Primary Election Date: 08/24/2010
General Election Date: 11/02/2010

Who Am I?

Mark is a third generation Floridian, born and raised in South Florida. This lifelong connection to the state is at the heart of his commitment to its well-being and his understanding of its unique qualities and needs.

His mother and father met while working at Eastern Airlines in the early 1960s. Mark was born on April 11, 1966 in rural Dade County at North Shore Hospital. He has a younger brother and sister, Mike and Susan.

Mark is proud to have been educated in Florida's public school system, beginning with Natural Bridge Elementary and North Miami Junior High, and graduating from North Miami Senior High in 1984. He earned his AA degree from Miami-Dade Community College in 1986, and in 1988, received a Bachelor of Public Administration Degree from Florida International University in North Miami. After a year of post-baccalaureate study in Public Administration at FIU, he and his family relocated to Palm Beach County in the early 1990s.

After working with the Florida Legislature, Alzheimer's Association Southeast Florida Chapter for 10 years as its CEO, Area Agency on Aging, he now serves as the Director of Leadership Giving for The Lord's Place, a private, not-for-profit organization assisting homeless men, women and children.

The Lord's Place is located in West Palm Beach and does incredible work in the community.

Mark is married to Tracy a native of Lake Worth. He has two children, a daughter Audrey (17) and a son Brendan (13).

More about Mark's Background

My grandmother worked for Congressman Claude Pepper in Miami Beach. As a boy, I remember going with my mother to visit him during the 1960s. When he asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied "I still want to be Mark."

Remaining true to my principles, I have been inspired and motivated to serve my community in public office by Congressman Pepper's legacy of hard work, activism and integrity. By asking himself "What have I done today to lighten the burden of those who suffer?" Congressman Pepper fought to make the voices of his Florida neighbors heard.

Professional Affiliations

Director of Leadership Giving, The Lord's Place, Palm Beach County, 2008-present

Executive Director/CEO, Alzheimer's Association and Director of Planning & Policy, Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Palm Beach County, 1997-2008

Legislative Assistant, Rep. Lois Frankel, Dist 85, Florida House of Representatives, 1996-1997

Foster Care Review Board Member,2001 (Volunteer)

Senior Coordinator, Cultural Center Mngr., Village of Royal Palm Beach, 1993-1996

U.S. Congressional Aide, Congressman Lawrence J. Smith, Broward County, FL Congressional Dist 16, U.S. House of Representatives, 1989-1992

Interpretive Guide and Naturalist, Arch Creek Park, Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation, Dade County, FL, 1986-1989

Youth Conservation Corps, Dade County, FL, 1980

Club Affiliations

Member Democratic Executive Committee

Mid-County Democratic Club (Former VP)

Member Cypress Lakes Democratic Club

Member United Democratic Club of Century Village

Member Golden Lakes Democratic Club

Lake Worth West Democratic Club

Palm Beach County Young Democrats

Democracy For Palm Beach County

North County Haitian American Democratic Club

West Palm Beach Democratic Club

Why Am I Running?

I am dedicated to making sure that the actions of Florida's legislature reflect the wishes and needs of the people. My own experience as a legislative assistant to State Representative Lois Frankel allows me to hit the ground running and effectively represent my constituents. I am well-versed and experienced in the art of building support for important issues, drafting bills, caucusing with fellow legislators, and passing important bills and amendments.

I am committed to providing the people of House District 88 with access to the political process and with a voice in policy-making at the state level. My candidacy is based on a genuine concern for the well-being of my family, my neighbors and my community.

My wonderful wife Tracy and my children -- Audrey and Brendan -- are my number one motivation to devote time and energy to public service. It is vitally important to me that my children have the opportunity to learn in safe schools, receive a quality education, develop a deep appreciation for the outdoors, and enjoy their lives as young people.

I pledge to fight the powerful corporate and special interests tactics which are now threatening the Florida legislature's ability to design a sound budget which addresses the needs of Florida residents both today and in the future.

