Merceydes Morassi
Non-Partisan | Florida
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Merceydes Morassi
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Broward County Public Schools School Board, District 7
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Florida International University, Miami, M.S. Counseling Psych, 2010
Florida International University, Miami, B.S. Psychology, 2006
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Florida Association for Behavior Analysis, Member, Moose Lodge
Member, Autism Speaks, Contributor
SoCal Boxer Rescue, Volunteer, Coastal Boxer Rescue
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (4/1/2022 - 4/30/2022)
- $69.10 in expenditures to Anedot
- $69.10 in expenditures to Anedot
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (Amended) (4/1/2022 - 4/30/2022)
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (5/1/2022 - 5/31/2022)
- $76.76 in expenditures to Anedot
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (6/1/2022 - 6/17/2022)
- $400.00 contribution from Libertarian Party of Broward County
- $35.30 in expenditures to Anedot
- $400.00 contribution from Libertarian Party of Broward County
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (6/18/2022 - 7/1/2022)
- $11.40 in expenditures to Anedot
- Please note: The following information was received by iVoterGuide after Panel Evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only:
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/2/2022 - 7/15/2022)
- $500.00 contribution from Florida Mises Caucus Foundation
- $96.00 in expenditures to Anedot
- $500.00 contribution from Florida Mises Caucus Foundation
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/16/2022 - 7/22/2022)
- $500.00 contribution from Libertarian Party of Broward County
- $250.00 contribution from Moms for Liberty Florida
- $17.80 in expenditures to Anedot
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/23/2022 - 7/29/2022)
- $500.00 contribution from Hindu American PAC of Florida
- $42.80 in expenditures from Anedot
- $500.00 contribution from Hindu American PAC of Florida
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/30/2022 - 8/5/2022)
- $49.50 in expenditures from Anedot
- $49.50 in expenditures from Anedot
- Campaign Treasurer's Report (7/2/2022 - 7/15/2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
- Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidate; Statement of Candidate (4/4/2022)
- Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidate (Amended) (6/15/2022)
- Candidate Oath; Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests (6/15/2022)
Voter Record from the Florida Department of State indicates candidate's Political Affiliation is Libertarian (as of 6/23/2022).
Election Voting History for Merceydes Morassi during time of residence in district and/or at current address:
- No voter history
**Voter history is not considered during panel evaluations.**
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Agree
All curriculum and subsequent material should come from unbiased academic sources and the public should be aware of the content in all academic teachings. Material on abortion should not be provided but material on safe sex practices and consequences of risky sex should
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Choose not to answer
This does not pertain to my candidacy for school board
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Agree but this is irrelevant to my candidacy as a member of the school board
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Disagree
Tax payer money is intended for the education of children and our school board is currently failing in that realm, as many of Broward's kids cannot read and are not proficient in math. Political lobbying should not be done on the tax payer's dime.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I agree with funding all public schools and would propose that we equally fund trade schools, which for many students, would be a better choice. If we must publicly fund schools, we should do it fairly and allow our students and families to chose the option that best fits them.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
Supreme Court cases have determined that students have the right to assemble in the name of their religion. As long as the schools are not pushing religious curriculum then we are not in defiance of the first amendment.
School districts should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
School districts have no business discriminating against anyone, ever. Private businesses can make their own rules, but schools are funded by the tax payers who have diverse beliefs and deserve equal say and representation.
Students should not be allowed to pray in school.
Neutral
The school cannot set aside time for prayer but they can set aside "quiet time" and students can chose to exercise prayer during this time or during recess.
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
School boards are supposed to make decisions in the best interest of the children. They are supposed to insure kids are learning and are proficient in academics such as reading and writing ,as well as make sure they are prepared and knowledgeable upon graduation and entering the workforce or college life. They are supposed to oversee the use of tax dollars, the educational materials, policies and procedures used in schools and HR type decisions related to admin/teachers. They are also elected representatives that are supposed to serve the community and represent the needs of their constituents. In modern days they have the additional duty of making sure the children are safe.
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
In a perfect world, every parent would chose the exact curriculum they want for their child. But in the real world, the school board does. Because the school board is made up of elected representatives, the needs and desires of the community should be reflected in the Board's decisions and all decisions should be made in a transparent manner. If not, the community must vote them out and elect representatives that speak for the voices of their constituents. The board must also honor and respect the rights of parents and a parent's natural desire to be informed and a part of their child's education. And when the board makes decisions on curriculum, it should be based on real statistics and academics and not political agendas.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Never. Time limits are imposed in most civic meetings and can also be used in school board meetings but those limits cannot be arbitrarily imposed. Everyone should get the same amount of time to speak on any given day or any given topic.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): Mathematics, Information Technology, Science, Political Activism, Personal Finances, Gender Identity, Physical Fitness, American History, Critical Race Theory, Language Arts, Art & Music, Vocational Learning, Sexuality, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning
Language arts, math, science, American history, physical fitness, information technology, foreign language, vocational learning, sexuality, arts and music, personal finances, social emotional learning
American civics education should emphasize our nation's founding principles of liberty and equality.
Strongly Agree
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Neutral
Parents should always have a say in what happens with their children but I think opt-out may be a better option. Most children could benefit from programs like these if they were implemented correctly, without bias. If school boards were more transparent and maintained a focus on education and not pushing of a social agenda perhaps we could have programs like this implemented in schools in such a way that virtually no parent would object to them.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Agree
School districts need a certain degree of autonomy over the decisions being made as those districts represent diverse populations with unique needs. The federal government is too far removed and too corrupt to be making decisions that affect kids in our county. If school boards are making decisions that adversely effect the children, the community can come together to vote out those representatives; that is a lot harder to do on the federal level.
