Florida House of Representatives District 66 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Florida, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Florida House of Representatives District 66 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 66

Incumbent Traci Koster defeated David Tillery in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 66 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Traci Koster (R)	60.1	45,305
		David Tillery (D)	39.9	30,027

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 75,332
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Linda Tavernier-Almada (No Party Affiliation)

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?

David Tillery (D)

I believe in equal rights for everyone. This includes wage equality. Minority's rights are being threatened by the current administration. We need to stop bad laws from affecting so many Floridian's healthcare, education, careers and freedom of speech. My opponent has signed and followed lock step with every bad bill approved by a fascist governor. When in Tallahassee, I will work hard and legislate for all Floridians with passion and commitment. Every Floridian should have the same rights.

Public education is being ignored by our current lawmakers. They would rather give vouchers to private schools for some of the few than all while sacrificing the rest of the students, teachers and faculties of public educators. Supporting private schools is a violation of church and state. They have no checks and balances. No way to know if they are wasting our tax dollars. Many of them close or are shut down. Many of them have their owners get paid exorbitant salaries. It is also documented that they discriminate against low income and disabled students. They cannot be sued based on the shield of religious reasons. OUR tax dollars need to go to OUR public education system.

We need to improve our current healthcare system in Florida. Federal funds must not be held. We must change budgeting protocols for Seniors and the disabled to have a voice. We need to remove the walls republicans put in place to deny many Medicare patients, particularly the Home and Community Waiver and the IBudget Waiver/ Long Term Support Waiver. These walls have created a crisis for thousands on a waiting list hoping for support.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

David Tillery (D)

HB5-Prohibits Abortions after 15 weeks. This needs to be repealed.

SB90-Restricing Vote By Mail and Drop Boxes. This needs to be repealed. HB1- This anti-vaccine law along with other anti-vaccine laws caused more needless deaths and stifled our

           healthcare industry.

HB1557-Limiting classroom discussions, "Don't Say Gay" law. The Republicans are homophobic and are using their own fear to create censorship. This is un-American

HB7-Limits Protected Speed in Specific Workplace- "Stop Woke" law. This needs to be repealed.

We need to address Climate Change now. We need new laws to be a part of the solution.

I want to also introduce a bill to create a new jobs act to create facilities to freeze dry soon to be expiring food from grocery stores, produces and other food sources to create a warehouse of packaged ready to use food that will last 25 years in storage to save communities, cities and in time entire countries from famine. This will reduce landfill waste, create jobs and give our state solutions for when we have crop failures due to global warming. This needs to start now.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

David Tillery (D)

I look up to President Barack Obama. Not only was his leadership key to getting the affordable care act and many other important policies, but he as a person is a loving caring family man, down to earth, funny, super intelligent and leader of respect that was shared by leaders of free countries worldwide. We need more people like him in this world.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

David Tillery (D)

Maybe this to a certain degree. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIpKfw17-yY

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

David Tillery (D)

I believe that the most important characteristics and principles for an elected official would have, are wisdom, compassion, honesty, integrity and the desire to help others. Combine these together you will have something very rare, hope. It is important for all elected officials to have the ability to use solid information and sound advice towards solving short term problems and recognizing the long-term ones, having the wisdom to know what to do, the integrity to work towards the best solution and the desire to seeing those solutions through.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

David Tillery (D)

I trust in my own wisdom to make good decisions.

I have a strong reputation as being honest, compassionate, kind and considerate. I am a good listener. I am the first person to admit my misnakes when I make them. Correction, mistakes. (My bad) I have a good sense of humor. I am incapable of being corrupt. I am a people person. I am an effective communicator.

I have the ability to work with almost everyone in a team atmosphere, however, I have no problem at any time leading when I feel it's the best situation to so.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

David Tillery (D)

First, to know right from wrong.

To know good from evil. To be prepared prior before going into session. To focus and understand the issues from all sides. To understand the bills introduced and how they will potentially affect everyone. To work together to the best of your abilities.

To create laws that will benefit the people and the economy of the state of Florida.

What legacy would you like to leave?

David Tillery (D)

After I am gone, I would like for people to know that I was responsible for improving and possibly saving people's lives. I would also like for people to know that I showed them the value and importance of implementing achievable goals for a creating utopian society for future generations.