Hold Me Accountable!

Florida State Budget

I will continue to fight powerful corporate interests and political games threatening the Florida Legislature's ability to design a sound budget which addresses the needs of Florida residents both today and in the future. I will not vote for any budget that harms vulnerable Floridians or places the burden of taxes on the backs of our working families and individuals.

Florida’s budget defines how we treat our residents. Florida’s budget also defines who we are as a society. When people with disabilities are forced from homes to institutions, our elders are dying on waiting lists, our richest citizens get tax breaks in their sky boxes, and our children receive and education ranked 47th in the entire country, I will vote against a bad budget. I will continue do my best to be responsible and care for Florida and all of its people.

Property and Sales Taxes

Florida's tax structure needs immediate reform. Basing the state's revenue on property tax and sales tax, two of the most volatile sources of revenue, is the wrong approach to governing our state. I feel that this is an extremely regressive form of taxation putting the burden of Florida’s infrastructure squarely upon the backs of Florida’s working families. I will support efforts to replace Florida's overall tax structure by diversifying Florida's revenue streams and securing the resources to provide a better quality of life for Florida's residents and business communities.

Florida has lost billions in tax revenue during the last 11 years due loopholes and tax cuts for Florida’s wealthiest residents. Immediate relief will come from closing removing these loopholes. Long term relief will come by replacing a broken tax system that puts all of Florida’s eggs in one basket. We can no longer support our state on Mickey Mouse and Miami Beach, alone. Our people and businesses deserve a tax structure that, by its own existence, provides an inherent value. Paying the way for out-of-state businesses to move to Florida while not providing assistance to businesses who have operated for many years, decades in some cases, is wrong.

Homeowners Insurance

I fought the insurance industry in 2009. I voted against two bills that would have permitted increases in the rates they charge to Florida's homeowners. I could not endorse raising rates during the the most serious financial crisi we have experienced since the great depression. I will speak out and deny any attempts of the insurance lobby to create legislation that further increases profits while running away from their responsibility of insuring residents after they become a victim of hurricanes and other disasters.

Having experienced Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the most recent storms of 2003-2004 I am a strong proponent of good insurance at affordable fair rates. The greed must stop and insurance companies must be held accountable for delivering services they havepromised. When Floridians pay for insurance, they should get it.

Labor and Economy

I will support pro-competitive tax structures and immediately seek to make Florida a destination for businesses, especially those that incorporate green business practices. Our employees, our work force, is the single most important component of a strong economy (I support re-examaning The Florida Chamber Foundation's 1992 "Crossroads" report supporting tax reform). Ensuring that they are treated fairly, are provided salaries and benefits that truly enable them to live in Florida and take advantage of all that Florida has to offer is important to their quality of life. I will support laws that penalize businesses that pay employees under the table, fail to pay for workers compensation, and hire illegal aliens to limit their expenses while increasing the profits. If we really want to make Florida a great place to live and work, we must begin by treating our work force fairly.

Education

As the parent of two children attending public schools and with the experience of having served on a School Advisory Council (SAC) at H.L. Johnson Elementary School, I gained both a personal and practical understanding of the challenges facing our county's public school system. I believe we have an obligation to provide our children with an outstanding education. As your State Representative, I will:

Fight to abolish the FCAT,

Fight school vouchers,

Work to better Florida’s education rank from 47 to top 10,

support competitive salaries and benefits for our teachers, and

Provide increased incentives to teach in disadvantaged areas.

Our Seniors

Advocating on behalf of Florida's elders, as CEO of the Southeast Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and the Director of Advocacy & Public Policy at the Area Agency on Aging, afforded me with a unique perspective of not only those suffering from dementia, but also the medical and lifestyle challenges faced by South Florida's elders as a whole. That is why I personally spoke with Governor Charlie Crist and requested he use his veto to strike down the budget - it left 30,000 elders - high risk and low income -exposed to the possibility of entering a nursing home. I promise to continue fighting for:

Dollars to serve the 30,000 seniors now on waiting lists in the State of Florida (3,000 locally, one being 103 years old in Royal Palm Beach - having waited for 2 years!)

