Perry Thurston is right man at the right time

Senate District 33 is a central Broward area that includes northwest Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale and parts of Sunrise, Tamarac, Margate, Pompano Beach and Oakland Park.

In the wake of progressive challenges to Democrats across the country in 2018, this year has seen even more idealistic wouldbe politicians stepping up to overthrow the status quo. In districts where longtime incumbents have calcified into donothing placeholders, this makes sense. But Florida Senate District 33 is not one of those places.

Voters should re-elect state Sen. Perry Thurston over his spirited competition in the August 18 Democratic primary.

In his Sun Sentinel candidate questionnaire, Thurston cited education, health care and Covid-19’s effect on Florida’s economy as the state’s top three issues. His opponents, Steven Meza and Terry Ann Williams Edden, also cited these issues. (A fourth candidate, Shelton Pooler, did not respond to numerous attempts to reach him.)

Edden’s questionnaire was troubling in other areas, though. She left blank a question about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ performance and, when asked about it during an interview, her answer was muddy. She also said she would “have to study this issue further” when asked whether changes were needed in abortion law. It is difficult to believe that an issue so constantly litigated in the public could have escaped the study of a serious political candidate.

Thurston’s other opponent, Meza, is a 21-year-old college student at Florida Atlantic University. He spoke at length and in rapid-fire style during his interview with the editorial board, but he hasn’t done the homework or created the organization needed to be a serious candidate.

Voters in the district can count on Thurston to sensibly and effectively represent their interests. He understands how the process works. He is forceful on issues that matter, yet respectful to those who disagree.

Thurston also is a leader among peers. He is up for the job of Senate Minority Leader in 2022-2024. In this role, he will be the Democrats’ seasoned voice — their chief negotiator — in shaping budgetary priorities and issues on the legislative agenda. And there’s a chance his influence could be even greater.

Unlike in the Florida House, where Republicans outnumber Democrats almost 2-to-1 and have a veto-proof majority,

Republicans have only a three-seat margin in the 40-seat Senate. There’s a chance Democrats could pick up more seats after November’s election and after Senate districts are redrawn following the 2020 Census. Should Democrats take control of the Senate for the first time since 1994, Thurston would move from Minority Leader to Senate President.

To understand the depth of this man’s measure, we encourage you to read Thurston’s questionnaire online. He is critical of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic, believing he should have initiated the lockdown sooner and relied less on President Trump’s musings. He’s disappointed that the governor has failed to fix the unemployment compensation system, “which was flagged when he took office.” He disagrees with the governor’s “unfettered expansion of private school vouchers and charter schools; packing the Supreme Court with Federalist Societyapproved justices; appointing a health care agency chief whose actions were blamed for patients’ deaths in Maine; I could go on.

“The only area where he has done an admirable job is with environmental protection and funding, limited recognition of climate change and Everglades restoration.”

In balancing the state budget challenges ahead, Thurston would focus on preserving access to health care, especially “mental health, substance abuse and child abuse services that may be exacerbated by the coronavirus and the economic downturn.”

Thurston also would repeal corporate tax rebates for Florida’s largest corporations, saving about $500 million this year. He supports implementing the Internet sales tax, which could generate $600 million. He supports approving, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana. And he would revisit the three new toll roads that were suddenly added and pushed to the top of the state’s 10-year transportation projects list last year.

Thurston also is a veteran in the crusade for criminal justice reform. For years, he has pushed for changes in use-of-force policies, citizen review panels, prison and sentencing reforms, and the end of the Stand Your Ground Law. “I and my fellow Democrats in Florida have championed criminal justice reforms for years before it became a national anthem.”

Thurston remains the man for the moment. The Sun Sentinel Editorial

Board endorses Perry Thurston for reelection to state Senate.

Thurston