Candidate Profile - Personal Information

Transcription

1 Candidate Profile - Personal Information 1. Candidate's Name: 2. Address: John Newstreet 7679 Persian Court 3. City: Orlando Zip: Telephone Numbers: Home Cell Office 5. Address: John@JohnNewstreet.com 6. Highest Degree Earned: (from what Institution?) BSBA - University of Central Florida 7. Current Occupation: 8. Current Employer: 9. Notable Previous Employment: 10. Family Description: CEO - Chamber of Commerce Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce US Senators Martinez, LeMieux, Rubio; US Congressman Cliff Stearns; Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca; American Legion; CFSE Wealth Management Compliance Officer and Financial Consultant Fifth of Ten Children. Single. No Children. 11. How are you involved in your community? I attend Holy Family Catholic Church; I recently Chaired the Nominating Committee for the Osceola District of the Boy Scouts of America; I have volunteered in the past for Give Kids the World, Boggy Creek Gang and New Hope for Kids; Past member of Kiwanis Club of East Orlando; Member of UF/IFAS Overall Advisory Council in Osceola County; Lead for ESF-18 Business & Industry in Osceola County Emergency Operations Center; Executive Director of the Osceola Legislative Effort; Leadership Orlando graduate; Leadership Osceola graduate. 12. What boards have you served on? Legionnaire Insurance Trust; Osceola County Bar Association; Community Vision; Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce; Workforce Central Florida. 13. Who are some people you admire most and why do you admire them? My second mother married into a family with seven children and had three of her own. We also fostered children for several years. She pursued her Master's and Doctorate degrees all while raising 10 kids, nursing my terminally ill father, and working full time as a teacher. 14. Who in your community would you go to for trusted advice? This answer depends on the advice needed. I was blessed to work for Sen. Mel Martinez and will call on him, but he also introduced me to a tremendous network. As CEO of the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce, I have been able to further expand my brain trust. 15. Three Qualities Leaders Possess: Active Listener; Decisive; Organized. 16. Office being sought: House District: Forty-Four (44) Senate District: 17. Party Affiliation: Republican Length of Time: All my life 18. What is your one guiding principle or core value? Honor; Respect; Devotion To Duty. 19. Briefly describe your political involvement: Founded 501(c)(3) conservative group at UCF; Past President of UCF College Republicans; Past President of Orange County Young Republicans; Past Orange County Republican Executive Committeeman; Past Chair of Lincoln Day Dinner; Worked on staff of three US Senators, one US Congressman, and one County Commissioner. 20. Have you ever been a previous candidate for political office? (IF YES) What Office: No

2 Outcome of race: 21. Campaign Organization and Structure: General Consultant: John Dowless Campaign Web Address: Facebook Page Name: Manager: Anna Taylor Treasurer: Jennifer McDougald Media: N/A Pollster: N/A Advisors: N/A Campaign Budget Amount: 100, Why are you running for this office? John Newstreet for State Representative The Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce has as its first strategy under its first goal in our Strategic Plan the desire to identify and support business-minded candidates for elected office. Several local leaders from within House District 44 where I live asked me to consider running to succeed Rep. Eisnaugle. After careful consideration and unanimous encouragement by the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, I believe that my experience and skill set will make me impactful in the process to preserve Florida's economic competitiveness. 23. Why should the business community support your candidacy: Simply put, I champion business issues every day. My life is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes succeed and grow. 24. List by priority the top three (3) Legislative Committees you would like to be assigned: Committee 1: Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee Committee 2: Insurance and Banking Subcommittee Committee 3: Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee 25. Are there any organizations which you would NOT accept donations from? If so, please list: Florida Justice Association 26. Opponents and the media research public records, police reports, credit information and do other background checks in an effort to discover tax liens, lawsuits, arrest records and other unfortunate things. Are there any issues your opponent could use against you that you should disclose to this group? None II. Issue Questions Talent Supply & Education 27. What changes would you recommend to Florida's K-12 system of education? Please address school funding. My mother and sister have taught in Florida's K-12 system. Testing is definitely an issue. I believe in accountability, but our teachers should have room to inspire too. Regarding school funding, it is important that we make decisions relative to their impact on school choice. 28. As an extension of the school day and to help end "Generational Pverty" would you support funding affordable afterschool programs that provide assistance with homework, delinquency prevention, life skills and the development of good character for Florida's working families? 29. What is your position regarding the ability of teachers unions and other public-sector unions to collectively bargain issues that are beyond the typical employment issues directly tied to hours worked and wages/benefits paid?

