FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Edie Ousley, 850-521-1231
eousley@flchamber.com
Pro-Florida Candidates Will Help Create
Opportunities for Families & Small Businesses
TALLAHASSEE, FL. (July 23, 2014) – One-day after announcing endorsements for Governor and Cabinet positions as well as legislative primary races, the Florida Chamber of Commerce today announces general election candidate endorsements – races that will not have a primary election. These endorsements follow a comprehensive and deliberative candidate selection process.
“Interviewing candidates to determine where they stand on free enterprise issues is essential to helping ensure we endorse candidates who aren’t afraid to make bold pro-jobs, pro-business decisions once they are elected to office,” said Marian Johnson, Senior Vice President of Political Operations for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “The Florida Chamber’s thorough and intense endorsement process sends a very strong signal that Florida families and small businesses can feel confident in supporting these candidates.”
The Florida Chamber Political Institute (FCPI) held five candidate interview sessions across the state and interviewed more than 100 non-incumbent candidates – in addition to reviewing each candidate’s completed questionnaire. Incumbent candidates were evaluated on numerous factors, including legislator grades on the Florida Chamber’s Legislative Report Card.
“To secure Florida’s future, we need a legislature that focuses on free enterprise principles and solutions,” said David Hart, Executive Vice President of the Florida Chamber. “Employers need stability and predictability to help create private-sector jobs and grow Florida’s economy, and we are pleased to support each of these candidates and their commitment to support Florida’s job creators.”
Below is a list of Florida Chamber legislative candidate endorsements for the November 4th General Election.
SENATE – General Election Endorsements:
- David Simmons (R) – SD 10
- Jeff Brandes (R) – SD 22
- Tom Lee (R) – SD 24
- Ellyn Bogdanoff (R) – SD 34
HOUSE – General Election Endorsements:
- Clay Ingram (R) – HD 1
- Mike Hill (R) – HD 2
- Elizabeth Porter (R) – HD 10
- Janet Adkins (R) – HD 11
- Lake Ray (R) – HD 12
- Doc Renuart (R) – HD 17
- Travis Cummings (R) – HD 18
- Keith Perry (R) – HD 21
- Fred Costello (R) – HD 25
- David Santiago (R) – HD 27
- Scott Plakon (R) – HD 29
- Blaise Ingoglia (R) – HD 35
- Neil Combee (R) – HD 39
- John Wood (R) – HD 41
- Mike La Rosa (R) – HD 42
- Steve Crisafulli (R) – HD 51
- Debbie Mayfield (R) – HD 54
- Dan Raulerson (R) – HD 58
- Ross Spano (R) – HD 59
- Larry Ahern (R) – HD 66
- Kathleen Peters (R) – HD 69
- Darryl Rouson (D) – HD 70
- Ken Roberson (R) – HD 75
- Ray Rodrigues (R) – HD 76
- MaryLynn Magar (R) – HD 82
- Larry Lee, Jr. (D) – HD 84
- Bobby Powell, Jr. (D) – HD 88
- Bill Hager (R) – HD 89
- George Moraitis (R) – HD 93
- Manny Diaz, Jr. (R) – HD 103
- Carlos Trujillo (R) – HD 105
- Jose Oliva (R) – HD 110
- Daniel Diaz Leyva (R) – HD 112
- Erik Fresen (R) – HD 114
- Mike Bileca (R) – HD 115
- Jose Feliz Diaz (R) – HD 116
- Jeanette Nunez (R) – HD 119
The Florida Chamber would also like to congratulate candidates that have already been elected to the Florida Legislature without opposition. Of the eight (8) Senate candidates and 38 House candidates elected to the legislature without opposition, 26 of them previously earned A’s on the Florida Chamber’s Legislative Report Card. Those include:
SENATE – Elected Without Opposition
- Aaron Bean (R) – SD 4
- Dorothy Hukill (R) – SD 8
- Wilton Simpson (R) – SD 18
- Bill Galvano (R) – SD 26
- Nancy Detert (R) – SD 28
- Rene Garcia (R) – SD 38
HOUSE – Elected Without Opposition
- Halsey Beshears (R) – HD 7
- Charles Van Zant (R) – 19
- Charlie Stone (R) – HD 22
- Dennis Baxley (R) – HD 23
- Travis Hutson (R) – HD 24
- Larry Metz (R) – HD 32
- Marlene O’Toole (R) – HD 33
- Jimmie T. Smith (R) – HD 34
- Richard Corcoran (R) – HD 37
- Ritch Workman (R) – HD 52
- Cary Pigman (R) – HD 55
- Ben Albritton (R) – HD 56
- Jake Raburn (R) – HD 57
- Dana Young (R) – HD 60
- Jim Boyd (R) – HD 71
- Greg Steube (R) – HD 73
- Matt Hudson (R) – HD 80
- Gayle Harrell (R) – HD 83
- Pat Rooney (R) – HD 85
- Kathleen Passidomo (R) – HD 105
- Holly Raschein (R) – HD 120
Additional endorsements are expected in the coming days.
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Established in 1916 as Florida’s first statewide business advocacy organization, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations, aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.