Gubernatorial candidate speaks at Shell Point
BOB PETCHER Alex Sink, Democratic candidate for governor of Florida, answers a question during a public forum at Shell Point Retirement Community Monday.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink took a modified page out of the basic skills in education –the three ‘R’s– when describing her campaign approach during an informal speech at Shell Point. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, who taught math in West Africa for three years after graduating from Wake Forest University, spoke about reviving our economy for the short term, remaking our economy and reforming government.
“I have a plan to help small businesses increase jobs by giving incentives to small businesses to hire Floridians now,” said Sink, a former banker. “Shouldn’t contractors get extra credit if there are going to hire Floridians as opposed to Texans? We’ve come from too much reliance on tourism. One way to build an economy and a strong foundation to remake our economy is by taking advantage of renewable fuels. Why couldn’t we be known as the Sunshine State which is the No. 1 state to capture the power of solar and renewable energy?”
Regarding the third ‘R’, Sink said she’s been performing government reform duties on a smaller scale as Florida CFO.
“Finding instances of waste and ways that we can use government more efficiently is what I’ve been all about as your CFO,” she said. “I’ve found hundreds of millions of dollars of savings just by the way the state does its business.”
She further explained that pinching pennies –something she learned through her frugal farming roots in Mount Airy, North Carolina– is something everyone in state government should practice during these poor economic times.
“I put a moratorium (on buying office supplies) after finding boxes and boxes of rubber bands and paper clips in storage,” said Sink. “If this happened all over state government, we think we could save $15 million. Do you know how many school teachers that would hire?”
To help protect Florida seniors from financial fraud, Sink’s office has formed the “Safeguard Our Seniors” task force by helping a recovery of nearly $9 million and educating the elderly to ask for a second opinion when approached by scam artists.
“For three years I have been working on the tightening down of the requirements for these agents who are selling these annuities,” said Sink. “As your governor, I’m going to continue to fight against these types of abuses.”
Another initiative program called “Vets Connect” helps U.S. veterans receive benefits that go unclaimed. A portion of the estimated $22 billion of national veterans benefits could be used by roughly 1.8 million veterans that live in the state.
“Sometimes, we can find simple solutions that can impact millions of our Florida citizens,” said Sink. “We need to find ways to invest your taxpayer money. We’re not going to be able to remake our economy unless we have a strong public education system. We need to invest your money in things that are important to you and your future. We also have to continue to invest in our children and our future generations.”
After answering questions on the state education system, small business and the everglades restoration, Sink summed up her visit.
“We are in a fight for Florida’s future,” she said. “We’re going to have to choose someone who has a lot of years of business experience and a career politician. Right now, where we are economically, I believe we need a problem solver leading government in Tallahassee and thinking about what policies we need to put in place to truly revive, remake and reform our government.”
Gubernatorial candidate speaks at Shell Point
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink took a modified page out of the basic skills in education — the three “Rs” — when describing her campaign approach during an informal speech at Shell Point. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, who taught math in West Africa for three years after graduating from Wake Forest University, spoke about reviving our economy for the short term, remaking our economy and reforming government.
“I have a plan to help small businesses increase jobs by giving incentives to small businesses to hire Floridians now,” said Sink, a former banker. “Shouldn’t contractors get extra credit if they are going to hire Floridians as opposed to Texans? We’ve come from too much reliance on tourism. One way to build an economy and a strong foundation to remake our economy is by taking advantage of renewable fuels. Why couldn’t we be known as the Sunshine State which is the No. 1 state to capture the power of solar and renewable energy?”
Regarding the third “R,” Sink said she’s been performing government reform duties on a smaller scale as Florida CFO.
“Finding instances of waste and ways that we can use government more efficiently is what I’ve been all about as your CFO,” she said. “I’ve found hundreds of millions of dollars of savings just by the way the state does its business.”
She further explained that pinching pennies — something she learned through her frugal farming roots in Mount Airy, N.C. — is something everyone in state government should practice during these poor economic times.
“I put a moratorium (on buying office supplies) after finding boxes and boxes of rubber bands and paper clips in storage,” said Sink. “If this happened all over state government, we think we could save $15 million. Do you know how many school teachers that would hire?”
To help protect Florida seniors from financial fraud, Sink’s office has formed the “Safeguard Our Seniors” task force by helping a recovery of nearly $9 million and educating the elderly to ask for a second opinion when approached by scam artists.
“For three years I have been working on the tightening down of the requirements for these agents who are selling these annuities,” said Sink. “As your governor, I’m going to continue to fight against these types of abuses.”
Another initiative program called “Vets Connect” helps U.S. veterans receive benefits that go unclaimed. A portion of the estimated $22 billion of national veterans benefits could be used by roughly 1.8 million veterans that live in the state.
“Sometimes, we can find simple solutions that can impact millions of our Florida citizens,” said Sink. “We need to find ways to invest your taxpayer money. We’re not going to be able to remake our economy unless we have a strong public education system. We need to invest your money in things that are important to you and your future. We also have to continue to invest in our children and our future generations.”
After answering questions on the state education system, small business and the everglades restoration, Sink summed up her visit.
“We are in a fight for Florida’s future,” she said. “We’re going to have to choose someone who has a lot of years of business experience and a career politician. Right now, where we are economically, I believe we need a problem solver leading government in Tallahassee and thinking about what policies we need to put in place to truly revive, remake and reform our government.”
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