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Florida Candidates' Survey on Motorcyclists' Rights and Awareness
On September 20, 2010, ABATE of Florida,
Inc. dispatched a survey via email to 217 of the candidates seeking
State Office in Florida. This survey went to candidates for
Florida State Senate, Florida House of Representatives, and Governor
of Florida. Even though email address were not publicly
available for all of the candidates, the majority of those running
for a State Office in Florida received the invitation to participate
in this survey.
The following candidates received an
invitation to take our survey:
For Governor of Florida:
|
Name |
Party |
|
Peter Allen |
IND |
|
Daniel Imperato |
NPA |
|
Farid Khavari |
NPA |
|
CC Reed |
NPA |
|
Rick Scott |
REP |
|
Alex Sink |
DEM |
|
John Smith |
LIB |
For the Florida Senate:
|
Name |
District |
Party |
|
Name |
District |
Party |
|
Greg Evers |
2 |
REP |
|
Steve Edmonds |
24 |
NPA |
|
Don Gaetz |
4 |
REP |
|
Ellyn Bogdanoff |
25 |
REP |
|
David H. Abrams |
4 |
TEA |
|
Miranda Rosenberg |
25 |
NPA |
|
Bill Montford |
6 |
DEM |
|
Kelly Skidmore |
25 |
DEM |
|
John Shaw |
6 |
REP |
|
Mike Haridopolos |
26 |
REP |
|
Deborah Gianoulis |
8 |
DEM |
|
Lizbeth Benacquisto |
27 |
REP |
|
John Thrasher |
8 |
REP |
|
Kevin Rader |
27 |
DEM |
|
Ronda R. Storms |
10 |
REP |
|
Joe Negron |
28 |
REP |
|
Jim Norman |
12 |
REP |
|
Maria Lorts Sachs |
30 |
DEM |
|
Perry C. McGriff, Jr. |
14 |
DEM |
|
Patrick Laffey |
32 |
REP |
|
Steve Oelrich |
14 |
REP |
|
Jeremy Ring |
32 |
DEM |
|
Nina Hayden |
16 |
DEM |
|
Nan H. Rich |
34 |
DEM |
|
Jack Latvala |
16 |
REP |
|
Gwen Margolis |
35 |
DEM |
|
Arthenia L. Joyner |
18 |
DEM |
|
Corey B. Poitier |
35 |
NPA |
|
Eunice Garbutt |
20 |
DEM |
|
Miguel Diaz de la Portilla |
36 |
REP |
|
Alan Hays |
20 |
REP |
|
Anitere Flores |
38 |
REP |
|
David Simmons |
22 |
REP |
|
Les Gerson |
38 |
DEM |
|
Thad Altman |
24 |
REP |
|
Rene Garcia |
40 |
REP |
For the Florida House of Representatives
|
Name |
District |
Party |
|
Name |
District |
Party |
|
Doug |
Broxson |
1 |
REP |
|
Joe |
Redner |
58 |
NPA |
|
Mathias |
Venditto |
1 |
NPA |
|
Shawn |
Harrison |
60 |
REP |
|
Jeremy |
Bagnell |
2 |
WRI |
|
Russ |
Patterson |
60 |
DEM |
|
Clay |
Ingram |
2 |
REP |
|
Elena |
McCullough |
61 |
DEM |
|
Claudia |
Brown-Curry |
3 |
DEM |
|
Will |
Weatherford |
61 |
REP |
|
C. V. |
Ford |
3 |
REP |
|
Kelli |
Stargel |
64 |
REP |
|
John |
McDonald |
6 |
DEM |
|
Joshua |
Davis |
65 |
NPA |
|
Jimmy |
Patronis |
6 |
REP |
|
John |
Wood |
65 |
REP |
|
Marti |
Coley |
7 |
REP |
|
Ben |
Albritton |
66 |
REP |
|
David |
Pleat |
7 |
DEM |
|
Z. |
Hafeez |
67 |
DEM |
|
Kirk |
Headley-Perdue |
9 |
REP |
|
Greg |
Steube |
67 |
REP |
|
Michelle |
Rehwinkel Vasilinda |
9 |
DEM |
|
John |
Studebaker |
67 |
NPA |
|
Leonard |
Bembry |
10 |
DEM |
|
Jim |
Boyd |
68 |
REP |
|
David |
Feigin |
10 |
REP |
|
Dave |
Miner |
68 |
NPA |
|
Debbie |
Boyd |
11 |
DEM |
|
Keith |
Fitzgerald |
69 |
DEM |
|
Elizabeth |
Porter |
11 |
REP |
|
Ray |
Pilon |
69 |
REP |
|
Dave |
Baldwin |
16 |
NPA |
|
Nancy |
Feehan |
70 |
DEM |
|
Charles |
McBurney |
16 |
REP |
|
Doug |
Holder |
70 |
REP |
|
Lake |
Ray |
17 |
