Candidate Profile - Personal Information

Transcription

1 1. Candidate's Name: 2. Address: Candidate Profile - Personal Information Dan Fiorini PO Box City: Saint Petersburg Zip: Telephone Numbers: 5. Address: Home Cell Office DanForDistrict70@gmail.com 6. Highest Degree Earned: (from what Institution?) 7. Current Occupation: 8. Current Employer: 9. Notable Previous Employment: 10. Family Description: Self Employed Tyrone Frame and Mirror Single 11. How are you involved in your community? Florida House of Representatives President, Wave Condo Assn; Home Visit Inspector, DARE (Dachshund Adoption, Rescue and Education), Member of the Pinellas Point Civic Assn, Founding Member of the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County, Founding Sponsor of St Pete Pride, Member of the Pinellas County DEC, Member of the Democratic Environmental Caucus; Past Vice Chair of the Hernando County Tourist Development Council; Member of the Florida Rail Passengers Assn. 12. What boards have you served on? Past Board Member of ASAP (AIDS Service Assn of Pinellas) 13. Who are some people you admire most and why do you admire them? 14. Who in your community would you go to for trusted advice? It depends on the issue. 15. Three Qualities Leaders Possess: Determination, effective consensus building, leadership 16. Office being sought: House District: 70 Senate District: 17. Party Affiliation: Democrat Length of Time: Lifetime 18. What is your one guiding principle or core value? The Golden Rule 19. Briefly describe your political involvement: I've been involved in elections and Democratic party politics for more than 40 years. I have directed, or been heavily involved, in 44 elections. 36 have been successful. I'm the former spokesman for the Hernando County DEC and I'm a present member of the Pinellas County DEC 20. Have you ever been a previous candidate for political office? (IF YES) What Office: Outcome of race: 21. Campaign Organization and Structure: General Consultant: No

2 Manager: Treasurer: Media: Pollster: Advisors: Campaign Web Address: Facebook Page Name: Campaign Budget Amount: 50, Why are you running for this office? Dan Fiorini for State Representative As a former FL House Legislative Aide, I'm completely qualified for this office. 23. Why should the business community support your candidacy: I am a businessman, owner of Tyrone Frame and Mirror in St Petersburg, FL. I understand the business community and the struggles of small business. 24. List by priority the top three (3) Legislative Committees you would like to be assigned: Committee 1: Appropriations Committee 2: Education Committee 3: Finance and Tax 25. Are there any organizations which you would NOT accept donations from? If so, please list: 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? Not that I'm aware of. II. Issue Questions Talent Supply & Education 27. What changes would you recommend to Florida's K-12 system of education? Please address school funding. We need more emphasis on vocational education. School funding should be a priority and unfunded mandates to local communities should stop. 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? Yes 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? More clarification is needed on this question. Which issues are you specifically addressing? Collective bargaining does not just address wage and hour issues. 30. How would you address the shortage of qualified talent to fill jobs in STEM-related fields?

3 It is not just STEM related fields where qualified educators are in short supply. Elementary school teachers are also in short supply. Competitive salaries, benefits and job security attract good employees in every industry - teaching is no different. 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? Support. 32. What changes would you support that improve workforce development in the state of Florida? Quality of life issue and competitive wages attract a qualified workforce. Addressing low wage jobs should be a priority. 33. What changes should be made to Florida's higher education system? Returning to an ELECTED Education Commissioner is on the top of my list. Innovation & Economic Development 34. What can the state do to continue to strengthen its position as a worldwide hub for trade? Expansion of the ports of Tampa and Manatee should be a priority. Additionally, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge will be an obstacle to an expanded cruise ship industry in Tampa Bay as it is not tall enough to accommodate the new liners being built today. I'd advocate replacing the bridge with a tunnel. 35. Please discuss any ideas you may have to enhance the growth and development of the following economic sectors. Manufactoring: First, properly spelling manufacturing would be a good idea. I am not in favor of over-regulation and prefer the private sector provide the ideas that would grow the manufacturing base in Florida. I am not an expert in this area, but am willing to listen to innovative ideas. Agriculture: Again, I'm not an expert in this area and would defer to those who are. I'm open to hearing proposals that would bring back the industry and expand exports of Florida agriculture. Construction: Are we talking road construction, housing, commercial, maritime? Again, a very broad question. I'd be interesting in hearing the issues being addressed and form an opinion from that interaction. Hospitality/Tourism: Here's where I DO have expertise! Insuring that our beaches stay pristine is the number one priority! I absolutely oppose fracking and oil drilling anywhere on Florida land or anywhere near Florida shores. Healthcare: EVERYONE should have access to affordable, quality healthcare. It is the only way to reduce cost. The Florida legislature was dead wrong not to accept Federal ACA money and instead used $400 million of our local tax money to plug the gap. That $400 million could have been used for education and transportation. 36. What would you propose to diversify Florida's economy so that we better handle economic downturns? There is no magic bullet when an economic downturn occurs. However, I would be interested in looking at our tax structure to provide a more stable revenue stream. Infrastructure & Growth Leadership

