Candidate Profile - Personal Information

Transcription

1 1. Candidate's Name: 2. Address: Candidate Profile - Personal Information Al Jacquet P.O. Box City: Delray Beach Zip: Telephone Numbers: 5. Address: Home Cell Office electaljacquet@gmail.com 6. Highest Degree Earned: (from what Institution?) 7. Current Occupation: 8. Current Employer: 9. Notable Previous Employment: 10. Family Description: Attoney Al Jacquet, P.A. 11. How are you involved in your community? Vice Mayor, City of Delray Beach J.D., St. Thomas University School of Law Serve on City Commission; youth mentorship programs; small business development assistance; affordable housing; local media show host; charities 12. What boards have you served on? 13. Who are some people you admire most and why do you admire them? My father: strength, honesty, unwavering commitment to doing what's just. Mom: a true entrepreneur, taught me everything i know about business. 14. Who in your community would you go to for trusted advice? My family. There are also a few members of the clergy from whom i've seeked trusted advice 15. Three Qualities Leaders Possess: Passionate; Creative; Decisive 16. Office being sought: House District: 88 Senate District: 17. Party Affiliation: Democratic Length of Time: 6 yrs 18. What is your one guiding principle or core value? Do unto others as we would like done unto us 19. Briefly describe your political involvement: Elected Delray Beach City Commissioner 2012 and reelected Former Legislative Aide to State Representative Mack Bernard. 20. Have you ever been a previous candidate for political office? (IF YES) What Office: Outcome of race: Delray Beach City Commission, Seat 2 Won 2 consecutive terms 21. Campaign Organization and Structure: General Consultant: Manager: Jackie Jones Treasurer: Al Jacquet Yes

2 Media: Pollster: Advisors: Campaign Web Address: Facebook Page Name: Al Jacquet for State Representative Campaign Budget Amount: We've raised over $50k We want to raise another $25k 22. Why are you running for this office? Create environment for small businesses to thrive; more good jobs, affordable housing, quality education, and access to healthcare 23. Why should the business community support your candidacy: I am a member of the business community with a record proudly displaying pro-business positions, votes, and support. 24. List by priority the top three (3) Legislative Committees you would like to be assigned: Committee 1: Regulatory Affairs Committee 2: Economic Affairs Committee 3: Education 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? II. Issue Questions Talent Supply & Education 27. What changes would you recommend to Florida's K-12 system of education? Please address school funding. Improve professional development for teachers, give parents more access to involvement, fund more STEM, hire the best and brightest by being competitive. Student funding..not school funding 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? Collective bargaining should be for issues that relate to the employment and should not include unrelated issues. 30. How would you address the shortage of qualified talent to fill jobs in STEM-related fields? Advocate for more focus on STEM education. Workforce development. Attract more qualified teachers by maintaining competitive pay. We can create the environment to attract more STEM-related jobs in Florida. 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?

3 Let's make sure that those minimum standards puts us in a position to compete with other states and countries. 32. What changes would you support that improve workforce development in the state of Florida? More apprenticeship programs. A true focus on vocational training. 33. What changes should be made to Florida's higher education system? Expand access to higher education by making it easier for those who can't afford it. Innovation & Economic Development 34. What can the state do to continue to strengthen its position as a worldwide hub for trade? Streamline and eliminate burdensome regulations 35. Please discuss any ideas you may have to enhance the growth and development of the following economic sectors. Manufactoring: lower or eliminate taxes on equipment. make it easier for relocation. Agriculture: Less cumbersome regulations. Tax actual production, not value of land Construction: workforce development through vocational education programs. preempt overlapping local restrictions Hospitality/Tourism: Take care of our beaches. Avoid multiple layers of taxes on our hoteliers Healthcare: 36. What would you propose to diversify Florida's economy so that we better handle economic downturns? Increase GDP. Attracting and growing targeted industries beyond Agriculture, Construction, and Tourism. Attract high skill and high wage talent Technology, Aerospace, Biomed 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? Not appropriate 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? Yes How would you propose private investors be repaid? infrastructure bonds 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 State Government State Government Wetlands Use State Government

4 Water Supply Regional Government Environmental Permitting State Government Business Permits & Licenses State 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? 41. What can the legislature do to address Florida's water quality and quantity needs? Allow the regional water districts the ability to make those decisions Business Climate/Competitiveness 42. What are the three most important things the state legislature could do to improve Florida's business climate? 1: Eliminate burdensome taxes on small businesses 2: Streamline permitting and licenses 3: Remove regulations impeding business growth 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? Yes Explain: No. I do not support any new taxes. Let's get rid of some of the ones on the books 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? Less is better. Most often, businesses are getting taxed at every level of govenment 46. Are there any taxes that should be increased? No 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: 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: The numbers are high. Not sure whether the state should be in the business of making it easier or harder to file a lawsuit. Perhaps, if there's a belief that we have a large number of frivilous lawsuits, we should look to redress that. 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? Reasonable amount recovery for future medical care 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? Not sure

5 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? 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: Allow environment for competition and butt out. 53. Government regulations continue to be the top concern for Florida's small business. What areas would you recommend reducing regulation and red tape? permitting, reporting, taxes, overall operations 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? Restructure. better management. 55. Should there be term limits for: Circuit/County Judges? Yes Appellate Judges? Yes Supreme Court Judges? No Why? justice and stability balance 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: No 57. Rising health care cost is a concern for Florida businesses and consumers. What would you propose that could help alleviate that burden? More access. Competitive rates 58. What is your position on Medicaid expansion? Increases access to quality physician 59. What is your position on whether the state should prohibit balanced billing in emergency situations? Broader Arena? 60. What is your suggestion to address the current workforce shortage of physicians and nurses in the state? 61. What is your position on the expansion of gambling in Florida?

6 62. Do you believe gambling should ever be expanded or current permitted gambling changed without an affirmative statewide vote of the people? FINAL THOUGHTS I'm pro business and my record speaks for itself. I look forward to winning this election, learning and working with our Florida Chamber to continue protecting our businesses and Florida's future. This was a long questionnaire...it's crunch time, i'd rather be knocking on doors!