Jayden Cocuzza
Republican | Florida
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jayden Cocuzza
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist 56
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Pasco-Hernando State College, New Port Richey, AA, 2021
University of South Florida, Tampa, BA Political Science, 2023
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Republican Executive Committee, Committeeman, Republican Liberty Caucus
Vice Chair, Young Americans for Liberty-USF, Vice Chair
Students for Liberty-USF, Member, West Pasco Republican Club
Member, Libertat Republican club of Pasco, Member
Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Member, 2nd Amendment Club
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida
Mayor of New Port Richey Rob Marlowe
Former Vice Mayor of New Port Richey Chopper Davis
Port Richey Councilman Todd Maklary
Former Port Richey Councilwoman Jeanie Sorrell
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Lake Ray (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Gabriel Papadopoulos (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only under rare medical situations. If the mother or child will die or if the child is already deceased in the womb.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
At the state level, Florida current does not have an income tax and I will continue to fight to ensure we never have a state income tax.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Florida currently spends millions on promoting tourism even when we have the most tourism. This is one example of wasteful taxpayer spending. Florida's budget should only cover the bare minimum of daily operations spending.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I see no circumstances that give government the right to close a church if the congregation continues to want to meet. This is their First Amendment right.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. These programs should only be used by seniors or those that need help for a short period of time.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Under no circumstances may he government and/or schools require vaccinations. It is up to the employer's discretion as a private business to make that decision.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Protect and secure our borders. Noone should be allowed in so easily through open border policies, terrorists are sneaking in under this current administration. We must ensure that no one entering our country is human trafficking or brining in guns or drugs.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
There are drugs, guns, and terrorists entering our country through this open border policy, we must secure our borders.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Only those who wish to immigrate legally. There are legal ways to immigrate, or gain asylum, we must ensure these are followed to fully vet who is entering our country.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
As long as the voucher equates to the cost per pupil in taxes, it is the parents right to decide what school their child goes to.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Critical Race Theory is exactly that, a theory, one made up to divide our nation and our child in schools. Children should be learning history without bias.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian, saved by our lord Jesus Christ.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
If you need an ID to drive, fly, buy alcohol, etc. you should be required to have an ID to prove who you are in order to vote in our elections.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Increase penalties and ban ballot harvesting, and any fraudulent voting. Also remove the Dominion machines from our elections and return to traditional methods that worked for years before.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, you cannot force or change the way people think. You can easily avoid or ignore those who are racist.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
What our country did was wrong, but heritage has gone too far from when those actions took place, it would be almost impossible to fairly trace everyone's ancestral role back to the era the U.S. had slavery.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. As we have seen under this current administration that too many strict regulations do kill jobs and our economy. I do agree with some to ensure that our environment stays beautiful.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To defend induvial rights from enemies foreign and domestic. Provide for the general welfare, protect freedoms, liberties, and serve justice to those enemies that violate induvial rights.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
My Facebook has two radio interviews. There is also a live feed from a forum I attended on Pasco Watch.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am a young constitutional conservative. I am a university student and I work at a small business in New Port Richey. I was tired of the same old same old and after the 2020 election I decided to run for office. I may be young and inexperienced, but I am going to work hard for the people of West Pasco like I have already proven to do so. Please feel free to reach out, I enjoy hearing from my constituents and continuing to learn.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Disagree
Everyone should be held accountable for actions they take place that violate another's induvial freedoms.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
Most police departments have these within their agencies, I believe it is best to keep those there and explore other faith-based options as community and mental health programs are clearly not working.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Basic background check and voluntary training on how to own and operate a firearm.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
