Jason Bellamy-Fults

Florida is uniquely vulnerable to rising sea levels, increased number and strength of hurricanes, and higher ambient temperatures. The economy of Florida is driven to a large degree by tourism and agriculture. Both segments are critically impacted by the negative effects of climate chaos and unpredictability.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Agriculture has always been impacted by weather events. However, today those events occur more often than previous years. Heat stress contributes to lower crop yields, lower milk production, shorter window for high quality fresh fruits and vegetables and greater impacts of pests and disease (e.g., citrus greening). Agricultural labor must also mitigate the negative effects of higher temperature working conditions.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

We have to address the cost of living issues that are crushing Florida families. Too many people in our state are uninsured or underinsured and struggling with unaffordable housing costs and utility bills. All working people deserve the right to a livable wage and union representation if they so desire.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

I’ve been involved in numerous efforts in my city and county that directly impacted the lives of working people, including: fighting against wage theft getting people higher wages and the right to union representation on the job restoration of voting rights reform and local control of our utility renters’ rights, and access to affordable housing and healthcare.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Approximately 75% of Florida electricity production is supplied by imported fossil gas. Importing gas provides little economic benefit to the people of Florida and exposes us to dramatic price fluctuations based on global market demand. The Sunshine State has a growing industry in solar and battery industry jobs, and we can do even better. The Florida solar industry currently supports over 12,000 jobs statewide. Expanding distributed solar could significantly increase this number, with every installation creating local employment across electrical, construction, and professional services sectors.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

We have to stop the blank checks for Tallahassee politicians. No more big business lobbyists buying our elected officials and then writing the legislation that they want to see. No more corporate handouts inserted into our state budget. And no more misuse of public funds.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

It was put on the ballot without adequate study or legislative deliberation.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason’s opponent has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from the major private utilities during a time of record rate hikes. Jason will represent the best interests of Florida ratepayers. He has also been a leader in the struggle for local control of his community’s utility and will continue to fight for your rights in Tallahassee.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

I’ve been involved in numerous efforts in my city and county that directly impacted the lives of working people, including: fighting against wage theft getting people higher wages and the right to union representation on the job restoration of voting rights reform and local control of our utility renters’ rights, and access to affordable housing and healthcare.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Oversight and control of utilities that provide energy to most Floridians is the purview of the Public Service Commission, (PSC). It is critical that the PSC perform their duties for the benefit of Florida citizens, instead of the utilities, donors and politicians. Policies that ensure that the appointed board of the PSC conducts their business transparently and in the interest of the people are necessary. Utilities in Florida are one of the largest political campaign contributors in the State. This money is used to influence legislation to the benefit of the shareholders, to the detriment of Florida residents in the form of rate increases, service shortfalls, and obstructing residents’ from controlling their own energy sources. Safety, economics and science should control the state’s energy agenda, not political ideology and corporate greed. It is imperative to have a third-party, independent, unbiased regulatory framework. True oversight by the PSC, whistleblower protections, and giving communities a real voice in utility decisions that affect their lives provides people power over their own finances and their energy future.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Unlike his opponent, who sought to do the utility industry’s bidding by killing solar net metering in Florida (SB 1024/HB 741), Jason will reduce the red tape and increase incentives for Floridians to invest in solar energy and reduce the flow of our consumer dollars out of the state. He will also fight to protect and strengthen solar net metering in our state.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason’s opponent has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from the major private utilities during a time of record rate hikes. Jason will represent the best interests of Florida ratepayers. He has also been a leader in the struggle for local control of his community’s utility and will continue to fight for your rights in Tallahassee.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

