Danika Fornear was born in Tampa, Florida. Her professional experience includes working as a journalist for several local news outlets. She is also a Calusa Waterkeeper ranger. Fornear is the secretary for the Hendry Democratic Environmental Caucus, and a member of the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership and the Hendry County Democratic Women's Club.[1]
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kaylee Tuck advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 83.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Fornear in this election.
Danika Fornear completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fornear's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
I am a low-income, single mother, and a woman of color and I have first hand experience with navigating a broken system. I have experienced the chaos and uncertainty of being dependent on unemployment and food stamps, and I have struggled through the challenges presented when it comes to healthcare. I have been an alligator wrestler, a domestic violence and sexual assault victim advocate, and a firefighter. I have also had an extensive career as a wildlife rehabber and environmental educator. I currently work as a journalist, covering important stories in rural SWFL communities. I am running for State Representative in Florida's 79th District, which includes eastern & northern unincorporated Lee County (Alva, Lehigh Acres, and North Fort Myers.) My family has called Lehigh Acres home for over 20 years, so I am deeply invested in the District. I am running for office to help build the community I know we can be. I support clean water, improved access to affordable healthcare, and legalizing cannabis. When elected, I promise to listen to my constituents, and work with them to enact viable solutions to the issues we face.
Two of the most important challenges we face as a District, and as a state, are economic inequality and environmental degradation. Fortunately, I have a plan to address both issues simultaneously.
When elected, I will work to sponsor legislation that supports small, locally-owned businesses, address racial disparities in our society, and mitigate the terrible effects of Covid on our tourism-based economy.
I am proud to be a Calusa Waterkeeper Ranger and environmental educator. I often go into the field to help with hands-on collection of data and reporting on the conditions surrounding Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB). I participate in area conferences, discussions, and research to remain well informed on current water quality issues. I know that the protection of the Caloosahatchee River & Estuary, Lake Okeechobee, Nicodemus Slough, Charlotte Harbor, Estero Bay are crucial.
Combining my passions, we arrive at a Florida Green New Deal: I support economic policies that offer improved job opportunities, reduce climate pollution, provide cleaner air and water, and build resilient communities.
Just out of high school, I became a professional alligator wrestler. This experience taught me a lot about Florida's unique and delicate ecosystems, and launched my career as an environmental educator and wildlife rehabber. It was the ultimate Florida roadside attraction: I would lure one of our big gators out of the pond, entertaining the visitors - so essential to Florida's tourist economy - by demonstrating the strength and the speed of this fantastic animal. Around the perimeter of the arena, I had spotters - staff that were there to keep an eye on any other activity in the pond or identify any gators approaching me from a blind spot. During this particular show, my spotters weren't paying attention. For one of our tricks, I grabbed the gator's tail and drug him backwards a little, when I suddenly saw something lunging at me. It was Bertha. She was the big mama, the aggressive one of the group, so I jumped across the rock barrier, slipped on the algae, and snapped my leg. I'm still holding my gator for the show, so I swung his head towards big Bertha, using him to defend myself as I limp and crawl towards the exit. The crowd roared with applause, but I learned a big lesson that day. My spotters - people who were there to protect me - took their eyes off the ball. I know what it is like to not have a spotter. I didn't have a spotter that day. I didn't have a spotter when I was furloughed, and when I lost my health insurance. Our state didn't have competent spotters when the pandemic closed our businesses, or when our Florida waters became so toxic with blue-green algae and fecal indicator bacteria that our public swimming areas had to be permanently closed. I'm running for office to be a spotter for my community.
We are stronger together. By collaborating with other senators, we will accomplish more for the people of Florida then we would working individually. I'm running for office to be a representative for EVERY constituent in House District 79.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Note: Fornear submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on July 19, 2020.
I am a low income, single mom, and proud woman of color, who has the skills, experience, and knowledge to fight for a better future for all of us.
Economic prosperity, affordable & accessible health care, environmental justice, water quality, and the legalization of cannabis are all at the top of my list of concerns.
