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State Representative, District 25

State

Photo of Farmer Banks Helfrich

Photo: bankshelfrich.com

Farmer Banks Helfrich

No bio available for this candidate

Position on major issues

Agriculture and rural policy

We begin by conserving and preserving our natural resources. Putting land and water aside for water reclamation and utilization. Allowing water to do what water does best, which is filter down to our aquafer. We incentivize farmers and ranchers to leave land as native as Florida. We pursue developers to add conservation and preservation land use in their development plans. We spearhead and implement water conservation/preservation models for other states to emulate.

bankshelfrich.com ·

This may sound simple, yet we are all from gardeners. Our ancestors farmed and raised animals before the industrial revolution. We start by growing our own groceries. Having the resources available for community gardens, backyard gardens, and balcony gardens.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Artificial intelligence

This same approach can be utilized for Highway 27 from the Turnpike to Sheffield Road. In this case, we can also implement AI (Artificial Intelligence), thus cutting costs further.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Criminal justice and policing

Equip first responders with the knowledge and tools needed to deal with Special Needs Floridians. This four-hour Continuing Education course including awareness and de-escalation will prepare First Responders with the humanity and grace needed to make sure every Special Needs Floridian is treated with respect and dignity.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Economy, jobs and wages

Education

So, you want to cut property taxes? What a fantastic idea! Wait, what exactly do property taxes pay for? Roughly half of property taxes pay for education, and the rest covers roads, police, fire, libraries, waste management, parks and trails.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Environment and climate

First, we designate Citizens' insurance to cover wind/hurricane coverage only. Second, we allow private insurance companies to supply all other coverage with the option to cover hurricanes. This will grow the private insurance pool and in a market economy, help to lower premiums. With Florida’s surplus of over 9 billion dollars and help from FEMA, the smartest solution is to have the state insure the catastrophic insurance instead of burdening private insurance with it.

bankshelfrich.com ·

We begin by conserving and preserving our natural resources. Putting land and water aside for water reclamation and utilization. Allowing water to do what water does best, which is filter down to our aquafer. We incentivize farmers and ranchers to leave land as native as Florida. We pursue developers to add conservation and preservation land use in their development plans. We spearhead and implement water conservation/preservation models for other states to emulate.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Development has exploded putting pressure on our natural resources. Traffic has clogged our rural areas, and our shoreline is shrinking. We will live with these problems, or together we will work on solutions.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Yes, I have a plan to curb EXCESSIVE DEVELOPMENT.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Families and social services

Yes, I have a plan to better equip FIRST RESPONDERS with the challenges of interacting with our SPECIAL NEEDS CITIZENS.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Healthcare

Equip first responders with the knowledge and tools needed to deal with Special Needs Floridians. This four-hour Continuing Education course including awareness and de-escalation will prepare First Responders with the humanity and grace needed to make sure every Special Needs Floridian is treated with respect and dignity.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Housing

First, we designate Citizens' insurance to cover wind/hurricane coverage only. Second, we allow private insurance companies to supply all other coverage with the option to cover hurricanes. This will grow the private insurance pool and in a market economy, help to lower premiums. With Florida’s surplus of over 9 billion dollars and help from FEMA, the smartest solution is to have the state insure the catastrophic insurance instead of burdening private insurance with it.

bankshelfrich.com ·

As homeowners in Florida, we have two choices for property insurance – to be or not to be. If our home is paid off, we are not required to hold insurance on it. Many opt for this approach because of the skyrocketing cost of insurance. Most of us though are on the other side of ownership.…

bankshelfrich.com ·

Yes, I have a plan to lower your PROPERTY INSURANCE.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Over the past five years, the cost of living in Florida has significantly increased putting Florida above the national average. As a state without income taxes, you would think Floridians could afford to live in Florida. Just the contrary. The increased cost of rent, buying a home, home insurance and car insurance are forcing Floridians to leave the state.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Instead of inventing the wheel, look at what other states are doing and how they are handling the increase in property insurance costs. North Carolina and California are on opposite sides of this country, yet both have found ways to keep property insurance at bay. North Carolina offers a public insurance option which covers only hurricanes for all North Carolinian homeowners, and this is optional, not mandatory. Simply put, if you want hurricane insurance you get it through the State not private insurance companies. California offers the same type of insurance for earthquakes. Both approaches allow private insurance companies to cover all other insurances without having the burden of a company ending event. By allowing more private insurance companies to insure what they can insure keeps our insurance landscape healthy and affordable. Vibrant insurance companies keep our citizens covered. One catastrophic hurricane or earthquake can force many private companies into bankruptcy. Allowing states to cover these incidences keeps private insurance companies solvent. A few years back when Florida was hit with four hurricanes in one season, many insurance companies went belly up and left the state because of the high cost of insuring Floridians.