3 I am opposed to the unions collectively bargaining issues beyond typical employment issues. I stand with teachers focused on the needs of their students. 30. How would you address the shortage of qualified talent to fill jobs in STEM-related fields? STEM-related jobs are very important to central Florida. The BRIDG project in Osceola County, the commercial space industry in Brevard, and the modeling and simulation industry are some examples of opportunities and needs related to STEM fields. Lockheed Martin has a large presence in HD 44. Partnerships will be key and strategic incentives may be worth considering. 31. What are your thoughts about having a series of benchmarks designed to create a minimum standard for Math and Language Arts throughout the United States? I oppose a one-size-fits-all series of benchmarks. I do support standards and accountability in our school system. 32. What changes would you support that improve workforce development in the state of Florida? Having served on the board of directors for Workforce Central Florida and having hired several workers from their ranks over the years, I believe we need to continue to expand technical education opportunities as well as training grants for targeted needs in our communities. 33. What changes should be made to Florida's higher education system? Universities and colleges should have flexibility to match curriculums with needs around the state. They also should have some ability to set tuition rates that allow access for qualified talent to attain degrees and remain in the local market. Innovation & Economic Development 34. What can the state do to continue to strengthen its position as a worldwide hub for trade? Increase spending in infrastructure, especially ports and railways. This should include continued investment in commercial space and emerging markets like the sensor industry. 35. Please discuss any ideas you may have to enhance the growth and development of the following economic sectors. Manufactoring: Invest in infrastructure so companies can establish themselves locally, grow without hindrance, and attract vertical- and horizontal- supply-chain partners. Reducing the cost of doing business is important and the permitting process may present an opportunity to do so. Partnerships will be key between manufacturers' associations and school districts as well. Agriculture: Protect growers supply of clean and potable water. Continue the fight against greening. Construction: Talent pipeline is key. It is tough for local firms to find enough trained workers for current projects. Technical education and affordable housing are very important. Hospitality/Tourism: Affordable housing for the workforce is hugely important. In addition, adequate funding for Visit Florida must be protected. Healthcare: Reduced mandates, direct primary care, tort reform and telemedicine are great opportunities to enhance growth in this sector. 36. What would you propose to diversify Florida's economy so that we better handle economic downturns? BRIDG in Osceola County is a good example. Investing in infrastructure, retaining talent, and making our cities livable and safe will help incubate new success stories that will keep us ahead of everywhere else.

4 Infrastructure & Growth Leadership 37. When is it appropriate for the legislature to shift money from a dedicated state trust fund to pay for other services? Never, with the rare exception that repayment is quick and guaranteed. 38. There is a widening gap between infrastructure needs and infrastructure funding. Would you support private investment in public infrastructure projects in order to meet infrastructure needs? How would you propose private investors be repaid? Congressman Stearns investigated Solyndra as an example of how private investors should not be repaid. The taxpayer must be protected in every deal. The repayment to private investors varies from deal to deal. 39. Philosophically, when considering the following issues, do you think the authority to set or regulate these areas should be at the Federal, State, Local or Regional Government level? Wages State Government Growth Management Local Government Wetlands Use State Government Water Supply State Government Environmental Permitting State Government Business Permits & Licenses Local Government 40. What role should the state play in balancing the ability of electric utilities to provide safe, affordable and reliable electricity with the regulations of carbon emissions? The state should be very careful when regulating carbon emissions and I err on the side of staying out of the equation. The transition from coal to clean coal to alternative energies creates better opportunities for our citizens to receive safe, affordable and reliable electricity given the utilities current diversified fuels from coal, natural gas and nuclear sources. The marketplace cannot stand a switch from one extreme to the other. 41. What can the legislature do to address Florida's water quality and quantity needs? The legislature can help with the water issues by supporting science-based and long-term sustainable policies. Business Climate/Competitiveness 42. What are the three most important things the state legislature could do to improve Florida's business climate? 1: Tort Reform 2: Eliminate Insurance Fraud (Assignment of Benefits particularly) 3: Eliminate Business Rent Tax 43. Florida does not currently have a sales tax on services. Several attempts have been made over the past decade to create a new tax on services in the state Constitution. Would you support creating a sales tax on services?ness testimony standards? No Explain: Any sales tax on services will increase the cost of those services to the consumer. 44. What is your position on collecting sales and use tax on transactions from out of state and online retailers? Support 45. What is your general philosophy on state and local taxes? Government has a purpose, but it collects its resources from the productivity of its people. Frederic Bastiat called it "legal plunder". State taxes should cover state-wide responsibilities and services. Local taxes should focus on the needs (not wants) of local citizens. 46. Are there any taxes that should be increased? No, although assessments or fees on class action lawsuits might be warranted.

