State Senate: District 28 candidates discuss water issues, growth management, school safety

Incumbent Kathleen Passidomo (R) vs. Annisa Karim (D)

On water issues:

Passidomo: "We have over 2 million septic systems in the state and those septic systems need to be addressed. The aging systems need to be replaced but the problem is people can’t afford it. The state has a triple A bond rating and we could loan the money to residents, and sell them as very low interest loans. The property owners can pay these back in 20 to 30 years. The dike needs to be repaired because if there are breeches people will die, and we need to put wells north of the lake. Lat year we gave over a billion and half (dollars) for reservoirs to be designed." 

Karim: "Fertilizers are leaking into the system and draining into local water bodies. We need to make sure we have a septic inspection bill. … but we have to put teeth in it. The last eight years we have underfunded the water management district. We have to reinstate the harmful algae bloom task force. We need to be buying more land south of Lake Okeechobee. We have been gutting (state agencies) protecting the water. We are moving in the wrong direction. We need to have scientists back in the picture.  We need to buy land south of the lake and I would (take sugar land) by eminent domain at fair market value. I am against wells north of the lake. We don’t need to be taking dirty water and pumping it into the ground."

On Growth management

Karim: "We need to bring back the Department of Community Affairs.  To protect the wetlands. It’s critical for water recharge. We have to look at growing in a smart way. I am not against development but we have to allow for development that makes sense. We have to understand the consequences of growing in a nonintellectual way."  

Passidomo: "I have a problem with the state oversight of things (like a Department of Community Affairs). Local government loses control. Each community I believe should have the ability to determine its future. Over development is a tough issue, but I don’t believe in micromanaging a community. We can’t look at a one-size-fits-all plan."  

On school safety

Karim: "You will never prevent access to semi-automatic weapons. We need universal background checks. We need to make sure we are funding mental health appropriately. We have to have public-private partnerships at the local level (to fund and provide treatment to those with behavior health issues. We have a lot of really good private organizations in our area."

Passidomo: "We have got to catch them (children with behavioral health issues) early on, and to start treating kids and their families early on. Schools need to create a plan to address mental illness and we need to start involving families. We have to put money into it.”

More on District 28

Meet Annisa Karim: Candidate for Florida State Senator, District 28

Kathleen Passidomo: Candidate for Florida State Senator, District 28