Florida’s Environment

Growing up farming in Hillsborough County, I was taught the value of the environment at an early age. My father said; “If the water, dirt, and air is polluted, the world doesn’t eat, and for that matter, we don’t eat”. My father was full of common sense and taught me the value of conservation, allowing the next generation to continue to farm.

My 10 years with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) taught me how to convey the message of conservation. Working with engineers, geologists, and hydrologist helped me understand how the Florida environment is so special and integral to our economy.

During my tenure with SWFWMD, I was asked numerous questions about water quality, especially as it relates to our coastal communities. Often, the people (the taxpayer) asking the questions believed industry and farming had to be the reason for pollution. But the reality is, the taxpayer themselves are directly responsible.

Let’s take a look at the Kissimmee River. In the 60’s, the taxpayer authorized the Federal Government through the Army Corps of Engineers to straighten the river into a canal to drain swampland and make way for the state’s explosive growth. It worked — and it created an ecological disaster. 

Today, we are spending billions of dollars to restore or re-curve the Kissimmee River because we realized it no longer filtered nutrients and effluent before it reached Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. On top of that, the Herbert Hoover Dike built to protect South Floridians from floods from Lake Okeechobee is failing. We no longer can hold the same amount of water in the lake. Plus, add septic tanks on every canal in South Florida and you have a recipe for an increase of nutrients causing algae blooms and coastal Red Tide.

But the media and those wishing to destroy our farming communities in South Florida would have you believe it’s all because of “Big Sugar”.

For many of us in the Tampa Bay Area, we remember when Bayshore Boulevard was un-inhabitable due to a polluted Bay. Look at Bayshore today! Farming, industry, fisherman (both commercial and recreational) and even residents have worked hard to clean up our beautiful Tampa Bay. Can we do better? Is there more to do? Yes, to both, but we are on the right track.

But just like channelizing the Kissimmee River, at the time we thought it was a good idea. We also used to think sending raw sewage into Tampa Bay was okay. But today we know different. Instead of casting a wide net of environmental blame, today’s technology allows us to target environmental clean-up and improvements. We understand the source better than we ever have.

I have traveled all 67 Counties; I understand the uniqueness of them all. Because water quality and economic growth are the top issues facing Florida, I believe I am the best pro business and pro environment candidate to serve the people of Florida House District 59.