ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — From affordability, to housing, to the war in Iran, candidates running to represent Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives talked about their stances on a range of issues Wednesday. It happened during the Spectrum News Community Conversation with Congressional Candidates for District 16.
Nine candidates are vying to fill the seat currently held by Rep. Vern Buchanan. The 16th district is centered around Manatee County and also includes parts of Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota, as well as all of DeSoto and Hardee Counties.
Political Connections Anchor Holly Gregory moderated the discussion with seven of those running for the seat. She started out with a topic impacting just about everyone right now — affordability.
“I really feel like everybody is feeling the pinch,” said candidate Jon Harris.
Harris said he’s one of those people. When asked what Congress can do to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, the Army veteran pointed at making home and health insurance more affordable. He and fellow Democrat Glenn Pearson, who says he works with people struggling to make ends meet as owner of a financial services company, also suggested there’s a need for the next 16th district representative to be willing to stand up to President Donald Trump.
“Tariffs are a huge issue, taking back control of who gets to decide whether or not we go into wars of choice overseas,” said Harris.
“Make sure that Congress reclaims its responsibility to supervise and to actually be a co-equal branch of government,” Pearson said.
Candidates were also asked about a bipartisan bill passed by Congress aimed at making home ownership more affordable. Air Force veteran and Independent candidate Mark Davis called it a distraction and said real strategy is needed. Former Sarasota mayor and county commissioner Kelly Kirschner questioned a provision that limits how many single family homes large investors can buy in an area.
“Why we need to allow any company to come into our neighborhoods and buy 350 homes and then turn around and rent it and then put that pressure on the already exorbitant rents that we have is insane,” said Kirschner.
“What new homebuyers want is they want incentives,” Davis said. “They want the new homebuyers tax credit back. When I was a new homebuyer not too long ago, I loved that Energy Star rebate.”
On social security reform, multiple candidates said they support raising the wage cap so that people who make more pay more into the system. Something Attorney Jan Schneider says she doesn’t want to see raised is the age that people can start drawing payments. Air Force Veteran Tamika Lyles says for many Americans, social security isn’t enough to live on.
“We need to oppose privatization of that. We need to ensure that we remove the cap. We need to ensure that people have enough to make it through,” said Lyles.
“What you don’t do, though is raise the age. Lawyers like me, we can work longer. There are a lot of people who can’t work beyond 65 or 67,” said Schneider.
Lone Republican Eddie Speir was also the only candidate who didn’t say he’d vote against authorizing the Iran war. Speir, a New College of Florida Trustee, said rather than a yes or no vote, the U.S. could come up with a game plan to help Iranian expatriates take their country back.
“It’s easy for Democrats to say now, ‘Oh, absolutely not,’ but where were they with Obama? Where were they with Biden? Where were they when the roles were reversed? They were lockstep with the President,” said Speir.
Sydney Gruters and Ed Pope are also running for the seat. They declined to join Wednesday’s conversation.
Candidates who joined us:
- Mark Davis (NPA)
- Jonathan Harris (D)
- Kelly Kirschner (D)
- Tamika Lyles (D)
- Glenn Pearson (D)
- Jan Schneider (D)
- Eddie Speir (R)
Watch the full conversation above.
Congressional District 16 Map
Sarah Blazonis
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