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Disagree
I dont support anything that states that "racism is the foundation of American History." Racism was an undisputed part of our history and unfortunately continues to be present to this day. We should definitely present this information and discuss this with kids, as well as highlight the important ways that minorities have contributed to this country. But I am not comfortable saying that racism is the "foundation" of our country.
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My values stem from my family and not any particular religion. My mom raised me on the "golden rule" and I practice it to this day. I also have a deep love and compassion for all beings which is apparent in my life's work in the helping professions. I believe there is a higher power that unites us all, however, I chose not to label that belief.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Absolutely not. Women fought for decades to have an equal playing field, to have sports leagues and teams so that we could compete and receive the recognition that goes along with being a dedicated and successful athlete. I recognize that there are some people who do not identify with their biological sex and I feel great compassion and empathy for them as that has got to be very confusing and painful. But I do not think the feelings of these few individuals outweigh the needs of the many.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
Sex education should take place in schools around the time of puberty (erring on the side of too soon rather than too late) which is towards the end of elementary. Schools should teach kids about anatomy and biology, instruct them on the consequences of unsafe sex and teach them how to self advocate and refuse unwanted sexual advances. However, research shows that sex education is more effective when parents talk about it at home.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- Physical and emotional health outcomes; contraceptive methods; consent; abstinence; sexual orientation and gender identity; human anatomy/the reproductive system; abortion methods and side effects; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; sex acts and pleasures of sex
consent, abstinence, contraceptive methods, human anatomy, stages of pregnancy, physical and emotional outcomes, sexual orientation but not gender identity
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Disagree
I think our government and constitution work just fine regardless of your religious background.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Agree
Absolutely! Parents have a right and a say in all things related to their children. However, one must differentiate between a child and an adolescent. If the teen can drive a car by themself, they can probably go get contraception by themselves.
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Strongly Agree
The overwhelming majority of people identify with their natal sex. When teens feels a disconnection between their expressed gender and natal sex their parents should be contacted immediately and given a list of psychological resources for this child. Transgender relates to a psychological disorder known as gender dysphoria and the school has no business treating psychiatric illness or assessing for it.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
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
A candidate's personal moral values should not be relevant when considering a candidacy for elective office.
Strongly Disagree
Morals in a lot of ways is synonymous with the term "ethics", which are an integral part of any civil service job
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?
Choose not to answer
I am resistant to being pigeon-holed or forced into a box, so I cannot select any of these options. My beliefs are based on data, experience and a common-sense approach to life. I choose to evaluate issues independently and formulate my opinions based on the issue itself not on ideology or dogma.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I was raised by a single mom and had a job since I was 15. In addition to scholarships, I had to work throughout college in order to be able to afford it. I finished undergrad and went on to grad school where I was licensed as a mental health counselor and then from there I went on to pursue more schooling in order to obtain my BCBA. After working in the field for several years I launched my own company and was very successful in it. You could say that I am driven. In my career as a mental health professional, I have dedicated my time to helping kids/teens deal with a variety of issues: childhood abuse/neglect (DCF involvement), substance abuse, suicidality, depression and anxiety. In the last 8 years the majority of my time and energy has gone towards helping and advocating for children with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum and ADHD. I have a passion for people and for helping and I have always been committed to advocating for the underdog. I have no intention of stopping. As a board member I will speak up for the children and families of Broward County, but I am more than just talk, I am a woman of action. I am a natural leader and effective communicator and I am fearless and cannot be deterred. I will bring to the board something that is desperately lacking, an expertise in child development/behavior. I am not a politician, I am a mental health professional and advocate for children. I cannot be bought or swayed to do what is deemed "cool" or acceptable. Last but not least you should know that I am honest and direct. The Broward County School Board has a reputation for being shady and lacking accountability and transparency. I am person with nothing to hide and no hair on the tongue. You may not always agree with me but I will always be honest with you because as an elected representative chosen by the people, it is my ethical obligation to do so. Plus, I am my mother's daughter and in my family, we tell it like it is.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I was raised by a single mom and had a job since I was 15. In addition to scholarships, I had to work throughout college in order to be able to afford it. I finished undergrad and went on to grad school where I was licensed as a mental health counselor and then from there I went on to pursue more schooling in order to obtain my BCBA. After working in the field for several years I launched my own company and was very successful in it. You could say that I am driven. In my career as a mental health professional, I have dedicated my time to helping kids/teens deal with a variety of issues: childhood abuse/neglect (DCF involvement), substance abuse, suicidality, depression and anxiety. In the last 8 years the majority of my time and energy has gone towards helping and advocating for children with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum and ADHD. I have a passion for people and for helping and I have always been committed to advocating for the underdog. I have no intention of stopping. As a board member I will speak up for the children and families of Broward County, but I am more than just talk, I am a woman of action. I am a natural leader and effective communicator and I am fearless and cannot be deterred. I will bring to the board something that is desperately lacking, an expertise in child development/behavior. I am not a politician, I am a mental health professional and advocate for children. I cannot be bought or swayed to do what is deemed "cool" or acceptable. Last but not least you should know that I am honest and direct. The Broward County School Board has a reputation for being shady and lacking accountability and transparency. I am person with nothing to hide and no hair on the tongue. You may not always agree with me but I will always be honest with you because as an elected representative chosen by the people, it is my ethical obligation to do so. Plus, I am my mother's daughter and in my family, we tell it like it is.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Disagree
There are school districts that are implementing this now. We need to wait and see what the data says about these policies and whether or not they have an effect on school shootings. I dont make decisions without data
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
If they are a private school they can require vaccines. Publicly funded schools have no business being involved in a child's medical decisions. The child does not belong to the school nor the state.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
I support no mandate that removes my bodily autonomy
