of experience that could serve Floridians well in Washington D. C.  A self -made man, Burns came from humble beginnings;  his mother worked two jobs in order to provide for him and his six siblings.   After completing his A. A. Degree in Communications, Burns started his own nursery business;  later he became a real estate agent and now holds his broker’s license.

In his tenure as Mayor,  Burns established himself as a man who can cut through the gridlock and get things done. Active in the U. S. Mayors Conference, he has shown his determination to lead and not follow being one of the first 100 mayors to sign onto the Kyoto 2030 environmental challenge.

Burns  now wants to serve Florida in the U. S. Senate. He feels that many career politicians in Washington have lost touch with the people they are supposed to serve.  He wants to bring “common sense” to bear in dealing with today’s problems, “regardless of ideology.”

Burns pledges to respect and protect Florida’s natural resources and  to promote the use of green technology and clean industries along with a host of other concerns including alternative energy sources, health care and economic stimulus initiatives.

Learn more about Kevin Burns at www.kevinburns4senate.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maurice Ferre

Maurice Ferre is the former six-term mayor of the City of Miami and a candidate for the United States Senate.

The life of Maurice Ferre has been marked by a style of public service that encourages people of vastly different views and philosophies to work together for the common good and progress.

Ferre began his career in public service as a member of the Florida House of Representatives and then went on to be elected a commissioner of the City of Miami. He served as the Mayor of Miami from 1973 until 1985. Ferre provided leadership and vision as Miami took its place as one of the world's most vibrant, eclectic, diverse international cities. As Mayor, Ferre focused on economic development, job creation, and a visionary approach to improving South Florida's transportation, business and public infrastructure.

After his terms as mayor, Ferre has involved himself in far-reaching business interests, public service and commentary on current and political affairs.

Ferre was born in the American territory of Puerto Rico and is a resident of Miami. He is a graduate of the University of Miami and is married to M. Mercedes Malaussena Ferre. They have been blessed with six children and 12 grandchildren.

More information about Ferre can be found at www.ferre2010.com

Governor

 

 

 

 

 

Alex Sink

Before she decided to run for political office,  Alex Sink spent twenty-six years in private business culminating in seven years as President of Florida’s largest bank. Alex is accustomed to running large ships. She managed billions of customer dollars and thousands of employees in the banking industry;  since 2006 as Florida’s CFO,  she has overseen a 300 million dollar budget and the attendant employees of Florida’s Department of Financial Services.

As it states on her website, www.alexsink2010.com, Sink “earned a reputation for credibility, integrity and dedication to her customers” while in business. She has brought that same level of professionalism with her to government as Florida’s CFO and now wants to “put her business know how to work as the outspoken fiscal and consumer watchdog for the people of Florida as their next Governor.”

Sink has also served on the Commission for Accountability to the People under Governor Lawton Chiles, was Vice chairman of Florida Tax Watch, served on the Commission on Education again under Governor Chiles.  Additionally, she serves her community and the people of Florida as a member of the Hillsborough Education Foundation Board of Directors and Chairman of the United Way of Hillsborough County,  among others.

Sink states that her priorities as Governor would be: cutting wasteful spending, streamlining state government, accountability, openness and transparency, plus consumer protections.

 Newstories:  Sink raising more funds than Republican opponent►

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Arth

Michael Arth’s website states, [that he] “…left home at age seventeen to begin a 39-year long career in the fields of art, architecture, urban design, and policy analysis.” Relocating to Deland, Florida to settle his family,  Arth purchased and completely renovated a crime- ridden slum area referred to as “Cracktown.” This drug haven was formerly filled with dilapidated and abandoned buildings and seedy criminal elements.  Now it is known as the ‘Garden District’ of historic downtown Deland.

Due to Arth’s vision and hard work,  he has shown what can be accomplished to reverse inner city blight. The city of Deland and the county of Volusia both proclaimed November 12, 2002 “Michael E. Arth Day” in recognition of this great achievement.