I’ve been involved in numerous efforts in my city and county that directly impacted the lives of working people, including: fighting against wage theft getting people higher wages and the right to union representation on the job restoration of voting rights reform and local control of our utility renters’ rights, and access to affordable housing and healthcare.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Approximately 75% of Florida electricity production is supplied by imported fossil gas. Importing gas provides little economic benefit to the people of Florida and exposes us to dramatic price fluctuations based on global market demand. The Sunshine State has a growing industry in solar and battery industry jobs, and we can do even better. The Florida solar industry currently supports over 12,000 jobs statewide. Expanding distributed solar could significantly increase this number, with every installation creating local employment across electrical, construction, and professional services sectors.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason’s Energy Policy Jason believes that Florida’s energy policy should prioritize: Accessibility and affordability Economic prosperity for Florida consumers and workers Sensitivity to Florida’s natural environment and that it should not be beholden to political ideology and special interest group influences This is at odds with Florida’s current energy policy, which prioritizes the desires of for-profit, monopoly utilities. As a result, Floridians are facing unnecessarily high utility bills, missing critical economic development opportunities, and degrading our natural environment for future generations. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Energy should be accessible and affordable Floridians' electric bills are too expensive because we allow the monopoly utilities too high a rate of return, do not require them to invest in efficiency, and fail to properly regulate them. These high electricity costs comprise too much of the average Floridian’s monthly expenses and can result in residents making tough choices between being comfortable in their home and being able to afford other necessities. Furthermore, unnecessary red-tape and regulatory hurdles prevent Floridians from taking control of accessibility and affordability of their own energy supply, by discouraging energy independence initiatives and instead supporting utility-controlled, centralized energy distribution. We will incentivize solar + battery storage systems that give Florida families energy independence during hurricanes and grid failures. No Floridian should have to choose between evacuating and losing everything in their freezer, or staying and hoping the power comes back. Distributed energy with storage is the most resilient grid architecture for a state that faces annual hurricane threats.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Oversight and control of utilities that provide energy to most Floridians is the purview of the Public Service Commission, (PSC). It is critical that the PSC perform their duties for the benefit of Florida citizens, instead of the utilities, donors and politicians. Policies that ensure that the appointed board of the PSC conducts their business transparently and in the interest of the people are necessary. Utilities in Florida are one of the largest political campaign contributors in the State. This money is used to influence legislation to the benefit of the shareholders, to the detriment of Florida residents in the form of rate increases, service shortfalls, and obstructing residents’ from controlling their own energy sources. Safety, economics and science should control the state’s energy agenda, not political ideology and corporate greed. It is imperative to have a third-party, independent, unbiased regulatory framework. True oversight by the PSC, whistleblower protections, and giving communities a real voice in utility decisions that affect their lives provides people power over their own finances and their energy future.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Florida is uniquely vulnerable to rising sea levels, increased number and strength of hurricanes, and higher ambient temperatures. The economy of Florida is driven to a large degree by tourism and agriculture. Both segments are critically impacted by the negative effects of climate chaos and unpredictability.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Agriculture has always been impacted by weather events. However, today those events occur more often than previous years. Heat stress contributes to lower crop yields, lower milk production, shorter window for high quality fresh fruits and vegetables and greater impacts of pests and disease (e.g., citrus greening). Agricultural labor must also mitigate the negative effects of higher temperature working conditions.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason’s Energy Policy Jason believes that Florida’s energy policy should prioritize: Accessibility and affordability Economic prosperity for Florida consumers and workers Sensitivity to Florida’s natural environment and that it should not be beholden to political ideology and special interest group influences This is at odds with Florida’s current energy policy, which prioritizes the desires of for-profit, monopoly utilities. As a result, Floridians are facing unnecessarily high utility bills, missing critical economic development opportunities, and degrading our natural environment for future generations. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Energy should be accessible and affordable Floridians' electric bills are too expensive because we allow the monopoly utilities too high a rate of return, do not require them to invest in efficiency, and fail to properly regulate them. These high electricity costs comprise too much of the average Floridian’s monthly expenses and can result in residents making tough choices between being comfortable in their home and being able to afford other necessities. Furthermore, unnecessary red-tape and regulatory hurdles prevent Floridians from taking control of accessibility and affordability of their own energy supply, by discouraging energy independence initiatives and instead supporting utility-controlled, centralized energy distribution. We will incentivize solar + battery storage systems that give Florida families energy independence during hurricanes and grid failures. No Floridian should have to choose between evacuating and losing everything in their freezer, or staying and hoping the power comes back. Distributed energy with storage is the most resilient grid architecture for a state that faces annual hurricane threats.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

