Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 10-2-20

Recommendations
The Sentinel Editorial Board’s Recommendations For November 2020 Election
Part 2
Your VOTE is your voice on issues affecting housing, education, employ- ment and healthcare.
If you want to make a difference in your household and your community you must vote.
The offices in the November elec- tion control budgets, control policy, and decide whether you get fair jus- tice or NOT. They make decisions in the U. S. government, Tallahassee and Hillsborough County.
The November election is crucial, so please vote.
The deadline to register or change party is October 5; Early Voting is October 19-November 1st. Vote By Mail ballots will be mailed September 24; and Elec- tion Day is November 3rd.
State Senate District 19
District 19 covers portions of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee Counties. Incumbent senator Darryl Rouson has had an ambivalence re- lationship with his constituents on this side of the bay since defeating Ed Narain by a very small margin in 2018. Rouson, an attorney, however is very popular with his constituents in St. Petersburg, (his home) and nothing has changed since he became District 19’s state senator. During his tenure, he has served on the Banking and Insurance, Vice Chair; Appropri- ations; Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Appro- priations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and Health Pol- icy Committees. His opponent, Christina Paylan is a plastic sur- geon who is running as an Independ- ent. However, from reading reports and several interviews she has re- cently done, she leans very heavily to- wards the Republican doctrine. Listing her political inspirations are Congressman Matt Gaetz and Governor Ron DeSantis. Also, al- though she is running as an Inde- pendent, according to recent reports, members of the Republican Party are backing her run against Sen. Rou- son. This seat has traditionally been held by a Black person, and it should not change.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Darryl Rouson
State Senate District 20
This is not candidate Kathy Lewis’ first run for the State Senate District 20 seat. She ran against Tom Lee in 2018. This district consists of areas in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk Counties. Lewis is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, is married with 2 children. One of her children has special needs and after reaching the age of 18, issues with healthcare became problematic, which is one of the key reasons Lewis decided to put her name into the hat. She feels secu- rity is needed in all forms, opportu- nity to see a better future and the emergency relief to survive the COVID-19 pandemic are key. Her op- ponent is a former State Representa- tive and was chosen by Governor Ron DeSantis to be- come Veterans' Affairs Director in his administration. A position has re- signed to run.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Kathy Lewis
State Senate District 21
Manatee and Hillsborough County Democratic leaders selected 23-year-old educator and social media influencer Anthony Eldon as the Democratic nominee. Eldon is a teacher and will be a strong advocate for public schools according to party leaders. He is a Black man, and many feel that those who could elect him are often underserved in the district. He is very young, but super accom- plished, according to reports. He wrote the book, “50 Inspiring Black Stories: That Aren’t Taught in School and runs the In- stagram account, Blk.Thought.”
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Anthony Eldon
State Representative District 57
District 57 consists of Blooming- dale and Fish Hawk areas of Hillsbor- ough County that is presently being represented by Republican Mike Beltran. Scott Hottenstein has thrown his hat into the political arena in the past running for an at-large seat on the Hillsborough County School Board now held by Karen Perez. He is a retired naval officer who graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1992 and served in the U. S. Navy for 24 years. He is cur- rently a middle school Civics teacher at a Title 1 school in Riverview, FL. He is also a husband and father. He feels as a state representative he can help fix our broken systems of gov- ernment. He believes his life experi- ences will bring the much needed voice to help improve public educa- tion, public health, and public service throughout the state, but especially here in District 57.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Scott Hottenstein
State Representative District 58
District 58 consists of the Thono- tosassa, Plant City areas of Hillsbor- ough County that is presently represented by Republican Lawrence McClure. The Demo- cratic nominee is pharmacist and small business owner CL Townsend. A 6-generation Florid- ian, Townsend’s goal if elected is to focus on climate change and push for affordable healthcare for Floridians.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Cleo CL Townsend, Jr.
State Representative District 59
District 59 consists of parts of Brandon, Clair Mel and Palm River and Valrico. Democratic nominee Andrew Learned ran unsuccess- fully in 2018 for the District 18 seat. He is running on the platform to stand up for fellow veterans, active duty service men and women, mili- tary families and working families that live paycheck-to-paycheck trying to get ahead. Learned served eight years as an officer in the U. S. Navy including three Middle East deploy- ments. When asked is there is a book, essay, film, or something else that best describes your political philoso- phy?.....His answer... Strength to Love by Dr., Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Andrew Learne
State Representative District 60
District 60 consists of South Tampa and Davis Island. Democratic nominee, Julie Jenkins is not new to the political arena running unsuc- cessfully for Tampa City Council against Charlie Miranda. Jenkins is running against incumbent Repub- lican Jackie Toledo. Toledo, an engineer, won in 2018 by less than 4,000 votes. With this being a general election, the voting numbers will most likely be higher. Jenkins is a small business owner, advocate and mom. Her campaign platform is to push for environmental legislation; affordable and accessible healthcare and provide traditional public schools and teachers economic support com- parable to the invaluable benefit they provide our nation.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Julie Jenkins
State Representative District 62
District 62 consists of Town & Country and Northwest Hillsborough County. Incumbent SusanValdes was elected in 2018 after a long stint on the Hillsborough County School Board. She volunteers and manages a clinic with the Hillsborough County Health Care Program in which she also helps the patients with social services resources. In addition, she hosts Back to School Fairs in August which include free physicals, immu- nizations, school supplies, and vari- ous home products to children and families.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Susan Valdes
State Representative District 64
District 64 consists of Keystone, Cheval, West Chase and Safety Har- bor. Democratic nominee Jessica Harrington may have already won this seat because according to re- ports, incumbent Republican Jamie Grant sold his Carrollwood home in September, didn’t file to run for the office with his residential address as the law requires and improperly had his mail-in primary ballot sent to the address of his district office. Grant has since shutdown his reelection campaign and has taken a job within DeSantis’ administration. However, a Republican candidate was added at the 11th hour and heavily funded by the party.
The Sentinel Editorial Board endorses Jessica Harrington
More Recommendation Statements To Come In Next Issue
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020