Florida Realtors® PAC announced on Monday its endorsements for the initial candidate list for the 2018 election cycle among statewide candidates and the more than 300 candidates who have qualified to run for state Senate and House of Representatives seats.
“As Realtors, we pride ourselves on our long-standing efforts to defend private property rights, promote community prosperity and preserve a professional climate that ensures the economic growth of Florida,” Ann DeFries, chair of Florida Realtors PAC Trustees, said in a written statement.
“Our continued success in these efforts requires legislators who share these beliefs and will work with our 180,000+ members to help Floridians and their communities thrive.”
Added Bill Martin, CEO of Florida Realtors, “The health of Florida’s real estate industry and its economy go hand-in-hand. We need elected officials who understand this relationship and will work tirelessly to enact laws and policies that promote homeownership and protect the rights of homeowners throughout the state.”
Candidates were evaluated on numerous factors, including their voting record on issues relevant to the real estate profession.
“Florida is a beacon of success in the nation, but we need dedicated elected officials rolling up their sleeves and working with organizations like ours to ensure that success continues,” said Carrie O’Rourke, vice president of public policy for Florida Realtors. “We believe these candidates will do just that and hope Florida voters agree in November.”
Florida Realtors PAC candidates for Florida Governor and Cabinet include:
Governor: Adam Putnam
Attorney General: Ashley Moody
Chief Financial Officer: Jimmy Patronis
Commissioner of Agriculture: Denise Grimsley
Florida Realtors PAC candidates for the Florida Senate:
District 2: George Gainer
District 4: Senator Aaron Bean
District 8: Senator Keith Perry
District 10: Senator Wilton Simpson
District 12: Senator Dennis Baxley
District 14: Senator Dorothy Hukill
District 18: Senator Dana Young
District 20: Senator Tom Lee
District 22: Senator Kelli Stargel
District 23: Representative Joe Gruters
District 24: Senator Jeff Brandes
District 26: Representative Ben Albritton
District 28: Senator Kathleen Passidomo
District 30: Senator Bobby Powell
District 34: Senator Gary Farmer Jr.
District 36: Representative Manny Diaz Jr.
District 38: Senator Daphne Campbell
District 40: Senator Annette Taddeo
Florida Realtors PAC candidates for the Florida House include:
District 1: Rebekah Bydlak
District 2: Alex Andrade
District 3: Representative Jayer Williamson
District 4: Representative Mel Ponder
District 6: Representative Jay Trumbull
District 10: Marc Vann
District 11: Representative Cord Byrd
District 12: Representative Clay Yarborough
District 16: Representative Jason Fischer
District 17: Representative Cyndi Stevenson
District 19: Representative Bobby Payne
District 21: Representative Chuck Clemons
District 22: Representative Charlie Stone
District 23: Representative Stan McClain
District 24: Representative Paul Renner
District 25: Representative Tom Leek
District 27: Representative David Santiago
District 28: David Smith
District 29: Representative Scott Plakon
District 30: Representative Bob Cortes
District 31: Representative Jennifer Sullivan
District 34: Representative Ralph Massullo Jr.
District 35: Representative Blaise Ingoglia
District 36: Representative Amber Mariano
District 38: Representative Danny Burgess
District 39: Representative Josie Tomkow
District 40: Representative Colleen Burton
District 42: Representative Mike LaRosa
District 44: Representative Robert “Bobby O” Olszewski
District 46: Representative Bruce H. Antone
District 48: Representative Amy Mercado
District 49: Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith
District 50: Representative Rene “Coach P” Plasencia
District 51: Tyler Sirois
District 52: Representative Thad Altman
District 53: Representative Randy Fine
District 54: Representative Erin Grall
District 55: Representative Cary Pigman
District 56; Melony Bell
District 58: Representative Lawrence McClure
District 60: Representative Jackie Toledo
District 63: Representative Shawn Harrison
District 64: Representative James Grant
District 65: Representative Chris Sprowls
District 66: Nick DiCeglie
District 67: Representative Chris Latvala
District 69: Jeremy Bailie
District 70: Representative Wengay “Newt” Newton
District 71: Will Robinson
District 73: Tommy Gregory
District 76: Representative Ray Rodrigues
District 77: Representative Dane Eagle
District 78: Representative Heather Fitzenhagen
District 80: Representative Byron Donalds
District 82: Representative Mary Lynn Magar
District 85: Representative Rick Roth
District 86: Representative Matt Willhite
District 87: Representative David Silvers
District 92: Representative Patricia Hawkins-Williams
District 96: Representative Kristin Jacobs
District 97: Representative Jared Moskowitz
District 105: Ana Maria Rodriguez
District 106: Representative Bob Rommel
District 108: Representative Roy Hardemon
District 111: Representative Bryan Avila
District 112: Representative Nicholas Duran
District 114: Representative Javier Fernandez
District 116: Representative Danny Perez
District 120: Representative Holly Raschein
Florida Realtors is the largest trade association in the state with more than 180,000 members and serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. According to the organization, its mission is to advance Florida’s real estate industry by shaping public policy on real property issues; encouraging, promoting and teaching consistent standards for ethical practice and professionalism; and building on the efforts of its 54 local boards/associations to provide the information and tools members need to succeed.
