Holleran for District 11
About Me
I am originally from Long Island and am now retired here in Florida. I live in Hudson, in north west Pasco County with my cat Teddy. I have lived and worked overseas at American embassies and Consulates in Kazakhstan, Turkey, Pakistan, Russia and India and have watched Democracy erode away in many, if not most, of those countries. I am horrified to see the same thing happening here in America and especially in Florida.
Why I Am Running
I am running for a seat in the Florida State Senate representing DIstrict 11, against the Republican incumbent Blaise Ingoglia, because we need elected officials who care about what the citizens of Florida are actually concerned about; not pointless culture wars. Floridians care about Affordability, Health Care and Accountability. Florida also needs environmentally-wise elected officials who understand science and recognize that Climate Change is an existential crisis and that our state is Ground Zero in regards to the adverse effects of rising temperatures.
My Platform
I am concerned about many things but here are the top eight:
Affordability
Health Care
Accountability
The Environment
Climate Change
Voter Suppression
Home Rule
Sane Gun Control
Affordability
Florida is fast becoming unaffordable; rising housing costs including out-of-control home owners insurance premiums have priced many people out of the state. Yet the current Legislature has done nothing to rein in insurance costs.
Health Care
The State Legislature has enacted, the Governor has signed and the State Supreme Court has upheld a ban on abortion at six weeks, when most women do not know they are pregnant. The citizens of this state have shown their opposition by signing over one million petitions that would put a woman's right to make her own health care decisions in the State Constitution. This November I urge everyone to vote YES on Amendment 4.
Accountabiity
What actually goes on up there in Tallahassee? Are our elected officials listening to the average citizens of the state, or are they overly influenced by real estate developers, the utilities and the insurance industry? The Republican super-majority seem to take their marching orders directly from the Governor's mansion, even allowing Governor DeSantis to run for President while still keeping his day job! And, they approved the formation of the Governor's own private militia.
The Environment
Florida is a beautiful place but it is rapidly being paved over and its natural resources and wild spaces destroyed in order to build, build, build! Wildlife, having no place to go are now living in backyards. Endangered species are even more endangered. Loss of natural ground cover leads to more runoff and higher temperatures. There needs to be some balance between growth and nature.
Climate Change
The science is real. Climate Change is not a hoax. And Florida is Ground Zero. Rising temperatures will have a devastating effect on our state and our way of life; the heat is bringing wildlife, insects and diseases north from Central and South America, weather patterns are changing and warmer oceans are creating more, and more intense storms, and melting ice is raising ocean levels, causing increased flooding, even on sunny days. The solutions exist, but here in Florida the political will to apply the solutions does not.
Voter Suppression
Did you know that now, thanks to the Governor and his cronies in the State Legislature, you must re-enroll in Vote By Mail every election cycle? What was once a life time enrollment now must be done every two years. Did you know that you could be arrested for offering bottled water to voters standing on line outside in the sun and heat on election day?
Home Rule
The State is chipping away at the ability of local governments - Counties and Municipalities - to enact rules that exceed limits imposed by the State. A recent example is a bill, just signed by the Governor, that forbids local governments from requiring heat breaks for outdoor workers that exceed what the State already mandates. The fact that conditions vary throughout the state is disregarded.
Sane Gun Control
No, I do not want to take everyone's guns away! But we need some sanity in who gets to own what kind of gun and some agreement on licensing, training, safe storage and gun owners' responsibility for the use of their firearms. Children should not have unfettered access to whatever guns are in their home. Parents should be held responsible for their kid's action. We need to stop the slaughter of school children in school - a place that should be a safe space.