I was born a Floridian, in Tampa. My mother comes from a rice farming family in Thailand. My father is a retired Air Force Captain and Vietnam Veteran. He met my mother while stationed overseas. My grandfather defended our country in WWII as a Fighting Navy SeaBee. Being raised in a military family gave me the opportunity to travel the world, to experience and appreciate many different cultures and ways of life, as well as a develop a healthy respect for the sacrifices made by those who serve in the Armed Forces.
I was an alligator wrestler and wildlife rescuer as well as an environmental educator. I currently work as a journalist for three rural newspapers- the last of their kind. I focus on writing about social justice and SWFL's battle for clean water.
If Florida legalizes the adult use of cannabis, it will grow our economy, promote public health, bring in more dependable revenue for state programs without raising taxes, create more jobs, and provide the opportunity for environment-friendly agricultural practices.
A Florida Green New Deal, focusing on building a clean energy economy that will improve job opportunities exponentially, as well as reduce pollution, and build resiliency.
Healthcare that is accessible and affordable, expansion of Medicaid, and making sure women have to access affordable, high-quality reproductive health care, including access to abortion services and birth control are imperative.
An elected official must exude integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness, as well as eliminate division and reach across the aisle to work together on science and fact-based, common sense compromises in order to fulfill the promise of opportunity for all
I have a fairly diverse background. I was an alligator wrestler for a few years. I would lure one of our big gators out of the pond, by feeding it. Showing the crowd the jaw clap, and see the power in it's strike. Florida tourist entertainment at it's best.
During these shows, there were "spotters" stationed around the the perimeter of the gator pit. Staff that were there to keep an eye on any other activity in the pond, any gators approaching me from a blind spot, to keep me safe- but during this one particular show, my spotters had become a little complacent and lost focus.
I'm at the point in the show where l take a giant leap onto the gator's back, pinning him down with my hands. I grab the gator's tail and drag him backwards a little, to get him into position. Suddenly, I see something lunging at me, just out of the corner of my eye, and I realize there's one coming for me. I jump across the rock barrier, slipping on the algae. I hear a snap, feel a sharp pain as I hit the gravel, but I'm still holding my gator by it's tail. I hang on, using him to defend myself, as I drag him and crawl my way backwards to the exit. The audience roars with applause.
Being a gator wrestler was an experience that made me more confident and fast on my feet but the reason I mention it, as I'm introducing myself, is not just to brag - but because these experiences I have had, with the spotters losing focus, not there to look out for my safety, while I struggle to survive- Our government is doing the same thing, right now. They're failing us, leaving so many of us to try to struggle out of the gator pit, without accessible healthcare or jobs that pay a living wage. They have completely abandoned their duties to help and protect us, especially during this pandemic.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO TACKLE, AND I AM READY TO JUMP IN.
I am a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault who suffered many years of abuse before finding a safe way out.
I know that being open about my experiences is important in erasing the stigma that surrounds domestic violence and sexual assault. It's important to note that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience violence from their partners in their lifetimes; 1 in 5 women are survivors of rape;
1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual violence in their lives. You are not alone.
Two of the most important challenges we face as a state- are a failing economy and environmental destruction. Fortunately, there are ways to wrestle our way through both.
We have already seen the benefit of medical marijuana- creating thousands of jobs and sales that have continued to surge, despite the pandemic. When Florida legalizes the adult use of cannabis, it will grow our economy, promote public health, bring in more dependable revenue for state programs without raising taxes, create more jobs, and provide the opportunity for environment-friendly agricultural practices.
Reforming Florida's cannabis laws is a giant leap onto the gator's back- it will help sustain us, and when we have that pinned down, we can begin to develop a clean energy economy that will improve job opportunities exponentially, as well as reduce pollution, and build resiliency.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Note: Fornear submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on July 16, 2020.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Danika Fornear campaign contribution history
Year
Office
Status
Contributions
Expenditures
2024*
Florida House of Representatives District 83
Lost general
$0
$0
2020
Florida House of Representatives District 79
Lost general
$6,969
N/A**
Grand total
$6,969
N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
