Palm Beach Post Editorial Board endorsement: Tom Valeo for Florida House District 93 Democratic primary
Voters in Florida House District 93 ultimately will pick a new state lawmaker to represent them in a newly drawn statehouse district. For Democratic voters, four candidates hope to win the Aug. 23 primary race to represent their party as a candidate for the House seat in the November election.
The Palm Beach Post recommends voters choose Tom Valeo, who is making his first race for elective office but is no stranger to the district, its issues or its local Democratic politics.
More Post Editorial Board endorsements: Kelly Skidmore for Florida House District 92
The 93rd House district includes the Village of Wellington, stretching east to include portions of Greenacres, Lake Worth and Boynton Beach in the unincorporated Palm Beach County. The Democratic contest for the district seat is a closed primary, which means only voters registered as Democrats can vote in this race. The winner will face Republican Saulis Banionis in the November general election.
Valeo is a 29-year-old school district employee from Wellington. He shows promise, with six years of statehouse experience, having worked for then-state Rep. Lori Berman and later for state Rep. Matt Willhite. His work as a district and legislative aide included assisting in writing policy legislation and appropriation requests from Palm Beach County. If elected, Valeo has enough knowledge of Tallahassee to hit the ground running.
Valeo would be a consistent Democratic vote in the Florida House. His priorities include expanded access to healthcare and home ownership and ensuring schools have more resources to help students, teachers and staff He'd also work to strengthen Florida's gun laws, particularly expanding background checks and Florida's existing 'red flag' laws.
The open seat has attracted several deserving candidates. For example, Katherine Waldron, 62, of West Palm Beach, brings to the table her experience as Port of Palm Beach commissioner. Rounding out the field are two political newcomers: Shelly Lariz Albright, a 52 -year-old director of children's and youth ministries in Wellington, making her first run for office and Seth Densen, a 38-year-old social worker living in Wellington who is also entering politics for the first time.
Other Palm Beach Post Editorial Board endorsements
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Elections 2022: Post endorses Valeo for Florida House District 93
