For State House District 98, Gottlieb offers focus on rights
For Florida House District 98, we reaffirm our support for Democrat Michael Gottlieb in his race to replace Rep. Katie Edwards-Walpole of Plantation.
A criminal defense lawyer who lives in Davie, Gottlieb, 49, has a good grasp of the challenges facing Florida: affordable housing, environmental protection, education funding, sea-level rise and gun control.
His professional experience has given him a close-up understanding of the impact of mental illness on gun violence. He wants the state to be more assertive in identifying people prone to violence and keep firearms out of their reach.
He supports economic incentives to companies that would diversify Florida’s economy, so long as they bring jobs. He seeks better funding for education and higher pay for teachers. He wants something done about chemicals dumped in waterways that contribute to algae blooms. He wants to make our state more resilient to sea-level rise, but knows climate change must be addressed in global terms.
He also believes the state should accept federal Medicaid expansion funds. He wants the Legislature to stop raiding a trust fund meant to support affordable housing programs. He believes big housing developments should include set-asides or other means to provide low-cost housing for low-wage earners and seniors.
Gottlieb won a five-way Democratic race in the August primary, with more than 38 percent of the vote. The seat came open after Johnson-Walpole, also a Democrat, announced in May that she would not seek re-election for family reasons. She had served in the Legislature since 2012.
The district, which heavily skews Democratic, covers parts of Sunrise, Plantation and Davie, as well as segments of Southwest Ranches and Weston.
Gottlieb is opposed by Republican Joseph Anthony Cruz, 22, a senior at Florida Atlantic University who is making his first run at elective office.
Cruz says he got the green light from county GOP leaders. “They said no one was looking at the seat, so I took it upon myself to run.”
Scheduled to graduate next May, Cruz sounds like a Democrat when discussing affordable housing, education and Medicaid expansion.
“The state Legislature has diverted $2 billion from the affordable housing trust fund,” he said. “It’s disingenuous to the people to be pulling resources from that. I don’t understand who’s benefitting.”
He thinks education should be the top issue in 2019. “We must ensure that all students have access to a quality education and reinforce our schools to restore the piece of mind that has been compromised with recent events,” he said on his Sun Sentinel questionnaire.
Cruz says he is “strongly for school choice.” But he wouldn’t prioritize charter and private schools receiving public money. “Public money should be going to public schools,” he said.
He would also seek to expand Medicaid by accepting federal money to help cover the 800,000 or so uninsured Floridians who would qualify.
Reminded that his position doesn’t align with that of the Republican-led Legislature, he said: “I’m not scared to break with my party on issues.” His ultimate goal, he said, is to ensure the voices of his constituents are heard in Tallahassee.
We commend Cruz for his attempt at elective office, but his campaign has gotten little traction. Aside from the predictable endorsement from the Republican Party, he has not received any other endorsements and has raised just short of $2,100.
Gottlieb has raised $118,000 and boasts endorsements from a Who’s Who of county political figures, plus unionized police, fire and teachers organizations.
In November, voters are faced with a choice between a passionate young selfstarter eager to learn, and a seasoned professional whose political support and negotiating skills would serve them well.
There is no choice, really. The Sun Sentinel endorses Michael Gottlieb for the Florida House. Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara, David Lyons and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.