Michael Arth is also an accomplished artist, designer and author. He believes that he can put his nearly forty years of practical experience to work for the people of Florida as Governor. Solving problems and dealing with issues connected to his various projects, Arth has gained experience as a “policy analyst” – finding  solutions that work.

Arth intends to be common sense politician who is not afraid to challenge the status quo, think outside the box for solutions that fix problems, reform the election process and to streamline government. Visit his website, www.michaelearth.org to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

Farid Khavari

Farid Khavari wants you to know that he is not a politician; he is an economist, author and business owner. Khavari does not seek the governor’s office as a stepping stone to higher political aspirations but as a public trust to be used for the common good of the all the people of Florida - not for special interests.

Khavari has detailed plans that he wants to put into action as Florida’s next Governor to reduce energy costs, achieve affordable health care, and encourage economic growth that is environmentally friendly. He also believes that economic security can be attained for everybody and lays out his plan for the creation of The Bank of the State of Florida for that purpose. If elected, Farid Khavari believes he can put his plans into operation and still cut taxes in the State of Florida within five years.

Read more about Khavari’s vision for Floridians at www.khavariforgovernor.com 

 

Attorney General

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Aronberg

 Dave Aronberg,  Democratic candidate for the office of State Attorney General, has received endorsements and praise from various  Florida groups.  Some have called him, “…the strongest consumer advocate in state government” and “the real deal.”  But the biggest compliment came from Republican Governor Charlie Crist who reportedly called Aronberg “a rock star.”

 No newcomer to politics, Dave has served Floridians in the State Senate for the past seven years. During that time in the Senate,   Aronberg championed legislation dealing with consumer protection including identity theft and shady financial schemes. As a member of the Medicaid task force, Aronberg successfully sought reforms to combat fraud and abuse, saving taxpayer dollars. He currently oversees a consumer protection unit through his Senate office that has investigated complaints resulting in the return of millions of dollars to consumers.

Serving as Chair of the Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee, Aronberg coordinates the security of Florida’s ports with local, state and federal law enforcement officials. This Harvard Law School graduate also led the effort to secure federal funding for restoration of the Everglades.

 Always focused on consumer affairs, Aronberg became a Florida Assistant Attorney General for economic crimes and served as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U. S. Treasury Department investigating money laundering. For more information, visit his website at  www.davearonberg.com

 

Dan Gelber

Dan Gelber is a candidate for Attorney General of Florida and a member of the Florida Senate representing the 35th District having previously served the 106th District of the Florida House from 2000 - 2008. He also served as the Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006-2008.

Gelber's career in public service started at the age of twenty-five, when he was appointed as one of the youngest federal prosecutors in the nation. After nearly a decade prosecuting public corruption and civil rights cases, Gelber was selected by United States Senator Sam Nunn (D-Georgia) to be Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation where he directed U.S. Senate investigations into global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

As a member of the Florida Legislature, Gelber frequently sparred with former Governor Jeb Bush. The Wall Street Journal referred to Gelber as Bush's "chief nemesis." Nevertheless, Gelber earned the respect of the former Governor, who once told the St. Petersburg Times that Gelber "would be a very well qualified Governor."

In 2005, Gelber took charge of the Florida House Democratic Caucus' political operation. Under his leadership the Democrats lost the Governor's mansion and did not achieve a majority in either the Florida Senate or the Florida House.

Gelber has amassed a legislative record dedicated to helping working families. He has worked to increase fairness in the Florida Tax code. In 2009, Gelber sponsored and helped pass a bill that closed a real estate loophole that allowed high end developers to evade taxes.  He also worked to stop multistate corporations from avoiding Florida taxes.  Gelber is an advocate of Florida’s public schools and is critical of recent budget cuts that leave Florida last in per student spending.

