I was recently lucky enough to interview Joe Garcia, the Democratic challenger in Florida's 25th Congressional District, and Daily Kos Orange to Blue Candidate. I'm happy to report that Joe is a genuinely awesome guy, and everyone in the organization was enthusiastic and really helpful. They took a lot of time to address my questions for PULSE, a small bi-monthly magazine in Naples, FL, and even though it's mostly distributed in the next District over from FL-25, I'm hoping the message will reach young people in Naples eager to make a real difference in a local race. I also wanted to share it with all of you.
UPDATE: This is a cool video from the DNC yesterday, Joe is pretty popular with the Florida Delegates!
[Link removed, apparently goes to a despicable site now...]
Before the interview, allow me a brief moment of self-indulgence, combined with a little history. I have deep roots in South Florida. My ancestors, along with one or two other families, were the original settlers of the Naples / Everglades City / Marco Island area. I am one of a very few fifth-generation Floridians ("Cracker" is the preferred term) I have ever met. My forebears tamed and depended on much of the land that comprises Florida's 25th District, including what is now Everglades National Park. In fact, the origin of the term "Everglade" goes back to 1895, when the first US Post office was opened in the area. The USPS needed a name for the town in order to address mail there, and they asked my Great-Great Grandfather Robert Bembury Storter what it was called. After a moment's thought, he coined the poetic name that is now synonymous with America's largest and most beautiful wetland preserve. He called it "Everglade."
I have a personal stake in this race. I've lived in Florida for all of my 27 years, on both coasts and all points between, and I can tell you that this State needs all the help it can get. Joe Garcia is the right man for the job. This is one of the first serious challenges in an area that was once a solid GOP stronghold. I know that good, Progressive Democrats will be better stewards of the land that is my heritage, the land that all Americans should take an interest in preserving for our grandchildren. We are going to win it back this November, folks. Change is a'comin. Please do whatever you can to support Joe Garcia in this important race.
On to the good stuff...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Joe Garcia, the Democratic challenger for Florida’s 25th Congressional District Seat. Here’s what he had to say on the issues affecting PULSE (and Daily Kos) readers and everyone in South Florida.
Please tell us a bit about yourself, and District 25.
I was born and raised by my grandparents and parents right here in South Florida. This is where I went to school, college, where I met my wife and where we've raised our daughter.
But the South Florida from my childhood - that gave my parents the opportunity to get ahead by working hard - isn't the same South Florida for today's families. And I intend to change that.
I'm running for Congress because Washington is broken and politicians have the wrong priorities. It's time to shift the focus back on things that really matter, like cutting taxes for working families, ending our addiction to expensive gasoline, and making sure everyone has access to affordable, quality healthcare.
In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges facing young people in South Florida today? What will you do in Congress to open up new opportunities for us?
Young people need a government that works for them, not special interest groups. This means we need to make it easier to pay back student loans, reward those who serve our country - be it in the Military, the Peace Corps or teaching - and make sure young people can find good jobs when they finish school.
Buying a home is a little frightening in our area right now. What do you think the causes of the housing market decline are, and what will you do to ensure that the financial toll won't fall entirely on the shoulders of ordinary homeowners? How will you make it easier to buy and keep a home?
Washington politicians saw the housing crisis coming for years and did nothing. We need to crack down on the predatory lenders and banks that sold the public bad mortgages. We must also work to keep families in their homes by allowing first-time homeowners and low income families to renegotiate their mortgages.
It is inconceivable that we would bail out banks and not working families. That's wrong, and that's precisely the kind of conventional Washington politics I hope to change in Congress.
Florida's education system has faltered in recent years. Many people I know are having kids, trying to further their own education, or both. What reforms will you work for in Congress to fix the system and increase opportunity for students, from Pre-K to adults wishing to re-enter college?
There is no area where Washington politicians have failed us more than education. We need a system that rewards learning and good teaching, rather than testing.
This starts by paying teachers more, creating better mentoring programs that keep good teachers, and rewarding educators with greater benefits and career opportunities.
We must also invest in early childhood education because it's in our greater common interest. For every dollar we invest in early childhood education, we get seven dollars back.
Finally, my district has many working moms and dads that want to go back to school to finish their degrees. We must facilitate this by making
online learning easier, more accessible and less expensive. One way of doing this is by offering tax-credits to businesses that help put their employees through school.
What difficulties are Floridians facing with respect to healthcare? How would you work to bring the price of quality healthcare down if elected?