We have to address the cost of living issues that are crushing Florida families. Too many people in our state are uninsured or underinsured and struggling with unaffordable housing costs and utility bills. All working people deserve the right to a livable wage and union representation if they so desire.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

We have to address the cost of living issues that are crushing Florida families. Too many people in our state are uninsured or underinsured and struggling with unaffordable housing costs and utility bills. All working people deserve the right to a livable wage and union representation if they so desire.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason supports more targeted property tax relief and substantive efforts in other areas that would reduce total housing costs (e.g., utility bills, property insurance, and housing supply) without undermining our communities. But ultimately he prefers that decisions about local taxation reside with our communities, where citizens can best assess their needs and hold their elected officials accountable. Jason urges voters to join him in voting against Amendment 3 this election and to have conversations with their families, neighbors, and colleagues to help others see through this dangerous proposal.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

I’ve been involved in numerous efforts in my city and county that directly impacted the lives of working people, including: fighting against wage theft getting people higher wages and the right to union representation on the job restoration of voting rights reform and local control of our utility renters’ rights, and access to affordable housing and healthcare.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason’s opponent has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from the major private utilities during a time of record rate hikes. Jason will represent the best interests of Florida ratepayers. He has also been a leader in the struggle for local control of his community’s utility and will continue to fight for your rights in Tallahassee.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

We have to stop the blank checks for Tallahassee politicians. No more big business lobbyists buying our elected officials and then writing the legislation that they want to see. No more corporate handouts inserted into our state budget. And no more misuse of public funds.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason opposes Amendment 3 for several reasons: It would do significant harm to the budgets of our municipal governments throughout the state (billions of dollars in reduced revenue annually: Over $4 billion reduction in revenue in fiscal year 2027-28 and greater than $8 billion in fiscal year 2028-29, according to state legislative staff, with those numbers rising each year thereafter). No state funding has been proposed to offset these losses, and they would likely result in reduced services, increased fees, and/or cost shifts at the local level. Our rural and fiscally-constrained communities will be harmed the most by this amendment. If the amendment passes, it would dramatically alter the balance of power in our state, shifting it even further from our communities toward state government.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Jason supports more targeted property tax relief and substantive efforts in other areas that would reduce total housing costs (e.g., utility bills, property insurance, and housing supply) without undermining our communities. But ultimately he prefers that decisions about local taxation reside with our communities, where citizens can best assess their needs and hold their elected officials accountable. Jason urges voters to join him in voting against Amendment 3 this election and to have conversations with their families, neighbors, and colleagues to help others see through this dangerous proposal.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

Energy should be accessible and affordable Floridians' electric bills are too expensive because we allow the monopoly utilities too high a rate of return, do not require them to invest in efficiency, and fail to properly regulate them. These high electricity costs comprise too much of the average Floridian’s monthly expenses and can result in residents making tough choices between being comfortable in their home and being able to afford other necessities. Furthermore, unnecessary red-tape and regulatory hurdles prevent Floridians from taking control of accessibility and affordability of their own energy supply, by discouraging energy independence initiatives and instead supporting utility-controlled, centralized energy distribution. We will incentivize solar + battery storage systems that give Florida families energy independence during hurricanes and grid failures. No Floridian should have to choose between evacuating and losing everything in their freezer, or staying and hoping the power comes back. Distributed energy with storage is the most resilient grid architecture for a state that faces annual hurricane threats.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources

We live in a diverse state. Gainesville’s needs are different from Glen St. Mary’s, and no one in Tallahassee knows what’s better for our communities than we the people who live there. If Tallahassee politicians can’t help us achieve our goals, they can at least get out of the way. Stop the endless preemptions and respect home rule and local democracy.

takingbackflorida.org · Sources