REP |
|
Ken |
Roberson |
71 |
REP |
|
John |
Rosso III |
17 |
WRI |
|
Andrew |
Saltman |
71 |
DEM |
|
Tom |
Collins |
18 |
DEM |
|
Matt |
Caldwell |
73 |
REP |
|
Ronald |
Renuart |
18 |
REP |
|
Raul |
Pantoja Rodriguez |
73 |
TEA |
|
Doug |
Courtney |
20 |
DEM |
|
Cole |
Peacock |
73 |
DEM |
|
William |
Proctor |
20 |
REP |
|
Stephen |
Cosgrove |
75 |
NPA |
|
Jon |
Paugh |
22 |
DEM |
|
Trudi |
Williams |
75 |
REP |
|
Keith |
Perry |
22 |
REP |
|
Jose |
Alvarez |
79 |
TEA |
|
Dennis |
Baxley |
24 |
REP |
|
Danny |
Davis |
79 |
WRI |
|
Michael |
Hageloh |
24 |
DEM |
|
Eddie |
Freeman |
79 |
DEM |
|
Larry |
Metz |
25 |
REP |
|
Mike |
Horner |
79 |
REP |
|
Frank |
Wood |
25 |
DEM |
|
Debbie |
Mayfield |
80 |
REP |
|
Fred |
Costello |
26 |
REP |
|
Adam |
Fetterman |
81 |
DEM |
|
Tim |
Huth |
26 |
DEM |
|
Gayle |
Harrell |
81 |
REP |
|
Christopher |
Kennedy |
27 |
NPA |
|
Mark |
Marciano |
83 |
DEM |
|
Dwayne |
Taylor |
27 |
DEM |
|
Pat |
Rooney |
83 |
REP |
|
Richard |
Dembinsky |
28 |
WRI |
|
Mack |
Bernard |
84 |
DEM |
|
Dorothy |
Hukill |
28 |
REP |
|
Albert |
Key |
84 |
REP |
|
Amy |
Tidd |
30 |
DEM |
|
Joseph |
Abruzzo |
85 |
DEM |
|
Ritch |
Workman |
30 |
REP |
|
Tami |
Donnally |
85 |
REP |
|
Jodi |
James |
31 |
DEM |
|
Bill |
Hager |
87 |
REP |
|
John |
Tobia |
31 |
REP |
|
Hava |
Holzhauer |
87 |
DEM |
|
Jason |
Brodeur |
33 |
REP |
|
Mark |
Pafford |
88 |
DEM |
|
Leo |
Cruz |
33 |
DEM |
|
Jeff |
Clemens |
89 |
DEM |
|
Franklin |
Perez |
33 |
LIB |
|
Steven |
Rosenblum |
89 |
REP |
|
Steve |
Barnes |
34 |
DEM |
|
Alison |
Rampersad |
90 |
REP |
|
John |
DeVries |
34 |
TEA |
|
Irving |
Slosberg |
90 |
DEM |
|
Chris |
Dorworth |
34 |
REP |
|
George |
Moraitis |
91 |
REP |
|
Dean |
Cannon |
35 |
REP |
|
Barbra |
Stern |
91 |
DEM |
|
Amy |
Mercado |
35 |
DEM |
|
Gwyndolen |
Clarke-Reed |
92 |
DEM |
|
Juanita |
Virone |
35 |
TEA |
|
Arthur |
Williams |
92 |
WRI |
|
Lawanna |
Gelzer |
36 |
NPA |
|
Evon |
Manning |
94 |
WRI |
|
Larry |
Limbaugh |
36 |
WRI |
|
Hazelle |
Rogers |
94 |
DEM |
|
Scott |
Randolph |
36 |
DEM |
|
James |
Waldman |
95 |
DEM |
|
Greg |
Reynolds |
36 |
REP |
|
Scott |
Yardley |
95 |
REP |
|
James |
Heinzelman |
38 |
TEA |
|
Ari |
Porth |
96 |
DEM |
|
Bryan |
Nelson |
38 |
REP |
|
Jason |
Weakley |
96 |
TEA |
|
Todd |
Christian |
40 |
DEM |
|
Kimberly |
Burgess |
98 |
REP |
|
Darin |
Dunmire |
40 |
TEA |
|
Franklin |
Sands |
98 |
DEM |
|
Eric |
Eisnaugle |
40 |
REP |
|
Edward |
Bender |
100 |
NPA |
|
Lee |
Douglas |
41 |
DEM |
|
Evan |
Jenne |
100 |
DEM |
|
Steve |
Precourt |
41 |
REP |
|
Matt |
Hudson |
101 |
REP |
|
H. |
O'Toole |
42 |
REP |
|
Larry |
Wilcoxson |
101 |
NPA |
|
Jeff |
Shoobridge |
42 |
NPA |
|
Eddy |
Gonzalez |
102 |
REP |
|
Diane |
Rowden |
44 |
DEM |
|
Cali |
Vallejo |
102 |
WRI |
|
Robert |
Schenck |
44 |
REP |
|
Gustavo |
Barreiro |
107 |
REP |
|
James |
Grant |
47 |
REP |
|
Luis |
Garcia |
107 |
DEM |
|
Michael |
Steinberg |
47 |
DEM |
|
Cristina |
Albright |
111 |
DEM |
|
Tom |
McKone |
48 |
DEM |
|
Erik |
Fresen |
111 |
REP |
|
Peter |
Nehr |
48 |
REP |
|
Jeanette |
Nunez |
112 |
REP |
|
Betty |
La Chance |
49 |
NPA |
|
Sandra |
Ruiz |
112 |
DEM |
|
Darren |
Soto |
49 |
DEM |
|
Robert |
Van Name |
