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Ray Blacklidge
Ray Blacklidge (Republican Party) ran for election to the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 69. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Blacklidge completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Ray Blacklidge earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Southern Illinois University in 1982 and a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School in 1985. Blacklidge's career experience includes working as an attorney and an insurance executive. He is admitted to the bar in Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court, among others. Blacklidge served as a board member for the Florida Insurance Council.[1]
He previously served on a school board (1983-1987) and as a city councilman (1987-1994).[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Florida House of Representatives District 69
Jennifer Webb defeated Ray Blacklidge in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 69 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jennifer Webb (D) | 52.7 | 41,311 |
 | Ray Blacklidge (R)  | 47.3 | 37,066 | |
| Total votes: 78,377 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 69
Jennifer Webb advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 69 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jennifer Webb |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 69
Ray Blacklidge defeated Jeremy Bailie in the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 69 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ray Blacklidge | 57.8 | 8,924 |
| Jeremy Bailie | 42.2 | 6,527 | ||
| Total votes: 15,451 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ray Blacklidge completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Blacklidge's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1) Legal Reform beginning with addressing AOB abuse by closing the hole a small number of attorney's use to add costs to our claims system. 2) Reduce Regulation & Taxes, and grow Florida's economy. 3) Support Education and Mental Health
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
End insurance abuse and fraud which needlessly drives up insurance premiums which Floridians have to pay. Strengthening the Florida education system which my five grandchildren utilize. Continue to eliminate onerous laws and regulations that impede creative business. Promote less taxes and smaller government. Represent all the people of South Pinellas County.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Ronald Reagan. He believed that by working together we can make our future better and brighter. He had a special brand of good cheer and optimism. Reagan also believed in capitalism and believed in policies based on supply-side economics and advocated a laissez-faire philosophy, seeking to stimulate the economy with large, across-the-board tax cuts. Reagan pointed to improvements in certain key economic indicators as evidence of success. "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem."
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient Thrifty Brave Clean and Reverent, humble and willing to stand up for their constituents.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am knowledgeable, experienced, Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient Thrifty Brave Clean and Reverent.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To look out for the best interests of the people he represents.
What legacy would you like to leave?
A Florida that is financially secure, a State where people may receive the education and training they need to enter the employment market place well equipped to compete and be employed. A Florida that may be enjoyed by our grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren as much as we enjoyed it. A state with protected fresh water and controlled planned growth.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King.
What happened on your most awkward date?
When we went to kiss goodbye my date tried to French kiss me and I merely gave her a peck on her lips.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas. Family cheerfully celebrating the birth of Jesus who gave his life for us to have a better life.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Dune, it tells the story of having much, yet not appreciating it, having little and appreciating it. Learning lessons of life, and service for the benefit of others.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Doctor Who
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My wife Lisa. She brings me understanding, comfort, love and happiness.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
American Pie
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I have had many struggles through out my life. There have been great times, tragic times, wealth, financial ruin, love, loss but through out it all like Ronald Reagan I have had my own special brand of good cheer and optimism.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
House members represent smaller areas and may be the voice to certain localized constituents. State Senators must take a wider view of representing their District. Together, along with the Governor they balance government and vent items for consideration.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes, while not the determining factor of a legislators success, having political experience, understanding how our system of Government works and having experience at public service is helpful to legislators who are faced with a mired of complex and technical issues.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Handling the population grow, infrastructure, schools, roads, services et al. Having enough teachers and medical field personnel. Conserving our resources, especially water. Matching education with company job demand. Continuing to keep Florida financially strong. Keeping Florida a World attraction and a clean healthy place for our future generations. Taking care of our elderly, veterans and first responders.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
It is always helpful if they are on the same page with the same goals, however in the end it is the Legislature that proposes the laws and the Governor who signs them or vetoes them. The Governor does propose the State Budget that the legislature may modify and pass. However here in Florida the Governor has line item veto regarding the State Budget.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes, just like any organization, no one person can be expected to know or deeply learn everything. Therefore you need to know what each legislator's background is, what their knowledge strengths and weaknesses are and who to go to in order to obtain proper education on an issue. Lobbyists are helpful, however other legislators can also assist you in figuring out what lobbyists interests are involved and hopefully the proper avenue to proceed down.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
A good redistricting process should help a community secure meaningful representation. Many states consider "communities of interest" when drawing their districts and that's a good place to start. Community of interest is a term for groups of people who share common social, cultural, racial, economic, geographic, or other concerns. These groups are likely to have similar legislative interests as well, and that means they can benefit from common representation in the government. This goes much deeper than Republican or Democrat. A district of farmers, say, and a district of city dwellers will probably elect representatives that reflect differing histories, priorities, and aspirations. Other redistricting goals — like keeping a district compact or within county borders — are usually proxies for keeping communities intact. A good redistricting process will be open and transparent, allowing communities to ask questions and give input.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Commerce, Insurance and Banking, Local Federal & Veterans Affairs, Health & Human Services
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
Yes
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Don Smith, Dennis Ross, Jim Boyd and Leslie Waters.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
No, only perhaps State Senate.
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.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
To serve the people of South Pinellas County Florida to the best of my ability using my experience and knowledge to keep the State financially strong, and to keep Florida a place where future generations may enjoy all we have been blessed to enjoy. Is there anything you would like to add? I am truly honored to have the opportunity to represent you and our neighbors in Tallahassee. This is an honor that I do not take lightly as my father, an Army veteran, instilled values from an early age by enrolling me in the Boy Scouts where I eventually earned my Eagle Scout.[2] |
” |
| —Ray Blacklidge[1] | ||
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Florida House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Florida House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