5 47. Do you believe hotels should or should not be required to include resort fees in the daily room rate to allow guests to comparison shop before they book a room? Should be requred Explain: Guests should be able to make educated decisions on where and how they spend their money. We run the risk of losing visitors when they encounter surprises after arrival. While I am generally against government mandates or intervention, if the guest cannot opt out of the fee then they should be informed. 48. What are your thoughts on the number of lawsuits files in Florida? Should the state intervene to make it easier or more difficult to file a lawsuit? Explain: There are far too many lawsuits filed in Florida. I think the consumer would greatly benefit from the state making it crushingly more difficult to file a lawsuit. This would help decrease the backlog in the system and save substantial dollars needed to support the system too. 49. Would you support legislation that limits recovery for future medical care in personal injury lawsuits to what is "usually and customarily" paid to other medical providers in the community? Why? I support limiting recovery to what is "usually and customarily" paid to other medical providers. Common sense. 50. Accuracy in Damages: Would you support legislation that limits the amount of money recoverable for medical care in personal injury lawsuits to the amount actually paid for the medical care versus the amount charged by the provider of the medical care? Why? I support limiting amount of money recoverable to what is actually paid. Common sense. 51. In the context of a personal injury lawsuit, do you believe that it is reasonable to require an injured person seeking money from a liability insurance company to give the insurance company a (1) written notice of the claim and (2) a minimum of 45 days to investigate the claim and offer to pay the policy limits of the policy? Agree Why? This will help combat fraud and/or abuse. Governance & Civic Systems 52. What is the proper role of state agencies in regulating prices for insurance companies, banks, medical providers and other regulated industries? Explain: Minimal. Protect the consumer and the free market. 53. Government regulations continue to be the top concern for Florida's small business. What areas would you recommend reducing regulation and red tape? Eliminate the Business Rent Tax. Review permitting and licensing. 54. Both the Florida Retirement System Pension plan and Local Government-administered pension plan programs are experiencing a growing unfunded actuarial liability that is currently in excess of $31 billion. How do you propose to fill the funding gap in these guaranteed pension plans? Convert to a defined contribution plan. 55. Should there be term limits for: Circuit/County Judges? Appellate Judges? Supreme Court Judges? Why? These roles fall into public service. Quality of Life & Quality Places 56. Should the state of Florida be able to mandate that health insurance providers cover specific health conditions or benefits even if the mandates increase the cost of health insurance for employees and employers?

6 Explain: The state should exercise extreme caution when issuing mandates. This is especially true when such mandates will increase cost for employers and employees. Generally speaking, they should not issue mandates except to protect the consumer and the marketplace. Programs exist for those in difficult situations. 57. Rising health care cost is a concern for Florida businesses and consumers. What would you propose that could help alleviate that burden? I advocate for competitive markets. Direct primary care will help alleviate some of the rising health care costs as it will reintroduce the consumer. 58. What is your position on Medicaid expansion? I am against expansion of medicaid because evidence suggests that such expansion does not produce desired outcomes. 59. What is your position on whether the state should prohibit balanced billing in emergency situations? Broader Arena? I believe we should prohibit balanced billing to protect the consumer. A practice like balanced billing creates the "balloon effect". I am a free market guy. 60. What is your suggestion to address the current workforce shortage of physicians and nurses in the state? I believe that primary care providers should practice to the top of their education. Telemedicine and residency partnerships are worth examining further. 61. What is your position on the expansion of gambling in Florida? Florida is known as a family-friendly state. The plight of Atlantic City shows us possible ramifications on this topic. This issue should not be addressed in the state constitution. 62. Do you believe gambling should ever be expanded or current permitted gambling changed without an affirmative statewide vote of the people? I do not believe it should be expanded and I think this matter is best addressed in the Legislature at this time. FINAL THOUGHTS