Florida Banking August/September 2024

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

ELECTIONS WILL BE HERE SOON

BY ANTHONY DIMARCO, FBA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

F lorida’s Primary Election Day is Tuesday, August 20. Mail-in ballots were sent in mid-July to those who requested them. The mandatory early voting period is August 10-17; however, counties are free to add dates before or after those dates. Be sure to check with your local Supervisor of Elections Office on early voting dates. Besides local offices on the ballot, you may see one U.S. Senate seat, a congressional seat, a Florida Senate or Florida House seat as well. This will depend on your area and party.

Dotie Joseph (HD 108). There will be 80 House races on the primary ballot around the state. Kenneth, Gina and I are engaged in the election season. First, we attended the Florida Chamber Political Institute’s candidate interviews around the state. We interviewed more than 65 candidates from both parties running for the Florida House and Senate. Some were very impressive, others less so. But, you do get a sense in the interviews what issues are most important in the candidates’ communities.

We are also beginning our campaign help for candidates. As I write this, Kenneth and I have finished walking with candidates from two open House seats in the northeastern part of the state. Gina and I will be doing the same in the Tampa Bay area. There is nothing like contributing sweat equity with the candidates in the July and August heat (it was over 100 degrees on the Tuesday we walked). We will be crisscrossing the state knocking on doors, waving signs, stuffing envelopes and making phone calls for pro-banking candidates.

“WE ASK OUR MEMBERS TO LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE STATE OR FEDERAL CANDIDATES YOU WOULD LIKE THE FBA TO SUPPORT.”

One member of congress was elected without any opposition — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-CD 20). Only three congressional seats will not appear on the primary ballot: CD 4 — Rep. Aaron Bean is the incumbent, CD 19 — Rep. Byron Donalds is the incumbent and CD 28 — Rep. Carlos Gimenez is the incumbent. The other 24 congressional seats will have a primary.

In the Florida Senate, Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) was elected without opposition to SD 17. Seven of the other 19 seats will have a primary.

We will reach out to you to see if you would like to join us. We look forward to having you there with us. We ask our members to let us know if there are state or federal candidates you would like the FBA to support. Also, please reach out and congratulate any of the candidates who have already been reelected

The Florida House saw nine incumbents elected without opposition: Reps. Yvonne Hinson (HD 21), Jervonte "Tae" Edmonds (HD 88), Kelly Skidmore (HD 92), Christine Hunschofsky (HD 95), Dan Daley (HD 96), Lisa Dunkley (HD 97), Hillary Cassel (HD 101), Felicia Robinson (HD 104) and

18 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING