The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County created questions to educate our membership and the community about the candidates and their perspectives. Below are the questions and the candidates that replied. Please click on their name to read their responses.
Jobs: The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County believes high wage job creation is one of the most important factors when it comes to solving our community’s most pressing concerns, such as poverty and crime. According to the Florida Scorecard, 1,232 net new jobs are needed by 2030. Please provide an example of policies you have supported in the past or plan to in the future to advance job growth in this market and what will you do in the future to grow jobs?
Talent: The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County believes high wage job creation is one of the most important factors when it comes to solving our community’s most pressing concerns, such as poverty and crime. According to the Florida Scorecard, 1,232 net new jobs are needed by 2030. Please provide an example of policies you have supported in the past or plan to in the future to advance job growth in this market and what will you do in the future to grow jobs?
Business Climate: One of our strategic goals as a Chamber is creating a welcoming climate for business and private investment in our community. Is this a priority of yours? What policies have you supported in the past or would you recommend in the future to improve our community’s business climate?
Affordable Housing: Palm Beach County is facing several housing issues from housing equity to lack of product whether that be affordable rentals or workforce housing. Palm Beach County commissioners recently voted to ask voters this November to approve a $200 million bond issue to address the county’s housing affordability crisis. What are you prepared to do to expand the supply of housing in our market to help lower prices and make housing more affordable for local people, and are you in favor of or against the bond?
Taxes: Do you foresee any circumstance where you raise taxes during your term in office if elected? If your elected seat does not pass tax policy, what is your general philosophy when it comes to taxation?
Collaboration: The Women’s Chamber of Commerce believes that collaboration is critical when it comes to solving the County’s most pressing concerns. Provide an example in your career of partnering with other organizations to achieve positive results for our community?
Women in the Workforce: The Women’s Chamber of Commerce knows women in the workforce face a unique set of challenges daily and that equity in the workplace is a critical aspect of success. Please describe a policy that has impacted equity in the workplace, locally.
Workplace Culture: We often talk about the “glass ceiling” that prevents women from reaching senior leadership positions. In reality, the biggest obstacle that women face is much earlier in the pipeline, at the first step up to manager. Fixing this “broken rung” is the key to achieving parity. What policies have you supported in the past or would you recommend in the future to improve in workplace culture?
Our Community: Overall, do you think our community is heading in the right direction, at a standstill, or in the wrong direction? What are the major factors to support your ranking?
Anything else they would like to add
Lori Berman – State Senate, District 26
Blair Ciklin – Port of Palm Beach, Group 4
Terence Davis – Florida House, District 94
Jervonte Edmonds – State Representative, District 88
Edwin Ferguson – Palm Beach County School Board, District 7
Carmen Jackie Gimenez – Florida Governor
Michelle Oyola McGovern – Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 6
Deandre Poole – Port of Palm Beach, Group 5
Mark Napier – US House of Representatives, District 23
David Silvers – State Representative, District 89
Andy Thompson – State Representative, District 91
Katherine Waldron – State House, District 93
Robert S. Weinroth – Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 4