Voters in district 58 will have plenty of options to choose from when it comes time to vote in this December’s special elections.
Four candidates have made it to the Dec. 19 general elections. Conservative Lawrence McClure beat out Yvonne Fry in the GOP primary to secure his role and is joined in the race by Libertarian Bryan Zemina, Progressive Democrat Jose Vazquez and non-party-affiliated Ahmad Saadaldin.
All four candidates met in the Bruton Memorial Library Nov. 9 for a candidate forum hosted by the Improvement League of Plant City. Each candidate was allowed a two-minute opening statement and two minutes to respond to multiple rounds of questions covering topics of immigration, education, campaign finance and more. Audience members were also allowed to ask questions of the candidates.
The winner of the race will fill the House seat left vacant by Republican Dan Raulerson, who stepped down from the legislature in August citing health issues.
Moderators and panelists asked about eight planned questions before turning to follow-ups and inviting audience members to ask their own questions.
What is your position on support on a “living wage” for Florida? What are your ideas about how this might be accomplished?
Supports the ‘Fight for 15’ to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Said Americans work too hard to not be able to pay their bills and that is unjust for the “richest nation in the history of mankind.”
What is your position on House Bill 9 (Federal Immigration Enforcement) and also your views on immigration as it affects Hillsborough County and the cities of the district?
Said most immigrants come to the U.S. to escape war, poverty and other hardships, not to commit crimes. Saadaldin said he believes immigrants, especially children who did not have a choice, should be protected. He also said anti-immigration legislation is wrong and immoral.
If elected, how would you approach policies regarding solar power?
Said utility companies are doing a disservice to the citizens and controlling legislation that gets in the way of people owning their own solar panels. Saadaldin said he would support legislation incentivizing private companies to “come in and help usher a new era of energy using solar.”
What is your position on support on a “living wage” for Florida? What are your ideas about how this might be accomplished?
Said increased labor expenditures could put undue pressure on business owners like the farmers of district 58. McClure believes preparing people to “come out of school and get in a position where they can make a good living should be priority” and will empower the workforce to be able to obtain higher-paying jobs.
What is your position on House Bill 9 (Federal Immigration Enforcement) and also your views on immigration as it affects Hillsborough County and the cities of the district?
Does not support sanctuary cities and believes the H2B program for guest workers provides legal access to a workforce in agriculture-reliant communities like Plant City. McClure said he supports legal immigration.
If elected, how would you approach policies regarding solar power?
Said solar power could be a game-changer for the state, but the return on investment for the utility companies needs to be considered in the regulation of citizen-owned solar panels and the energy commodity they create.
What is your position on support on a “living wage” for Florida? What are your ideas about how this might be accomplished?
Believes in incrementally increasing the minimum wage because tax-rate increases outpace increased wages and “more money in everyone’s pocket is better for the county.”
What is your position on House Bill 9 (Federal Immigration Enforcement) and also your views on immigration as it affects Hillsborough County and the cities of the district?
Supports sanctuary cities and said immigration reform is an important issue in areas like Plant City where the success of farms rely heavily on a viable immigrant workforce.
If elected, how would you approach policies regarding solar power?
Uses solar panels in his own home, he said. Vazquez said people should have access to solar panels and have a right to harness solar power. He encouraged the use of solar panels and said it would allow independence from large corporations, support a growing industry and save citizens money.
What is your position on support on a “living wage” for Florida? What are your ideas about how this might be accomplished?
Zemina said forcing employers to pay higher wages will lead to more automation and loss of jobs. He believes the free market should dictate wages and highlighted his time working as an oil technician making $7.50 per hour, saying “I worked my way out of it. That’s what everyone has the power to do.”
What is your position on House Bill 9 (Federal Immigration Enforcement) and also your views on immigration as it affects Hillsborough County and the cities of the district?
Said heavy deportation and anti-immigrant legislation could collapse the agriculture industry. Zemina said he believes criminals should be deported, but people who are in the country working to obtain a better life for themselves and their families should not be punished.
If elected, how would you approach policies regarding solar power?
Said utility companies are monopolies controlling the lion’s share of the energy industry. In a state like Florida, citizens should be able to harness that power, he said.
Justin Kline contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed Plant City Area Democrats as one of the event's hosts. It was not.