Orlando Sentinel

Before voting, take a quick overview of Central Florida candidates, issues

Electoral hopefuls seek federal, state offices — as well as the governor’s mansion

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Florida’s primary election on Tuesday features important races for state, federal and local offices and issues affecting everyone in Florida.

Here’s a quick look at the major candidates on the ballot.

39, of Winter Park, the founder of Elevation Financial Group, says he was the first candidate of either party to refuse contributi­ons from Big Sugar companies. He calls for an end to the death penalty and wants to impose a bullet tax to combat gun violence.

56, a former mayor of Miami Beach, says economic opportunit­y, “empowering communitie­s” and the environmen­t are his three biggest issues. Levine calls schools underfunde­d and teachers “underpaid and under-appreciate­d.” the preservati­on of Social Security and Medicare is “non-negotiable.”

60, a former ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton from Crescent Beach, cites access to affordable health care as one of her key issues. She calls for a bipartisan solution to rising health care costs and premiums. She also wants “real tax reform to help middle-class families and small businesses.”

48, an Ormond Beach attorney, pledges to “never cut a dime from Social Security [and] never raid the trust fund to pay for government waste,” adding that he wants to make the Cost of Living Adjustment keep up with inflation.

68, a former mayor of Ormond Beach and ex-state representa­tive, backs Trump’s plan to extend short-term medical coverage to a full year and expand health savings accounts. He wants Medicare Savings Accounts to be made available to seniors in Florida.

44, a retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Army from St. Augustine, wants to expand the commercial space industry into Volusia County and reform the Department of Veterans Affairs. He praised Trump’s “strong and thoughtful national security strategy.”

52, a retired U.S. Navy intelligen­ce officer and investor from Ponte Vedra Beach, wants Obamacare replaced with a program with Medicare block grants to the states, special insurance pools for citizens with pre-existing conditions and to allow people to shop for health insurance across state lines.

39, of Winter Park, the incumbent first-term U.S. congresswo­man, says constituen­ts told her their top concerns are “jobs, security, and equality.’’ She calls for higher wages, ‘’cheaper prescripti­on drugs and quality, affordable health care.”

38, of Longwood, a former ACLU of Central Florida board member, calls for a single-payer health care system, free public college and totally public financing of campaigns.

45, of Oviedo, a former policy adviser to U.S. Sens. Mel Martinez and George LeMieux, praised the Republican tax cut bill and said she wants to “reduce the tax burden and regulation­s on small businesses as well as large employers.”

50, of Winter Park, is serving his second term as a state representa­tive. Miller cites his record in Tallahasse­e of “improving public education by empowering parents and supporting the largest education budget in state history.”

38, of Sanford, is the CEO of Durable Safety Products. He backs term limits for Congress and stresses his immigratio­n plan to require every undocu-

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