Nearly one out of every three people in South Florida doesn't have healthcare. This is unacceptable for both moral and economic reasons.
In Washington I'll take on the drug companies and work across party lines to bring about an American universal quality healthcare system that's affordable and accessible. One way of lowering premiums is by investing in preventive medicine, rather than having a 'disease care system.'
Our country spends over $1 trillion per year caring for chronic illnesses, many of which could have been prevented if the patient had suitable medical care and attention. For example, having a nurse visit a diabetic patient once a week is much more cost-effective than amputating a leg that developed gangrene as a result of negligent diabetic treatment.
This is the kind of shift in priorities I will fight for in Congress.
Many of our readers are finding the job market tough in our slow economy. What will you do to bring more high-paying jobs to South Florida?
The first step is to improve our education so we can strengthen our working class - this will attract better paying jobs to South Florida.
We also have to think outside the box a little. With our outstanding local colleges, there is no reason why South Florida cannot become a global leader in the creation of new clean energy technologies that will not only help solve America's energy crisis, but will create thousands of new jobs right here at home.
Finally, I'm a big believer that we must keep taxes low for small businesses, and reward those that keep jobs here in Florida.
Florida's 25th District encompasses all of Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park, two of the most important wetland areas in America. If elected, what will you do to increase conservation and restoration efforts in these and other environmentally sensitive areas?
This is an issue that my opponent has talked a lot about, but hasn't provided leadership on. He first voted correctly on behalf of the Everglades Restoration Bill, but then capitulated and repudiated his own vote when John McCain was under pressure for having voted against it.
We need serious leadership that's not afraid to go against party interests or stand up to lobbyists, both of which I've done throughout my career.
That's why I'm going to fight to bring home the funding needed to complete the 11-mile bridge to improve water flow in the Everglades. We must also prevent any further development that encroaches upon our precious wetlands, and that's why I'm a big supporter of the ‘Hold the Line’ initiative.
Has America gone wrong with respect to foreign policy in the last eight years? If so, what will the next Congress have to do to restore our credibility and the respect of the world community?
The first thing we must do is bring a safe and responsible end to the War in Iraq. This has diminished our standing in the world, it has strengthened our adversaries, and it's made our country less safe.
We must work with the world community to cease the development of biological and nuclear weapons and to address other issues like global climate change and disease.
Has the incumbent let down the people of District 25? What would you do differently?
My opponent isn't a bad guy; He just has the wrong priorities and is out of touch with our community. He recently said in a forum that America's healthcare system was the best because, as he noted, rich athletes, members of the royal family and celebrities from all over the world use it.
This is a working class community and the true measure of the strength of our health care system shouldn't be if it’s good for David Beckham and Prince Charles, it should be good for the working moms, students and families of Florida's 25th District.
How can Pulse (or daily Kos) readers interested in helping your campaign get involved?
There are many ways. You can volunteer your time by visiting our webpage, donate and join one of the thousands of regular,working folks that have donated $10, $20, and invested in our campaign.
What do you want people to know about you and what you stand for when they go into the voting booth?
People should know that Joe Garcia is someone that will fight for them. When I was on the Public Service Commission I took on the lobbyists and the special interests and managed to sign into law the largest energy rate cut in Florida's history, which provided economic relief for millions of families in our state.
Given today's harsh economic times, that's the kind of leadership we need and what I offer: Someone who will fight for us and our families.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you learned a little about Joe Garcia, and how he plans to move South Florida forward after he's elected in November. I also hope you'll consider making a donation to his campaign to support Progressive values in South Florida. In the spirit of Orange to Blue, it's not just about electing Democrats, it's about electing better Democrats, and Joe Garcia is one of the best we've got. Let's get him elected.
I'd love to say that I'll match contributions, but I'm not quite that solvent at the moment, so I'll say this: For every individual contribution made through my ActBlue page, I'll donate $1, or volunteer one hour for every $10, if I run out of money! It's not much, but it's what I can afford (hopefully!) and it's just another small way I can help.
If you'd to like bypass ActBlue and donate to the campaign directly, you may do so at this link.
I'd like to thank everyone at Joe Garcia '08 who helped me with my little interview, especially Communications Director Giancarlo Sopo, Press Secretary Melissa Agudelo, and Deputy Press Secretary Andy Diaz. And of course, I'd like to thank Joe Garcia for everything he does. On to victory in November!