Frank J. Russo
No Party Affiliation | Florida
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
UCF Business School, Orlando, BS, 1987-1989
WORK & MILITARY
Assured Partners, President - SE Region, 2018-2022
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Governor, -
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Florida must honor the dignity and value of human life from conception to natural death to have a thriving society, and voters direct their representatives on laws protecting children and mothers.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
Women and young girls in Florida should be protected from predatory out-of-state Big Business.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Wages for Floridians should reflect market needs and not leave any worker behind. Florida should honor all trades and increase market entry options. Teacher's salaries need to be increased as one of our most important jobs - teaching our children.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. Florida insurance needs reform with property tax relief. 2. Florida needs to hold executive agencies to constitutional restrictions on size and efficient use of taxpayer money. Local governments need to show itemized expenditures on budgets for the People to audit. 3. Economic development stakeholders should build under transparency and accountability. 4. Child protective services should return to the People through localized, accountable agencies.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The government cannot dictate to the People of Florida how they worship as a state-approved institution or faith. Our federal and state constitutions provide this religious liberty, and Florida's constitution clarifies: "Religious freedom shall not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace or safety."
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
Florida has strong options under Medicaid and Medicare, including share-of-cost, for families with needs and sudden emergencies, and these are important for the People of Florida. Fraud needs to be eliminated from these systems to ensure these programs remain available. Insurance models, however, drive up costs for health services and should not be the model for providing services. Direct provider-to-patient care models should have the same economic power in Florida to keep costs lower.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, Currently, Palm Beach County holds about a quarter of the bonds Israel has issued, and these are outperforming other investment debts held by Florida government funds. Additionally, Florida has a cultural and economic interchange through its Linkage Institutes with Israel as well as several dozen other countries; and Florida does other trade with Israel as well as other nations through SelectFlorida programs through the Department of Commerce.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Disagree
Florida should uphold federal law, while treating all people within Florida with humanity. Local governments cannot violate federal law and harm the People of Florida by shielding criminals, including traffickers and other violent offenders, against federal immigration enforcement.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
Education is a matter for local authority with state support for parents and students. Within Florida education policy, parents are given their rights and attendant responsibilities to nurture their children and direct their upbringing and education. Any education policy for Florida needs to have this principle as the foundation.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
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 support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
This is a major economic activity in Florida and for certain businesses, involves agreements with tribal nations, which must be honored. Expansion should only occur if the revenue from such activity is protected for the People in a public trust, not given to government bureaucracy.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in the Lord, the Almighty and Creator God; and we are here to serve the People and serve the Lord. God gives us our human rights, our blessings, and we have a responsibility to give back from what we've been given. Society can live in peace and prosperity when leadership listens and is held accountable, and laws are constitutional, clear and enforced consistently.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Fossil fuels are both reliable and can be used in prudent ways to protect the environment. Nuclear power solutions have increased in recent years and can be used under clear guidelines. Innovation and energy independence are critical for Florida.
ABOUT YOU
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
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The goal of the criminal justice system is penalizing violations of law and promoting moral order under rule of law.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Agree
Sharia law application is contrary to Florida's constitutional protection for religious expression.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
There is no specific restriction on gun ownership in the constitution, and many proposed restrictions do not have a direct correlation with protection of the public. Moral character and a sound mind have the highest connection to lawful and self-controlled use of firearms and public safety.