Options for seniors needing assistance, not supporting legislation that locks seniors into private managed care or HMOs

Affordable and effective prescription coverage for elders with a fixed income

Efficient and convenient county-wide public transportation

Development of community-based alternatives to long-term care solutions to live independently while maintaining dignity and quality of life
Growth

Urban sprawl threatens South Florida by destroying environmentally sensitive areas and creating inefficient service delivery structures. Creating economic incentives to revamp inner cities and metropolitan areas is critical. Increasing density as opposed to further sprawl must be a part of growth planning and it must begin now. I voted against many bad bills that would have weakened growth management in Florida and made it easier for developers to increase the sprawl that has blighted areas of the state. As examples of bills I voted against, see HB 1349 as amended and SB 360. Ill concieved legislation tilted to assist developers is a poor way to plan Florida's future.

Maturing as a state means moving away from our historical pattern of draining wetlands – our water shortage is no coincidence. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to move to Florida and we must act responsibly in providing sensible residences that create a balance, economically and environmentally.

Environment

A ballooning population (19,000,000) creates severe demand for Florida's natural resources. Historically that demand has helped to destroy much of Florida’s fragile ecosystem. Preserving our rural, agricultural, undeveloped and environmentally sensitive lands is the key to preserving what remains of Florida's ecosystem. The remaining Everglades and coastal areas need our support now, not later. I support the establishment of a flow-way reconnecting the River Of Grass, the Everglades, so we can restore what was once a pristine habitat for birds, unique wildlife, and healthy Florida Bay. Hoever, I intend to support Florida Forever funding so we can purchase important pieces of land to the North of Lake Okeechobee, thus continuing reduce phophorus levels entering the lake from pasture runoff.

I will also fight the creation of roads to nowhere and unplanned development. Key to long term protection comes in the form of education. New residents and children need to learn about Florida’s resources and the importance of conservation.

Juvenile Crime

Reaching out to young people at an early age can diminish crime and illegal activities. I will support early intervention and prevention efforts in order to minimize injury, death, and expenditures of tax dollars for incarceration, court costs and attorneys. Creating alternatives to joining gangs and drug sales is important.

I will support efforts to seek federal and state dollars that provide summer jobs and training opportunities that give young people trapped in seemingly impossible conditions the chance to break out and find success. Obviously this section is directly connected to Education, above.

Domestic Violence

There is no excuse for domestic violence. I will support legislation to:

Develop early intervention and diversion programs

Require prosecution of offenders to the fullest extent of the law

Create more opportunities for women and children to escape violence at home through increased funding of shelters, job training, and other means
Campaign Fianance Reform

Incumbent politicians have an unfair advantage over rivals seeking to challenge them. Big dollars make it difficult for folks without the means to run. Further, regular people working full time jobs may never have the chance to offer their skills as a public servant because they cannot afford the time off. I will support legislation that helps level the playing field in order to promote competitive elections that result in the most qualified candidates being elected.

Equal Rights for all Floridians

I will not support legislation that further erodes the rights of gay and lesbian citizens in Florida. I would support legislation that ensures that all Floridians are treated equally under the law and have the expectation that they will not be discriminated against simply because they are gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender.

Voting record can be found at wwww.myfloridahouse.gov

My DFA values:

I am one of the most progressive members of the Florida legislature. My voting history is very consistent regarding social issues concerning equal right for all people and families of Florida. I support gay marriage and adoption of children by GLBT familalies. I have sponsored and co-sponsored many bills which demonstrate my desire to make Florida a better place to live.

I have also sponsored legislation that closed a Documentary Stamp Loophole and a "Piggyback Bill" designed to allow government to operate more efficiently.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

Grassroot support is always a critical piece of my campaign. As a result, my campaign will benefit from planning, mail, canvassing, phone calls, contributions and volunteers for GOTV.