Early voting is underway in Santa Rosa County and will continue until Nov. 2, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Below are Lisa Newell’s answers to our questionnaire:
NP: What do you plan to do to make Florida a more affordable state for residents in northwest Florida?
Our super-majority Republican legislature has been ineffective at bringing down insurance rates. In fact, they capitulated on every point to give insurance companies the upper hand over citizens. We have reports that insurance companies are stiffing residents or grossly underpaying them for damages, all the while collecting exorbitant premiums. If I am elected, I will work to hold insurance companies accountable to their policy holders.
NP: What measures would you like to see taken to improve education and make our schools safer?
I believe taxpayer money should benefit public education and that for-profit schools should not receive any taxpayer funding. As for school safety, I agree with recent court decisions holding parents accountable for minors using firearms.
NP: What will you do as a state senator to help Santa Rosa County see that project brought to fruition?
Navarre is experiencing exponential growth and should be on the top tier of a priority list for both state funding and federal infrastructure funding, and I will work to make sure it gets the attention it deserves. I can work with both state and federal agencies to put this project on the priority list.
NP: What needs to be done to maintain Florida’s resiliency in the coming years?
Florida’s natural resources are being exploited, and I will work to make sure our land is developed in a way that works with nature, not against it. For example, Florida needs to stop allowing companies to decimate our natural springs and use its clean water for profit. We must stop the practice of clear cutting, which removes our natural air purifiers and sponges, also known as trees.
NP: What got you interested in running for political office this year?
As a journalist, I follow the elections and I noticed that only one candidate was running for state senate and he had no opponent. Don Gaetz does not live in our district, he is running in District 1 because his district is not up for grabs for two more years. Don Gaetz, at 76, is running for one reason only, and that is to get his son, Matt Gaetz, elected governor after DeSantis’ term expires.
