WHY SHOULD YOU VOTE FOR ELAINE BROWN?

Art Graham endorses Elaine Brown.

Elaine Brown has an extensive record of experience and achievement as a community and civic leader at the Beaches, in Jacksonville, and in St. Johns County. She has served on the Jacksonville City Council for 8 years, including as its President (2004-2005) and Vice President. She has also been a small business owner, responsible for making payrolls, paying taxes, and fighting burdensome regulations.

She is a conservative Republican who has demonstrated a belief in cutting taxes and reducing government spending.

Elaine will work with local governments and citizens to secure safe neighborhoods for families, quality schools and health care for our children; build a stable statewide economy that encourages and protects private investments.

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

I believe in protecting our natural resources and stopping the movement to withdraw water from the St. Johns River.

Q. What does the Legislature need to do to protect the water supply of North Florida?

A. Water is the crisis of the future, and we need conservation plans and education to be a part of the solution. It is imperative that we look to alternative water supplies such as desalination of seawater, reclamation and reuse of storm water, and surface water reservoirs. Every City and County should be implementing a conservation and reuse program.

EDUCATION

We need to stop short-changing our children and driving away good teachers.

Q. What is your plan to improve our graduation rates and prepare our graduates for careers that do not require a college education, with the emphasis on manufacturing?

A. I would always support and lead initiatives which provide for and support effective programs to guide and train young people who are not college bound to prepare for careers in manufacturing and industrial fields. I support technical training schools and programs that encourage students to seek training for solid careers.

THE ECONOMY

I support passing a "frill-free" balanced budget based on responsible spending and low taxes that encourage economic investment.

Q. What do you see as the challenges facing Florida homeowners?

A. Florida residents could face huge taxes with under-funded catastrophe funds. We need insurance companies working together with legislators to find the right solutions.

Q. How would you use the WorkSource funds approved by the Legislature this year to train our current and future work force?

A. Continue to fund and support at every level programs geared through WorkSource for improve training and development to supply skilled workers to industries targeted as key to regional growth. Strengthen public private partnerships. This is the people part of economic development. WorkSource works.

Q. Should economic policy be steered to capital-intensive companies that typically pay higher wages as opposed to service related jobs?

A. Yes. Our recruiting and incentive policies should be geared toward higher paying jobs, permanent jobs. Capital investment means they will stay, pay property taxes and add to the overall economy of Florida. Service-related jobs will follow.

INFRASTRUCTURE & LAND USE

Building transportation that is able to meet both current and future needs is vital. I am fully aware of Northern Florida's need for infrastructure improvements, technology, and partnerships.

Q. What would be your plan to insure that industrial lands are protected from encroachment and that undeveloped areas are being set aside now for future use?

A. On the State level, I would support policies (and needed amendments) which maintain effective land use and growth policies that provide for industrial growth. This type of industrial sanctioning of land helps protect the employment base. I was proud to have voted for the "Industrial Overlay" legislation in Duval County and look forward to protecting industrial zoning from the encroachment of residential and light commercial uses.