For more information go to www.dangelber.com 

 

District 7 House of Representatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Pleat

Destin attorney David B. Pleat excited Emerald Coast Democrats when he announced his candidacy for the District Seven seat of the Florida House of Representatives.  Pleat, age 50 and founding senior partner of the Pleat & Perry law firm, is running for a seat that hasn’t seen a Democratic candidate for the past sixteen years. Pleat’s business experience as the owner of a title company and as a practicing lawyer for the past twenty-four years, help him understand the issues that concern our business community. As a father of five, he is also keenly aware of the challenges that local families in his district face on a daily basis.

 Pleat acknowledges that the economy is the major issue facing most communities today, but other relevant concerns include off shore drilling, education, the military, integrity in government, fiscal restraint, and environmental issues. Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in litigation over the course of his  legal career, Pleat believes his experience has allowed him to learn about the effect of the law on businesses as well as individuals.

David Pleat states that, [he] “…deplores the tactics of controversy and ‘win at all costs’ attitude that has entered much of the debate on a range of issues, muddling the whole problem and disillusioning many people with the effectiveness of government.  We need leaders willing to rise above it all and do what’s right.”

Candidate Pleat received his B.A. from Duquesne University and his law degree from the University of Baltimore. He is a member of the Okaloosa-Walton County Bar Association, The Florida Bar, Maryland State Bar, District of Columbia Bar, The Florida Justice Association, Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, Destin Area Sports Commission, Destin Kiwanis, Walton County Area Chamber, Building You in Leadership Development Mentor and other community organizations.

You can learn more about David Pleat and his campaign at his website  www.electdavidpleat.com

 

Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Maddox

“Florida stands at a crossroads.  Our economy continues to decline, yet many of our leaders continue to do the bidding of special interests . . . .” This declaration clearly defines the mission Scott Maddox wants to bring to Florida government.  As Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Maddox wants “to stand up for everyday people.”

Maddox has spent his entire public life doing just that. At an early age he became involved in public service. While earning his law degree from Florida State College of Law, Maddox was elected as a city commissioner for the City of Tallahassee, the youngest person so elected. A year later, he was honored by his fellow commissioners and selected as Mayor pro-tempore and eventually Mayor. When a new law went into effect a year later that, for the first time, allowed residents to elect their Mayor, Scott became the first elected Mayor of the City of Tallahassee.

 As Mayor, Scott implemented several initiatives to benefit the citizens of Tallahassee: an initiative on race relations, securing additional airlines at Tallahassee regional airport, and expansion of the city’s parks and greenways which won the All America City award.   Maddox also has served as President of the Florida League of Cities, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party and a member of the Democratic National Committee, even speaking at the National Democratic Convention.

Maddox grew up on a farm and has spent much time working on his wife’s family farm. He has seen Florida’s economy evolve from being primarily agri-business based to tourism and services. The family’s chickens, cows and horses are long gone; many of the fields he played in as a child have been subdivided and developed – instilling in Scott a desire to preserve Florida’s unique quality of life.

Visit his website for more information: www.scottmaddox.com

 

 

 

 

 

  Randy Hatch

 

  “Any nation dependent on foreign sources for food, fiber or fuel is not free and will be unable to protect or defend its people.''  This statement dramatically sums up candidate Randy Hatch’s commitment to free America from its dependence on foreign sources, especially for food and energy needs.

 

Randy is asking for our support for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and feels his lifetime in the agri-business best qualifies him for the job. A strong opponent against off shore drilling, Randy says,  “The days of oil are coming to an end.  I plan to usher in a new age of renewable energy with a zero carbon footprint.  I am the original author of the Florida Right to Farm Law and an expert in alternative energy strategy and implementation.”

 

 Hatch has been involved in the writing and execution of agriculture and energy policy, not only here in Florida, but internationally as well. Adding to his list of credentials, Hatch served as a County Commissioner and also as President of the Florida Association of Counties.

 

Visit Hatch’s website www.randyhatch.com for more information.