‘The answer isn’t to roll back protections against abusive litigation, it’s to demand accountability from providers and force them to care for their policyholders, not just their shareholders.’
The post Republican HD 38 candidate Marcus Hyatt says Florida must prioritize workers over special interests appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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In House District 38, Marcus Hyatt is running against Emily Duda Buckley in the GOP Primary to succeed term-limited Rep. David Smith.
Smith spent more than any House Republican in 2024 and narrowly won re-election. The Central Florida district includes Altamonte Springs and other portions of southern Seminole County.
Buckley has racked up high-profile endorsements and built a large fundraising advantage, but Hyatt argues his experience as a cop and an assistant state prosecutor make him the best candidate.
The Republican nominee will face Democrat Michelle DeJesus in November.
Florida Politics asked both GOP candidates to answer a few questions. We are publishing their responses unedited so voters can hear directly from candidates. Here’s what Hyatt told us:
— Profession: ESE teacher at Piedmont Lakes Middle School in Apopka from 2009 until 2011, where I taught during the day, full-time and I went to law school at night to complete my Juris Doctorate degree. After teaching, I became a prosecutor in Seminole County from 2011-2019. I resigned from Seminole County as a prosecutor to become a police officer with the Orlando Police Department from 2019-2023. After leaving the Orlando Police Department, I returned to practicing law. I now work at DSK Law in civil litigation.
— Education: I was accepted at UCF in 2003. I graduated in 2007 with a degree in Legal Studies. I then attended Barry University Law School from 2007 until graduating in 2010.
— Years in the district: More than 16 years.
— Community involvement: I attend Action Church in Seminole County with my family where I teach in children’s church. I was a member of the South Seminole Chamber of Commerce and on the Board with Fellowship of Christian Athletes before stepping down to better balance my campaign, work, and being a husband and father of four. For fun under normal circumstances, I practice jiu jitsu, travel with my family, and I love reading books.
— Why are you running? What are your top priorities if elected? I am running for office because I feel called to serve. I have a history of public service and I truly enjoy making people’s lives better through serving them sacrificially. My top priorities are addressing the issue(s) that are impacting District 38 the most, and that is tackling the affordability crisis. That is the number one issue residents are discussing with me consistently.
— What are the biggest challenges facing this district, and what can you realistically do about them if elected? There is great concern about rising food, electric, housing, and gas prices to name a few. I will continue supporting sensible reductions to property taxes. I will stand against hyper scale data centers to prohibit passing those costs to our district. I will continue the fight to lower home owners’ insurance premiums.
— The cost of groceries, gas, housing and utilities is top of mind for voters right now. What specific policies do you propose to make life more affordable for constituents? Our current affordability issues stem from a lack of balance in how public policy has been crafted over the last decade. Our current housing inventory is driven more by the economic interests of builders and not by the needs of the marketplace. The reason young families, first responders, and front-line workers like teachers and nurses can’t find housing that’s affordable is because it’s more profitable to sell expensive homes to retirees than it is to meet the needs of the workforce Florida depends on. The same is true with insurance. There is a current imbalance in favor of insurance providers that creates affordability challenges for policy holders. The answer isn’t to roll back protections against abusive litigation, it’s to demand accountability from providers and force them to care for their policyholders, not just their shareholders. We need leaders who will fight for the needs of our residents, instead of falling for the slick sales pitches from special interest groups and lobbyists.
— Is the GOP majority in the Legislature focused on the right priorities? Is there anything you disagree with your party on? The GOP majority is moving in the right direction. My hope, as an aspiring member of the GOP majority, is to provide more relief faster. Cutting taxes and reducing the size of government should be a priority we recommit ourselves to each year, but we need to be mindful of the influence lobbyists and special interests have over policy that has broader impacts on our citizens. The best defense against this is to remain grounded in Seminole County, engage with voters proactively, and reject the Tallahassee echo chambers that are designed to help special interests push their agendas.
— Some Floridians complain that rapid population growth is making Florida less affordable. How do you balance economic growth and development with protecting quality of life for existing residents? Population growth and economic growth are different. We have allowed population growth to replace economic growth as the defining characteristic of our state. When Florida businesses create high-paying careers, our state gets filled with residents who have a long-term approach to the welfare of Florida. They care about our schools, our environment, and our quality of life. They become stakeholders in where Florida is heading. This growth is self-sustaining. The population growth we’ve seen since COVID is not self-sustaining. It creates congestion, gridlock, and strains existing systems. We need to focus on sound economic growth that doesn’t add new strains on existing infrastructure or our environment.
— A majority of Floridians backed Amendments 3 and 4 in 2024, though neither reached 60% support. Should Florida loosen restrictions on abortion or legalize recreational marijuana? I did not support amendments 3 or 4. I am pro-life and oppose the expansion of recreational marijuana.
— Many counties have recently enacted data center bans and moratoriums, but our use of AI tools continues to grow. Is there a place for data centers anywhere in Florida, or should other states host the infrastructure that powers AI? Florida is dealing with growth that strains our road and water infrastructure to their limits. We do not have the capacity to add additional water infrastructure strains or explore “trial and error” experiments on the resiliency of our electric grid. I support local governments enacting data center bans and believe Tallahassee should respect the decisions of locally elected leaders.
— Will you vote in favor of Amendment 3 in November? If it passes, what (if anything) should the Legislature do to help municipalities reeling from the loss of ad valorem revenue? I will vote for Amendment 3 and look forward to working on responsible implementation of meaningful tax relief. I believe that we’ll be able to protect the core functions of government. Fire, police, public safety, education, trash collection, road improvements, etc. should be protected, but non-essential services will need to be reduced. I am excited to work with fiscally responsible counties and municipalities on ensuring that core services are protected.
— What is one bill you would like to file next Session? AI bill of rights to protect our children.
— Anything else you want voters to know about you? I want to serve our community to continue to make Florida a place that people want to live. I want our future to be bright for our children. I have demonstrated that I am dedicated to serving the public in Central Florida and will be an advocate for District 38 in Tallahassee.
The post Republican HD 38 candidate Marcus Hyatt says Florida must prioritize workers over special interests appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
