Deutch the hands-down best candidate in U.S. District 22

We endorsed incumbent Congressman Ted Deutch in the August primary without hesitation. We do so again now that the field of challengers has dwindled to one: Republican Nicolas Kimaz, a political neophyte who describes himself as a naturopath and the proprietor of Lifelong Naturopathic Remedies.

It remains unclear how that qualifies him to represent the voters of U.S. District 22 in Washington.

There’s no ambiguity about Deutch’s qualifications. As we said in the primary endorsement, he has held the office since 2010 and is a model of what a congressman should be: intelligent, hard-working, dedicated, even-handed, willing and able to work well with others, a beacon of integrity.

His primary opponent is simply not up to the task. That he bested his two opponents in the Republican primary speaks well of him, but if he hopes to have a successful political career, he would do well to try something less ambitious next time.

Deutch served in the Florida Senate before making a successful run for Congress in 2010. He ran then in “a continuation of (his) lifelong efforts to better the community, advance justice, protect the most vulnerable, and pass a brighter future onto the next generation.”

Always an advocate for comprehensive gun regulation, his concern was animated by the Feb. 14 tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Limiting gun violence has become a defining issue for him.

His opponent favors limited gun regulation, banning bumpstocks for example, but believes that guns are “only one instrument of violence.”

Deutch is proud of his leadership role in passing the bipartisan STOP School Violence Act, but recognizes more must be done. Congressional failure to act on such measures as universal background checks and a ban on weapons of war is attributable, he says, to the NRA and the broader gun lobby.

“Getting money out of politics” has been one of his long standing goals. Unless that issue is addressed, he says, other reforms such as strengthening Social Security and health care will never be seriously taken on.

Kimaz, by contrast, believes in full disclosure of contributions, but no limits on amounts or source.

Deutch cites the Citizens United Supreme Court case, which gave campaign contributions First Amendment protection, as the trigger for a flood of money from big business. He has led an effort in Congress to propose a constitutional amendment that would nullify Citizens United and ban corporate spending in politics. It would also promote greater transparency in campaign financing.

He cites the introduction of his Preserving Our Promise to Seniors Act as evidence of his support of Social Security and Medicare.

The plight of working families ranks at the top of his list of concerns, “from housing security to retirement security…from public education to workforce training.”

He favors the familiar array of issues one finds in Democratic platforms, among them a $15 minimum wage, a woman’s right to choose, the liberalization of marijuana laws. Deutch favors decriminalization of marijuana and supports recreational use with proper safeguards.

Kim opposes the adult use of marijuana and strongly opposes a $15 minimum wage.

Should the House majority change in favor of the Democratic party, Deutch stands to play a more robust role in formulating and advancing legislation. That can only be good news for South Florida and its residents.

With or without that majority, we believe Congressman Ted Deutch deserves our support and that of the residents of the district.

Deutch