4 37. When is it appropriate for the legislature to shift money from a dedicated state trust fund to pay for other services? Never. Period. Notice the word TRUST. 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? No How would you propose private investors be repaid? It is the job of government to provide transportation infrastructure services, not the private sector. I am completely against investor owned roads, bridges and the like. 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 Growth Management Wetlands Use Water Supply Environmental Permitting 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? Define safe, please. The only truly safe electric is solar. Every other form of generation is a pollution generator. Carbon emission should be heavily regulated as it goes directly to the health and well being of the general public. 41. What can the legislature do to address Florida's water quality and quantity needs? Let's start by banning fracking and oil drilling. The Everglades cleanup should be a priority and the aquifer must be protected. Pollution runoff from pesticides and the like need to addressed. Business Climate/Competitiveness 42. What are the three most important things the state legislature could do to improve Florida's business climate? 1: Address quality of life issues. 2: Address transportation alternatives including light rail. 3: Increase education funding. 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: I would first support eliminating the sales tax exemptions on everything except medicine, food, education supplies and children clothing. 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? State taxes should support state mandated issues, local taxes should do the same on the local level. Unfunded state mandates on local government is counterproductive. 46. Are there any taxes that should be increased?

5 I would support an increase in the gas tax as cars today get better mileage and, as a result, the transportation fund has less money to maintain infrastructure. 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: It should be required IF it is mandatory to purchase the resort package. If the resort package is not required, then I see no need to include it. 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: This is way too broad a question. In general, I believe people should have easy access to address a wrong. 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? No. Who is to say what is "usual and customary?" A judge and jury are in a position to determine this type of payment. 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 would support actual cash payments. Punitive damages should address any other payouts. 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? Yes. And, I think a 45 day time limit may be way too short. An injured person may be incapacitated for an extended period of time and be unable to address the issue in a 45 day window. 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: In the case of insurance companies, if the state is mandating coverage then the state should have a say in the price being paid. Regulated industries in all other areas should provide reasonable charges for services. The state should have oversight in that role. 53. Government regulations continue to be the top concern for Florida's small business. What areas would you recommend reducing regulation and red tape? What areas are we talking about here? Reducing regulations and "red tape" is great rhetoric, but until I hear details, I have no stand on this issue as it's presented here. 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? Simple: Fund it. Had the government bodies properly funded the plans there would be no unfunded liability. These plans were a promise to workers who relied on that promise. Government MUST fully fund.

6 55. Should there be term limits for: Circuit/County Judges? No Appellate Judges? No Supreme Court Judges? No Why? You already have term limits: It's called the vote. 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? Explain: Yes. No one should have to beg for medical coverage. All conditions should be covered. 57. Rising health care cost is a concern for Florida businesses and consumers. What would you propose that could help alleviate that burden? Insure everyone. 58. What is your position on Medicaid expansion? Support it. 59. What is your position on whether the state should prohibit balanced billing in emergency situations? Broader Arena? I do not support balanced billing in any situation, emergency or not. 60. What is your suggestion to address the current workforce shortage of physicians and nurses in the state? This is a supply and demand issue and government should not be in the business of regulating the workforce. 61. What is your position on the expansion of gambling in Florida? Completely against it. 62. Do you believe gambling should ever be expanded or current permitted gambling changed without an affirmative statewide vote of the people? Yes. And, I would be on the opposition side. FINAL THOUGHTS I am a pro-business Democrat who believes people should be treated fairly, our environment should be protected and our quality of life should be the number one priority in order to expand our tax base.