Republican representative candidates Greg Folley and Yvette Benarroch talked everything from guns, social media and affordable housing to the arts, small businesses, immigration and man-made meats at the first forum for Florida District 81 on July 16.
Organized by the Naples Reagan Club – formerly the Naples Republican Club – the approximately 45-minute forum at Stix Sushi & Seafood in East Naples was in question/answer form and moderated by Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.
Both Marco Island residents, Benarroch and Folley are vying to be the Republican candidate on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. Republican voters will choose between the two during the primary on Aug. 20. The winner will face Naples Democrat Charles Work. Republican Bob Rommel termed out after eight years in the post and is running for state Senate District 28.
District 81 covers from Naples Park east of Golden Gate south through Marco Island and includes Goodland and Isles of Capri. It is bordered on the east by Collier Boulevard/County Road 951.
Why are they running?
Folley, who is a sitting member of Marco Island City Council, said he is running for the office "because I love this country.""I spent my whole career advancing conservative principles. I want to continue to do that," Folley said, adding that his first priority in office would be "to make sure that every county in Florida is doing everything possible to get those illegal immigrants out."
Benarroch, who owns a local landscaping business, calls herself "an outsider, not a politician.""I came here to this country with knowing only one person and that's why I'm running." she said. "I'm sitting here today telling you that I want to be the next state representative for District 81 because only in this country can you come with nothing and make something out of yourself. And I want to make sure that we preserve that for every family, and everyone not only in Florida, but in our country."
Should Medicaid be expanded?
Medicaid expansion is a topic the Legislature has grappled with, Passidomo said. "It comes up every session is likely to come back up this session. I'd like to get your opinion on whether or not the state should expand Medicaid. And the reasons why you would support it, or you'd be against it."
Both candidates said they oppose expansion of the state and federal partnership that provides health coverage for selected categories of people in Florida with low incomes.
Immigration is a hot topic
Both candidates say they are opposed to illegal immigration.
Folley said he wants to incentivize Florida counties to adopt an agreement known as 287(g) between local authorities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that paves the way for possible deportation of undocumented immigrants booked at local jails. At the same time, he would like to reduce funding for counties that don't follow the agreement.
"(What) I want to do is make sure we've gone through the entire state budget with a fine-tooth comb and make sure we're not rewarding people who are here illegally, with any type of government benefits that we can possibly deny," he said.
Benarroch said she supports legal immigration.
"I commend the Legislature for doing something about this," she said of rules for asking those seeking medical care if they are here legally. "But it is a federal issue, and we need to make sure that we talk to our federal congressman to make sure that they take on that task."
Affordable housing, the Live Local Act and banned meat
Benarroch said she wants to continue to a fight to implement the state's 2023 Live Local Act , a law designed to encourage the development of affordable and workforce housing. The candidates were asked what legislation they like and which they don't that has been passed in Florida recently."I think it is part of the American dream where people can actually afford to live here. We gotta do everything we can to make sure that people can live close to where they work." she said.
"… I am for property rights. So SB 280, I'm glad the Governor vetoed it because there were some things in there that I feel changed in our property rights."
Gov. Ron Desantis (R) in June vetoed a contentious proposal (SB 280) that would have given the state more control over regulation of short-term vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo.
"One that I absolutely agree with was the legal reform package," Folley said. HB 837, signed in March 2023, was intended to help decrease frivolous lawsuits in the state. "It was necessary to kind of take on to trial lawyers and create proper incentives for insurance companies to do business in this state. And I applaud that effort immensely."Legislation Folley said he wants to research is a law (SB 1084) that DeSantis signed in May to prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Florida.
"I'm slow to ban technology," Folley said. "I understand the reasons for it, and I think there may be good reasons for it, but I would need to learn a little bit more before I (support) that legislation."
"Don't say gay," obscenity and guns
Asked how each of them would continue the Legislature's mission of "protecting our children in the classroom, and empowering parents do have more of a say, in their child's education," Folley said:
"First of all, continued hardening of the schools to provide a safe environment. And so, I would encourage and do this with incentives as well and legislation, the Guardian program to be adopted in as many schools as possible. And I would do that, in particular for principals and teachers. Because bad guys don't want to go where good guys have guns."
"Secondly, I believe that the Department of Education is compromised and litigation too much with regard to what we call the "Don't Say Gay Bill", which was a bill preventing sexualization of children. And I want to get some teeth back in that legislation to make sure that we do not have that happening, and that people who violate that legislation are actually disciplined or fired from their positions. Finally, with regard to obscenity, we have a Florida law, which doesn't go as far as protecting minors as it could, because it's obviously adult standard for obscenity, and children are allowed to be protected at a higher level. So I would work to protect children from being exposed … to the maximum extent allowed by Supreme Court precedent."
Benarroch has been an advocate of parental rights in schools. It is one of her campaign issues. She writes this on her website:
"Schools across the country are being infested with radical ideologies that seek to confuse our children and subvert the authority of parents. We simply cannot allow schools to become vessels of the radical Left and their immoral teachings. Our children deserve to be learning the truths about the world, not woke propaganda. Florida is at the forefront of this fight, and as your state representative, I will continue fighting the good fight. Florida needs more leaders who will put Florida first and keep family values in the Sunshine State."
Benarroch and Folley agree on gun rights.
Desantis last year signed into a law a bill allowing conceal carry without a permit. Both say they support this. Folley went further, saying he also supports an open-carry law, which allows people to openly carry a firearm in public, usually in a holster or sling, so that others can see it fully or partially.
Who and how should people be able to vote?
Folley said absentee ballots should be renewed each election cycle and that everyone trying to vote should have to show proof of citizenship.
"There is in my mind in this day and age, no excuse for not requiring proof and signatures you have when we registered to vote, it's not that hard to get. And we should have," he said.
"Our elections are not perfect. They're not," Benarroch said. "But we've done great work at the Legislature trying to figure out how to make sure that every vote counts, trying to make sure that legal citizens vote. And I will continue on that path to make sure that we continue to make sure that our elections are safe."
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