On the Ballot: Florida House District 105

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On the Ballot: Florida House District 105

Republican David Borrero and Democrat Maureen Porras are running for the Florida Legislature’s House District 105 seat, having won their respective primary elections in August. The seat is currently held by Ana Maria Rodriguez, who is running for the Florida Senate.

A recent article by Naples Daily News reporter Rachel Fradette provides valuable information about the candidates and the race.

In this post, I will review what I learned from researching each candidate and look at the money that is financing the campaigns.

Please see How I Research Candidates and Six Things to Consider When Evaluating Candidates for my approach to writing these posts. I also asked the candidates to complete a questionnaire and included excerpts edited for brevity and clarity as well as links to the complete documents below.

David Borrero (Republican)

davidborrero.com

David Borrero moved to Kendall West, near the east coast of Florida, at the age of 16, and has lived in District 105 for ten years. He has Bachelor of Arts & Sciences and Masters in Business Administration degrees from Florida International University, and a Certificate in Construction Management from Miami Dade College. Now an elected Commissioner of the City of Sweetwater, he also works for T&G Constructors, Inc., as an Estimating Coordinator and Account Executive.

His website lists no other volunteer or civic activities.

According to his website, he is running to:

  • fight for residents, not special interests, by reducing Florida’s high cost of living and restoring moral values;
  • provide for quality education, building upon past Legislative successes in empowering parents through school choice and charter school options;
  • provide for a prosperous economy, continuing to reduce unnecessary business taxes and regulations and making local taxes and fees uniform, predictable, and less burdensome; and
  • protect our values, by ensuring that religious organizations retain their tax-exempt status and are free to express their values, establishing criminal penalties for fathers who do not fulfill their responsibilities, and eliminating veteran homelessness.

Press Coverage

Questionnaire Responses

Borrero did not return my questionnaire.

Endorsements

Borrero’s Facebook Page notes endorsements from U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, State Reps. Byron Donalds and Bob Rommel, Collier County Commissioner Bill McDaniel, Naples Better Government, South Florida Police Benevolent Association, Florida Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Christian Family Coalition Florida, and the Florida Right to Life PAC.

In His Own Words

Maureen Porras (Democrat)

Maureen Porras
maureenporras,vote

Maureen Porras was born in Managua, Nicaragua, and moved to Miami when she was 7 years old. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Florida International University and a Juris Doctor degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.

Porras has worked with Church World Service in Miami, a nonprofit aimed at helping immigrants secure legal help, since 2016. In 2019, she became Director of Immigration Legal Services in addition to her previous role as Managing Attorney. Before that, she was worked in positions of increasing responsibility at private law firms.

Her views on criminal justice reform, investing in public education, preserving Florida’s natural resources, reproductive rights, and protecting immigrants are shared on her website.

Press Coverage

Questionnaire Responses

What diversity of perspective, attributes, knowledge or skills would you bring to the office that differentiates you or that the other candidates don’t have?

My background and experience as an immigration attorney and advocate have prepared me to serve the people of Florida. I have built coalitions with community partners and identified and provided services to address the needs of our community. As a proven leader with a record of public service, I am able to represent us all in Tallahassee.

What three things do you want to accomplish if elected?

1. Strengthen and properly fund our public education system.

2. Strengthen environmental laws and improve our water quality.

3. Reform our criminal justice system and ensure equality for all, including women, minorities, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ community.

A current public policy position she disagrees with and would like to change if elected is:

The recently passed parental consent abortion law.

The most important thing voters should know about her before making their decision in this race is that:

I am running to represent our community and those without a voice.

Endorsements

Porras has been endorsed by State Senators Annette Taddeo and Oscar Braynon, Former State Senator and current Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich, Broward County Commissioner Dr. Barbara Sharief, RUTH’s List Florida, Planned Parenthood, Florida National Organization for Women, Emily’s List, Sierra Club, Mom’s Demand Action, Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403, and more.

In Her Own Words

The Money

According to campaign finance filings available today on the Florida Division of Elections website:

One month before his August primary election, Borrero had contributions totaling almost $133,000. Between that date and October 2, he received another $100,000.

His 423 individual contributions averaged about $550 each.

About 44 percent of Borrero’s total monetary contributions were from entities with a Tallahassee address and about 20 percent were from political associations, trade associations, or government relations firms. He received $20,000 in cash and $49,850 in-kind (polling, media, research and staff) from the Republican Party of Florida.

One month before her August primary election, Porras had contributions totaling about $34,000. Between that date and October 2, she received another $157,000.

Her 3,544 individual contributions averaged about $54 each.

About 20 percent of Porras’s total monetary contributions were from entities with a Tallahassee address and about a third were from political associations, trade associations, or government relations firms. She received $25,000 from the Florida Democratic Party, $2,000 from RUTH’S List Florida, and $1,000 from the Collier County Democratic Party.

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