Name: Perry Thurston
Current occupation: Attorney
Relevant experience: Member, Florida Bar 1987 - present; Broward County Public Defender’s Office 1987-1991; Private practice attorney, 1991 - present; State House Democratic Leader 2012 - present; State Representative 2006 – present
Platform: Pam Bondi has spent four years looking out for special interests. We need an attorney general that will protect the middle class. To do that I would focus on three areas: 1. Consumer protection – Empower prosecutors to crack down on fraud; 2. Public corruption – Hold Tallahassee accountable for corruption and protect taxpayer dollars; 3. Protect individual rights – Defend voting rights, ensure equal pay for equal work, end the wasteful defense of the ban on marriage equality.
What do you see as the biggest issue in your race? Right now there is no one with power looking out for the middle class in
What do you see as the greatest challenge you would face if elected/re-elected, and how would you deal with it? We need to create an entirely new culture in the attorney general’s office. For four years Pam Bondi has focused on protecting special interests. I want to empower prosecutors in the attorney general’s office to protect consumers and go after fraud and abuse. I think the only real limit on what the attorney general can do to protect consumers is the imagination of the person in the office.
Why do you deserve to be elected/re-elected? I have spent my career fighting for those with no voice. I left the financial sector and went to law school because I saw a system rigged by the powerful and well-connected. As Democratic Leader, I was named a “middle-class champion” for battling Rick Scott and working to protect education and expand Medicaid. As attorney general, I will protect voting rights, ensure equal pay means equal work and fight for the middle-class not special interests.
Campaign website: www.thurstonforflorida.om
Name: George Sheldon
Current occupation: Full-time candidate
Relevant experience: I served in the Legislature 1974-82, was named Outstanding Legislator. Was Deputy Attorney General under Bob Butterworth. In 2008-2011 I was Secretary of the Department of Children and Families, then was acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families in the federal government. Major recent accomplishments: improving services for the well-being of foster children, new protections for victims of human trafficking, persuading Congress to make foster children’s educational records available to their case managers.
Platform: Be the people’s lawyer, fighting for fairness and protection of all Floridians, not just rich contributors. Return the Attorney General’s Office to a national prominence in fighting consumer fraud and other economic crimes, especially those victimizing seniors. Get tough on criminals but also on the causes of crime, like inadequate education and opportunities. Eliminate unreasonable sentencing for minor drug-related offenses. Stop ruining lives with convictions for non-violent first offenses.
What do you see as the biggest issue in your race? Ultimately the issue is integrity and standing up for the interests of ordinary Floridians instead of big contributors and big corporate interests, like utilities. I worked for Reubin Askew and learned the importance of standing up for the right thing even when political forces were against you. Many of the issues come down to the current attorney general’s failure to stand up against deceptive business practices and excessive government involvement in people’s personal lives.
What do you see as the greatest challenge you would face if elected/re-elected, and how would you deal with it? The greatest challenge is fulfilling the attorney general’s first responsibility, to protect people from crime and from predatory business practices. I will strengthen the offices on Medicaid fraud and deceptive trade practices. I will work to better coordinate law enforcement at all levels, from the front-line local law enforcement to the federal government. And I will work with schools and social services to steer young people away from crime and toward productive lives.
Why do you deserve to be elected/re-elected? I have a 35-year record of integrity and accomplishment in public service. I have worked successfully with both Republicans and Democrats to accomplish things of lasting value to the people of
Campaign website: www.georgesheldon2014.com