The conservative group Americans For Prosperity-Florida has landed six current legislators to sign on to their new five-point solutions for the state as they released a list of 39 congressional, state and county candidates that have backed the plan.
Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, and representatives Fred Costello, R-Deland, Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview, Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina, John Wood, R-Haines City, and Erik Fresen, R-Miami, have signed the package that calls for replacing the state employee pension system, eliminating corporate income taxes, ending the practice of awarding tax credits to attract businesses and putting all state contracts before the public.
Costello is running for Congress and Burgin is seeking a state Senate seat.
By endorsing Five for Florida, elected officials and candidates are sending a strong signal to Floridians that they are committed to a more economically competitive Florida, to eliminating political cronyism, to expanding educational opportunities for our youth, and to making government more transparent and accountable to its citizens, Slade OBrien, director of the AFP-Florida, stated in a release.
The plan also seeks to expand educational competition by having the Legislature once again vote on the parent trigger -- allowing parents to seek wide-ranging changes at low-performing schools, including changing a traditional neighborhood school into a charter school -- and to further eliminate regulations that delay new-business owners.
While not an endorsement -- there are several races where more than one person has signed the plan -- AFP-Florida is making it known who has signed on:
Rep. Fred Costello (R-Deland), candidate for Congressional District 6.
Peter Iler, candidate for Senate District 11.
Sen. Alan Hays (R-Umatilla), candidate for Senate District 11.
Ron Rushing, candidate for Senate District 15.
Rep. Rachel Burgin (R-Riverview), candidate for Senate District 24.
Melanie Peterson, candidate for Senate District 25.
Geoff Sommers, candidate for Senate District 25.
Eddy G. Holman, candidate for House District 5.
Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach), candidate for House District 11.
Kim Kendall, candidate for House District 17.
Franklin Perez, candidate for House District 28.
Jeffery Onest, candidate for House District 29.
Juan Selaya, candidate for House District 33.
Salvador Gutierrez, candidate for Senate District 39.
Rep. John Wood (R-Haines City), candidate for House District 41.
John W. Lindsey, candidate for House District 41.
Marco Pe, candidate for House District 49.
Laureen Trent, candidate for House District 53.
Cary Pigman, candidate for House District 55.
Joe Wicker, candidate for House District 59.
Philip Tropea, candidate for House District 65.
Michael Grant, candidate for House District 76.
Chauncey Solinger, candidate for House District 76.
Chris Berardi, candidate for House District 77.
James Ryan O'Hara, candidate for House District 81.
Calvin D. Turnquist, candidate for House District 82.
Mary Lynn Magar, candidate for House District 82.
Peter Richter, candidate for House District 106.
David Balduc, candidate for House District 106.
Rep. Erik Fresen (R-Miami), candidate for House District 114.
Regina A. Weiler, candidate for Brevard County state committeewoman.
Brian Iannucci, candidate for St. Johns County Commission, District 1.
Keri Lewis, candidate for Brevard County School Board, District 4.
Todd Long, candidate for Congressional District 9.
Sharon Calvert, candidate for Hillsborough County Commission, District 2.
Chris Gregg, candidate for Pasco County Commission, District 3.
Darren Ayers, candidate for Congressional District 13.
Byron Donalds, candidate for Congressional District 19.
John "Ski" Pietruszewski, candidate for Martin County sheriff.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