112 |
NPA |
|
Ed |
Hooper |
50 |
REP |
|
Alex |
Cruzet |
113 |
DEM |
|
Larry |
Ahern |
51 |
REP |
|
Waldo |
Faura |
113 |
NPA |
|
Janet |
Long |
51 |
DEM |
|
Carlos |
Lopez-Cantera |
113 |
REP |
|
Jeff |
Brandes |
52 |
REP |
|
Millie |
Herrera |
114 |
DEM |
|
Bill |
Heller |
52 |
DEM |
|
Ana |
Logan |
114 |
REP |
|
Thomas |
Cuba |
53 |
REP |
|
Denny |
Wood |
114 |
NPA |
|
Rick |
Kriseman |
53 |
DEM |
|
Jose |
Diaz |
115 |
REP |
|
James |
Frishe |
54 |
REP |
|
Jeffrey |
Solomon |
115 |
DEM |
|
Mary |
Russell |
54 |
DEM |
|
Carlos |
Trujillo |
116 |
REP |
|
Joseph |
Graser |
55 |
WRI |
|
Michael |
Bileca |
117 |
REP |
|
Darryl |
Rouson |
55 |
DEM |
|
Lisa |
Lesperance |
117 |
DEM |
|
Rachel |
Burgin |
56 |
REP |
|
Dwight |
Bullard |
118 |
DEM |
|
David |
Chalela |
56 |
DEM |
|
Charles |
Lopez |
118 |
REP |
|
Lewis |
Laricchia |
56 |
WRI |
|
Frank |
Artiles |
119 |
REP |
|
Stacy |
Frank |
57 |
DEM |
|
Graziella |
Denny |
119 |
NPA |
|
Dana |
Young |
57 |
REP |
|
Katie |
Edwards |
119 |
DEM |
|
Janet |
Cruz |
58 |
DEM |
|
Ron |
Saunders |
120 |
DEM |
RESULTS
Of the above candidates, 31% responded. Of those who
responded:
A majority of the
respondents are seeking their first public office:
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I am seeking election to the same office |
|
|
I am seeking election to a different office |
|
|
I am seeking election to an office for the 1st
time. |
|
|
I have withdrawn from the race and am no longer
seeking office. |
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The Questions:
Do you support the current
Florida law that allows a motorcyclist 21 years of age or older
to the freedom of choice on the wearing of helmets if they can
show proof of $10,000 medical insurance?
Currently, a motorist can be
convicted of injuring or killing a motorcyclist, bicyclist,
pedestrian, etc. and only receive a $86 fine for a “failure to
yield” traffic citation. Would you support a Bill that would
give a Judge additional stiffer penalty options when sentencing
the guilty party?
Do you support blood testing on all
parties involved in an accident resulting in serious injury
and/or a fatality ?
NOTE:
Many candidates expressed comments regarding this question,
please make sure to download the full survey results to see how
specific candidates felt about this issue.
In 2007, 2008, and 2009,
motorcycle deaths in Florida have been reduced 0.77%, 2.9%, and
25.1%. (respectively). 2008 and 2009 also saw an increase in
“Motorcycle Safety Awareness” education for the public due to
the Florida Legislature allocating funds to ABATE of Florida,
Inc. for the sole purpose of motorcycle safety awareness.
Would you support continuing to set aside funds so that ABATE of
Florida, Inc. may continue to increase motorcycle safety
awareness to the public?
Are you familiar with ABATE of
Florida, Inc.?
The full survey results, including which
candidate elected to participate, as well as their individual
answers, are available by clicking
HERE.
Reviewing these results will better inform you regarding how
YOUR candidates may feel about our rights & safety.
(the download is in MS Excel format)
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