bankshelfrich.com ·

What exactly is Florida’s Citizens Insurance? It is a state-run insurance option. It is used for those homeowners who are kicked off private insurance because of high risk. High risk usually refers to homes in flood zones and coastal areas which are prone to direct hurricane strikes. Now, the State of Florida has a culminative reserve of 18 billion dollars with $5 billion set aside for a rainy-day fund. By allotting more state funding, Citizens can expand to include all Florida homeowners who desire hurricane coverage. The more Floridians are covered the less cost per person – law of economics. This will be a supplemental insurance and covered by Florida and its citizens. Private insurance companies will cover all other insurance. This is Florida’s North Carolina and California’s approach to keeping property insurance affordable. We can stay the course and property insurance will most definitely continue to increase aggressively like we have seen for the past few years, or we can look towards other states who have found ways to maintain a high quality of insurance without skyrocketing costs.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Infrastructure and transportation

This same approach can be utilized for Highway 27 from the Turnpike to Sheffield Road. In this case, we can also implement AI (Artificial Intelligence), thus cutting costs further.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Development has exploded putting pressure on our natural resources. Traffic has clogged our rural areas, and our shoreline is shrinking. We will live with these problems, or together we will work on solutions.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Yes, I have a plan to decrease TRAFFIC CONGESTION in South Lake County.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Local control

Yes, I have a plan to curb EXCESSIVE DEVELOPMENT.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Taxes and government spending

So, you want to cut property taxes? What a fantastic idea! Wait, what exactly do property taxes pay for? Roughly half of property taxes pay for education, and the rest covers roads, police, fire, libraries, waste management, parks and trails.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Over the past five years, the cost of living in Florida has significantly increased putting Florida above the national average. As a state without income taxes, you would think Floridians could afford to live in Florida. Just the contrary. The increased cost of rent, buying a home, home insurance and car insurance are forcing Floridians to leave the state.

bankshelfrich.com ·

What exactly is Florida’s Citizens Insurance? It is a state-run insurance option. It is used for those homeowners who are kicked off private insurance because of high risk. High risk usually refers to homes in flood zones and coastal areas which are prone to direct hurricane strikes. Now, the State of Florida has a culminative reserve of 18 billion dollars with $5 billion set aside for a rainy-day fund. By allotting more state funding, Citizens can expand to include all Florida homeowners who desire hurricane coverage. The more Floridians are covered the less cost per person – law of economics. This will be a supplemental insurance and covered by Florida and its citizens. Private insurance companies will cover all other insurance. This is Florida’s North Carolina and California’s approach to keeping property insurance affordable. We can stay the course and property insurance will most definitely continue to increase aggressively like we have seen for the past few years, or we can look towards other states who have found ways to maintain a high quality of insurance without skyrocketing costs.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Technology and privacy

This same approach can be utilized for Highway 27 from the Turnpike to Sheffield Road. In this case, we can also implement AI (Artificial Intelligence), thus cutting costs further.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Emergency management

Yes, I have a plan to better equip FIRST RESPONDERS with the challenges of interacting with our SPECIAL NEEDS CITIZENS.

bankshelfrich.com ·

Instead of inventing the wheel, look at what other states are doing and how they are handling the increase in property insurance costs. North Carolina and California are on opposite sides of this country, yet both have found ways to keep property insurance at bay. North Carolina offers a public insurance option which covers only hurricanes for all North Carolinian homeowners, and this is optional, not mandatory. Simply put, if you want hurricane insurance you get it through the State not private insurance companies. California offers the same type of insurance for earthquakes. Both approaches allow private insurance companies to cover all other insurances without having the burden of a company ending event. By allowing more private insurance companies to insure what they can insure keeps our insurance landscape healthy and affordable. Vibrant insurance companies keep our citizens covered. One catastrophic hurricane or earthquake can force many private companies into bankruptcy. Allowing states to cover these incidences keeps private insurance companies solvent. A few years back when Florida was hit with four hurricanes in one season, many insurance companies went belly up and left the state because of the high cost of insuring Floridians.

bankshelfrich.com ·

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