Bonfiglio is best chance for flipping seat

If Democrats hope to cut into the huge Republican majority in the Florida House of Representatives, the race for District 89, which includes most of coastal Palm Beach County, is one they have to win.

Of the two candidates running in the Aug. 28 primary, Jim Bonfiglio is the strongest and the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board recommends Democrats choose him as their nominee for the November general election.

Bonfiglio, 64, is running against Ryan Rossi, a 33-year-old real estate agent and former teacher who lives in Boca Raton. Rossi is a likable candidate, but with a thin political resume. Bonfiglio, in contrast, has a solid record of civic and political involvement that demonstrates his commitment to public service and good government.

He has a sharp mind and a solid grasp of the issues, but perhaps most importantly, Bonfiglio has political experience in local government. He’s lived in Ocean Ridge since 1988 and served for seven years as chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board. He was elected to three-year terms on the Town Commission in 2014 and 2017 and currently is the vice mayor. It’s noteworthy that this Democrat has twice won election in a Republican-leaning town.

Legislators have a habit of passing laws with insufficient appreciation of their impacts on the resources of local government. Politicians like Bonfiglio who have served in elective office on the local level can help make those in Tallahassee more aware of the impact their actions have back home.

On the issues, Bonfiglio is a strong Democrat. He supports far stricter gun regulations than those contained in the legislation passed after the shooting massacre in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He also wants the state to cut back on standardized testing in evaluating students and schools. And he would work to keep the Legislature from attacking public schools to give more money to for-profit charter schools. “The state has starved the public school system,” he says.

He’s a strong advocate of environmental protection and supports government subsidies for businesses and homeowners who install solar panels. He understands the challenge Florida faces because of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, and the importance of renourishing beaches to sustain our tourist economy.

Bonfiglio supports raising the state’s minimum wage to $15, would oppose efforts to restrict a woman’s reproductive rights, and supports the expansion of Medicaid. He would oppose efforts to enroll Medicaid recipients in for-profit managed care programs.

In his professional life as a lawyer representing consumers, Bonfiglio has been honored by the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County for all the pro bono work he has performed on behalf of the indigent. That’s a solid testament to his character.

If there is a flaw on his record, which has come up in the campaign, it’s DUI arrests in the 1990s and 2004. Bonfiglio points out that there were no convictions. He also went through a home foreclosure in the 1990s during the time of a divorce.

Bonfiglio seems to have bounced back from his troubles quite successfully, and unless further revelations come out during the election, voters should accept them as events of the past that do not have a bearing on the 2018 election.

The winner of the Democratic Primary will face either Matt Spritz or Mike Caruso, who are battling in the Republican primary. Deborah Gibson of Delray Beach, with no party affiliation, also qualified for the November election.

Bonfiglio