Lew Wasserman

​Q. What do you consider to be the most important state policy issues impacting our region and how do you plan to legislatively address them?
A. Soaring property insurance rates. We can stabilize the property insurance market, when we: harden homes against storm damage; strengthen building codes and state funded mitigation retrofits; build systems for rigorous oversight of insurance companies, rate manipulation, and their accountability; and reduce reinsurance costs through a Public Catastrophe Layer. Citizens must remain financially strong, so taxpayers and policyholders are not exposed to enormous assessments after a catastrophic hurricane season. Finally, we must increase civil and criminal penalties for abuse by contractors, insurance companies, and fraudulent homeowners.

THE DEFEAT OF Amendment 3
Non-school property local tax revenues will result as follows: $4.95 billion in 2027-28; 8.78 billion in 2028-29; and 11.86 billion annually once fully phased in. This amendment shifts costs to localities through counties and municipalities via ad volorem property tax revenue for such services as police, fire, EMS, roads and bridges, storm water protection, and flood control, for example.

Beware: Even the part of Amendment 3 which limits assessment increases on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5% does not prevent local governments from raising millage rates so the tax bills could still increase beyond current levels.

Because Amendment 3 is a constitutional amendment it cannot be easily undone once it is passed.

Returning Home Rule to the People of Sarasota- Manatee
The usurpation by state government over local control allows large corporate interests to dominate decision-making in Tallahassee rather than the interests of the people most impacted by these decisions. Specifically, the effects are: (1) Losing Zoning Control: Laws like the Florida Live Act force city staff to automatically approve large apartment towers. This happens even in rural fields and neighborhoods without public hearings or board votes; (2) Halting Environmental Rules: Measures like Florida SB 180 block counties from passing tougher land-use and wetland protections after major storms; (3) Costly Legal Battles: Local attempts to protect their borders lead to expensive developer lawsuits, draining taxpayer money; (4) Chilling Policy Innovation: Municipalities cannot create unique rules for short-term vacation rentals, single-use plastics, or tenant protections.

Q. Infrastructure continues to be a challenge both in terms of existing, aging systems and additional capacity needed to address Florida’s growth. What are your top infrastructure solutions for our region?
A. We must (1) Levy Local Impact Fees: This would require developers to pay for the new roads and schools their projects demand and secure these payments via cash deposits or performance bonds with insurers with sufficient reserves in the event of bankruptcies; (2) Expand Multi-Modal Transit: Build high-speed rail and local bus networks to reduce total highway traffic; (3) accelerate grid investments to widen stressed roads; (4) Modernize Wastewater Management: Upgrade aging treatment plants using phased building blocks to dynamically match population shifts; (5) Harden Flood Infrastructure: Elevate coastal pump stations and restore wetlands to control intense storm runoff; (6) and use public-private partnerships to bury power lines and expand renewable backup generators.

Central to infrastructure adequacy is regional planning. Some solutions include: (1) Incentivize Compact Housing: Shift zoning away from sprawling layouts toward high-density, mixed-use communities; (2) Revitalize Rural Hubs: Promote digital connectivity and roads in smaller counties to spread the population away from crowded coasts; and (3) Secure Federal Grants: Fix population count gaps to capture billions in funding via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Q. What are your priorities for ensuring that Florida is able to attract top tier investments that distinguish our state as a destination of choice for economic development, residents, and visitors?
A. (1) Protect Natural Treasures. Florida’s biggest draws are its beaches, coral reefs, and the Everglades. This requires us to invest heavily in water quality to prevent toxic algae blooms; fund beach restoration projects to combat rising sea levels; and expand sustainable eco-tourism to protect wildlife while boosting local economies.

(2) Upgrade Transportation Hubs. Getting to and around the state must be completely frictionless. This means: Expand high-speed rail like Brightline to connect major hubs like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa; Modernize international airports to manage higher passenger volumes smoothly; Reduce traffic congestion around major theme parks and coastal hotspots.

(3) Diversify the Tourism Brand. Florida must market itself as more than just theme parks and beaches. This means promoting vibrant cultural districts, culinary scenes, and historic towns; attracting major international sports, music, and art events; and targeting year-round business travel by upgrading major convention centers.