Silmo Moura is a long shot, but GOP’s best shot
Florida House District 81 is in Palm Beach County. It includes areas of West Boca, West Delray and West Boynton, as well as Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay.
Two Republicans are unwilling to let the Florida House 81 seat go unchallenged to a Democrat.
Silmo Moura is a Realtor in Boca Raton and a pastor at Assembly of God Bethlehem Ministry in Lighthouse Point. Saulis Banionis is a doctor in Wellington who specializes in pain management.
Banionis declined to return the Sun Sentinel candidate questionnaire or participate in the Editorial Board interview. We had an enjoyable conversation with Moura, who is a first-time candidate. He is not familiar with all the issues, but he shows a sincere interest in the district.
Example: He spoke to West Boca residents who expressed concern about poor lighting on Boca Rio Road. It parallels a canal between Glades and Palmetto Park roads. Though streetlights are not the purview of the Legislature, we like that Moura seems willing to hear from constituents of this sprawling district.
Moura wants to prioritize help for small business owners, whom the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt so much. We disagree with his comment that Gov. DeSantis has done “a great job” on the state’s COVID-19 response.
Still, Moura departs from the GOP line on one key issue. He would expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act “if that benefits my state.” Numerous studies have shown that it would, yet Republicans have refused and continue to refuse, even during the pandemic.
District 81 is heavily Democratic and Moura and Banionis have raised less than $3,000. But contested elections are good for voters.
The Sun Sentinel recommends Silmo Moura in the Republican primary for Florida House District 81.