Five questions with State House candidate Haley Morrissette

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 Haley Morrissette’s answers to our questionnaire:

NP: Tell us about your campaign platform, and your top focuses if elected.

My campaign is rooted in a vision for “Hope, Healing, and Healthcare for All.” As a social worker, I took an oath to prioritize individuals, families and communities. I am focused on tackling the issues affecting our community, including the skyrocketing costs of property insurance and improving infrastructure. Florida families, especially in Santa Rosa County, have been hit hard by rising insurance premiums. As your representative, I will push for reforms to make property insurance more affordable and transparent.

NP: What needs to be done to maintain Florida’s resiliency in the coming years?

To maintain Florida’s resilience amid active hurricane seasons, we must upgrade infrastructure to withstand storms, reform the property insurance market to stabilize costs, and invest in climate change solutions, like renewable energy, to reduce storm intensity. Enhancing emergency preparedness and community education is crucial for minimizing damage and protecting lives. Resilience requires a proactive approach.

NP: Affordable housing has been a hot topic statewide as the cost to purchase a new home continues to climb. What would you do to help solve this problem?

To tackle Florida’s housing crisis, we must focus not only on building more attainable homes but also on addressing the abundance of vacant properties. Many homes and apartments sit empty because they are out of reach for working families. I would advocate for incentives to convert these vacant units into attainable housing, while also pushing for full allocation of the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund.

NP: What measures would you like to see taken to improve education and make our schools safer?

I would prioritize increasing funding for collaborative mental health services and implementing trauma-informed care in schools, ensuring students get the support they need in the classroom and outside of it. On safety, I support strengthening security protocols while avoiding policies that criminalize students. We need investments in both preventative measures, like conflict resolution programs, and infrastructure upgrades to create secure and nurturing learning environments.

NP: Voters will soon go to the polls to vote on Amendment 4. What is your opinion on this amendment and what abortion law should look like in Florida?

I support Amendment 4 because it safeguards the right to reproductive healthcare and ensures that individuals can make their own medical decisions without government interference. Legislators should focus on providing access to quality healthcare, not dictate personal healthcare choices. Abortion law in Florida should prioritize access to safe, legal, and comprehensive reproductive services. Everyone deserves autonomy over their body, and the role of lawmakers should be to ensure that Floridians have access to the healthcare they need, not to limit it.