Hunschofsky will honor Jacobs’ legacy
Northwest Broward’s House District 96 includes Parkland and parts of Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Margate and Pompano Beach.
Florida lost a true public servant when Rep. Kristin Jacobs died of cancer in April. The Coconut Creek Democrat personified what a legislator should be: accessible, dedicated, honest and optimistic. A passionate environmentalist, she worked tirelessly to protect our water and land.
Jacobs’ death means Democratic voters in northwest Broward’s House District 96 must choose her successor in the Aug. 18 primary. Between two good Democrats, the obvious choice is Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky, an experienced hand with well-defined priorities who can seamlessly make the transition from City Hall to the state Capitol. Those priorities, detailed in a
Sun Sentinel candidate questionnaire, include gun safety, emergency preparedness, economic recovery from the pandemic and fixing the state’s broken unemployment compensation benefits system. Hunschofsky supports a greatly expanded voteby-mail system and criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for “mixed messages” during the current public health emergency.
Hunschofsky, 50, grew up in the bluecollar suburbs of Boston. Her family moved to Parkland in 2000 and chose it for its small-town atmosphere. She has a master’s degree in business administration from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., and a business degree from Boston University. Married with two sons, she worked as a civic volunteer for nearly a decade before she ran for office.
Elected Parkland city commissioner in 2013 and mayor in 2016, Hunschofsky has been a public servant 24-7. Voters are fortunate to have someone of her talent to send to Tallahassee.
Hunschofsky worked the halls of the Capitol two years ago under the worst circumstances possible — following the mass shooting at Parkland’s high school — and helped secure a legislative breakthrough. The Legislature needs more people who are well-grounded in local government, and the cries and concerns of everyday people.
Hunschofsky’s opponent is Saima Farooqui, 44, of Coconut Creek, an employee of the Best Buy Geek Squad and president of Broward’s ACLU chapter. She ran unsuccessfully for the District 96 seat two years ago. Only Democrats can vote in this contest because a meaningless write-in candidate is on the November ballot.
Farooqui lists health care as the state’s most pressing issue, and in her questionnaire she cited as priorities social justice, equal rights and civil liberties. She should offer herself to voters again.
The 2021 legislative session will be extremely challenging as lawmakers deal with severe budget constraints caused by the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic.
Hunschofsky offers sensible revenue solutions, including legalization of recreational marijuana use by adults and taxing online sales of consumer goods — a long overdue change that is in effect in most states. A more controversial revenue option, always on the table in Florida, is an expansion of gambling, which Hunschofsky said should be subject to approval of voters in a referendum.
The Parkland mayor has raised about $45,000 through mid-June. Her base of donors includes the Teamsters union, the pro-choice group Ruth’s List and Ban Assault Weapons Now, a political action committee that wants a statewide vote in 2022 to outlaw assault weapons in Florida.
Hunschofsky has the depth of experience at tackling local and regional problems and the skill and temperament to be an effective legislator. Like Jacobs, she’s not excessively partisan. She understands the need to — and has the proven ability to — work with Republicans.
She is an exceptionally qualified candidate who would continue in the tradition of her late friend. That includes pursuing one of Jacobs’ priorities, a comprehensive statewide inventory of Florida’s long-term water needs. In House District 96, the Sun Sentinel recommends Christine Hunschofsky.