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

David Tillery (D)

I remember seeing on the news the one-year anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy Jr. I was less than two years old, but I remember it distinctly.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

David Tillery (D)

At the age of 13, I was a dishwasher at a local seafood restaurant to help support my single mother raising 5 children. I was employed a little over a year. I continued to work all through high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

David Tillery (D)

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It has information for you to become more organized and successful in life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

David Tillery (D)

Q, as long as I kept my own personality.

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

David Tillery (D)

The theme music to the BBC series, "Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot"

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

David Tillery (D)

Not achieving all my goals, mainly due from sacrificing my time to help others in my life.

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

David Tillery (D)

The ideal relationship is for the governor the legislature and the judicial branches to have equal power with the ability to have checks and balances set in place in law, so that no branch has too much authority to abuse its position.

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

David Tillery (D)

Protecting our most precious resource, water. The demand for water is growing in the west due to drought. Other states will be needing support. Our own aquifers are under threat from fracking "forever chemicals" that if gone unchecked, will seriously threaten our own clean water supply. Florida's population will grow even more as western state's water resources dry up. This is a serious issue. It effects everything else: the entire economy of Florida and beyond, jobs, healthcare-EVERYTHING.

Only those smart enough to plan ahead to prepare for this problem decades in advance, will be able to control this problem before it goes out of control. If our water supply is threatened, Florida will not be worth living in.

We need to first start by not allowing water companies from tapping into our aquifers for free with expired permits, only to bottle it and sell it for a profit.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

David Tillery (D)

Benefits-saves money on those hired to represent, the possibility of fast-tracking bills to be passed. Saves on space needed to house the legislature.

Drawbacks-Less representation resulting in making decisions that will negatively affect unrepresented voters.

Less ideas needed to provide for best results to address problems. Less diversity in representing minorities, especially if voting districts are severely gerrymandered. Less support and intel gathered at district level while the legislature is out of session. Less manpower to address the many facets of governmental policies that affect the general population.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

David Tillery (D)

Naturally, to a certain degree. However, there are many civic and non-profit organizations for example that operate similarly to the functions of government working within their bylaws and following protocols of decorum for their meetings that can give the experience needed to work effective in government and politics. Those experiences can have the potential to offer some new improvements towards making government more effective.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

David Tillery (D)

Yes, building relationships helps all who do to understand the perspective of another in office more clearly. Building relationships can build trust. Building relationships can help all involved to open one's minds to new ideas, concepts and possibilities.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

David Tillery (D)

Open hearings to the public. Have a non-partisan body oversee the hearings. Surveys to be sent out to the general public about those redistricting options using data from the census as a guide. To get feedback from all interested groups, organizations and the general public. To have the general public the power to vote on 3 best options. To not have the governor or any political party interfere with the decisions, and to finally have the non-partisan body choose one of the 3 best options for redistricting. Have a system set in place to decide when to address redistricting on a systematic basis.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

David Tillery (D)

Public Integrity & Elections Committee

Ways and Means Committee Agricultural & Natural Resources Committee Healthcare Appropriations Subcommittee Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee State Administrations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

David Tillery (D)

Jon Ossoff, I like how he focuses on policy. He is a person committed to the benefit of all his constituents. He is honest, intelligent and I see eye to eye on his policies.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

David Tillery (D)

I go where I feel I am needed. Yes

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

David Tillery (D)

An 86-year-old stroke patient at an assisted living facility who only had control of her right side, a lifelong Democrat and a retired psychiatric nurse of over 25 years wanted to vote in the 2020 election. She raised 5 children on her own, however at this point in time in her life, she could not walk, and she was under full care for all her basic needs, but her mind was still sharp. She needed help in casting her absentee ballot to get the pen in her hand. She patiently completed the ballot and tried to sign her name the best she could. She was determined to make her vote, her voice count. When she finished, she had tears in her eyes because she knew that this was probably the last time that she would be able to have that right. It was that important to her. Under the current laws set in place by DeSantis, it's possible that one could be arrested for helping a stroke victim the opportunity to vote. This is wrong. This is un-American.

Tell us your favorite joke.

David Tillery (D)

My wife asked me how the phrase "It is what it is" got so popular. I said, "It is what it is"

(Then she punched my arm) I asked her why she did that. She said, "it is what it is"

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

David Tillery (D)

I believe it would be a good idea for the legislature to oversee emergency powers, particularly in deciding to set a time frame for when the emergency actions are no longer valid or needed or to possibly extend the emergency action.

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

David Tillery (D)

I believe that compromise can be worthwhile, providing all sides work in good faith towards creating solutions for the common good of the people.

See also

More about these elections:

• Florida House of Representatives elections, 2022

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