Florida House of Representatives District 28 candidate surveys, 2022

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Florida House of Representatives District 28 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Click here to see candidates and election results.
Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Florida House of Representatives District 28

Incumbent Tom Leek defeated John Navarra in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 28 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Tom Leek (R)	61.9	43,349
	John Navarra (D)	38.1	26,709

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 70,058
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

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John Navarra (D)

I have researched and learned from residents in my community what would help them improve their incomes and live better lives. I have gained this knowledge through research and working in many campaigns.

As a veteran public school teacher I have learned how to first improve the school system and second prepare students for better jobs through academies and public private partnerships with businesses.

After the murder of George Floyd I want to be the community leader who brings together good people in our community that would help me reduce the economic inequality in our community.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

John Navarra (D)

I want to reduce poverty. I want to have students get the best preparation possible jobs that will give them and healthy families. I want all residents in my community to have access to health care. Better jobs will offer better benefits.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

John Navarra (D)

We need to elect officials willing to keep institutions and rules in order even if their party does not benefit by the status quo.

What legacy would you like to leave?

John Navarra (D)

I would like people to know I cared about my community and was willing to work hard for their welfare.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

John Navarra (D)

I remember election day 1972. I was a big McGovern fan. I was in third grade. I was eight.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

John Navarra (D)

My campaign song is What a Feeling from the Movie Flashdance. This movie came out at the time in my first year of college when I first decided to someday run for Congress or the state legislature. I was a grocery clerk for eleven years in the 1980s and 1990s. I had a college degree and I struggled for eight years to be a public school teacher. I never gave up on being a teacher or running for office. My wife and children always knew I would someday run for a major office.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

John Navarra (D)

The state legislature gives approval of the governor's best ideas and prevents passage of the governor's worst ideas.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

John Navarra (D)

Having enough young people to be qualified for high skill jobs. Having enough housing. Coping with climate change due to too many hurricanes.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

John Navarra (D)

Compromise is necessary to get many things done in a democracy.