Lisa Newell announced her candidacy to represent Florida’s First Senate District.
The seat, which was previously occupied by Doug Broxson, represents all of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties and the northern part of Okaloosa County, near Crestview.
Newell said she got into the race because voters deserve a choice. A lifelong Democrat, Newell believes that having a two-party system is necessary to prevent candidates from just walking into a position, unopposed, without campaigning or being accountable to the voters. She is the owner and publisher of Gulf Breeze News and Splash Magazine.
“Typically, in Northwest Florida, there are no options other than Republicans for the races because this area is what is known as “reliably red,” Newell said.
“The problem with this method is that voters are told who will represent them in this election and in the next and the one after that. In many races, there is no debate, no need to campaign. Candidates can just put their name on a ballot and take their seat as the county officer, state representative or state senator. Then, you can put your son on the ballot for a seat in the same district.”
“I believe we need a strong two-party system. As stone sharpens stone, there should be a competition for ideas that will benefit the people of our area,” Newell said.
Newell pointed to the unpopular decisions made by our previous legislature, including limiting woman’s health care options, sky high insurance rates, the lowest paid teachers in the U.S. and the complete denial of climate change as factors for her candidacy.
The supermajority of Republicans in the Florida legislature bent the rules to allow our governor not to have to “resign to run” for U.S. President. Because of this, Gov. DeSantis spent months in Iowa instead of helping address issues facing everyday Floridians. Also, DeSantis created a “state guard” to report directly to the governor to do his bidding without legislative oversight. “This is very troubling and has a lot of potential for abuse,” Newell said.
She filed the paperwork to run for Florida Senate District 1 against the well-funded Don Gaetz, father of U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz.
Don Gaetz served as State Senator with Matt as Representative in the same district. Then Matt ran for congress and Don was term limited out after rising to Senate President. After sitting out for eight years, Don Gaetz decided to go back into politics and seek the same senate seat although reports show he doesn’t live in the district.
“Unlike Don Gaetz, I am not a millionaire. I am just a regular person who struggles to keep ahead of my bills when prices are rising all over. I got tired of hearing DeSantis say Florida is ‘where woke goes to die.’ I think it is time to wake up and take care of business. I believe we can do better. I hope you will join me in my quest and reach out to let me know how we can put the Florida senate back to work for its residents. After all, we, the voters, are the boss,” Newell said.