Issues

Environmental Stewardship and Property Rights

I believe that we must be wise stewards of our environment while keeping in mind that people were given dominion over plants and animals, not the other way around. The environment is ours to use but not abuse. Deserts should be turned into fertile grounds and gardens, but fertile grounds and gardens must never become concrete deserts.

The Fifth Amendment explicitly sates that: “No person shall … be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Government seizures of private property must never be permitted under a perversion of eminent domain for private commercial uses officials deem more profitable or desirable, not even with just compensation! Florida’s 2006 eminent domain protections contain a large loophole allowing exceptions approved by
three fifths of each house of our Legislature. As your Representative, I will close this loophole.

Finally no owner who purchased land with known zoning limitations should be entitled to change those restrictions since it was priced appropriately. Neighboring owners purchased their properties because of those restrictions. Special changes infringe on neighboring property owners’ rights by potentially decreasing a property’s values or enjoyment. It is not government's job to promote or restrict growth. It is government's job to keep people and markets free. Free people exercising their rights without infringing on the rights of others will give us balanced growth.