April 29th 2012

Fort Myers Fla: May 1st in Fort Myers at Ballyorney’s Irish Pub at 6pm two elected officials competing for one Florida State Senator position will square off in a debate held by the SWFL Young Republicans. This group of young people are known for hosting debates that ask direct questions of the candidates on the hot topics of the day. These debates are free of charge, open to the public and you do not have to be a Republican to attend. Senator Benaquisto is currently the representative of District 27 and was elected to this position in 2010. The Senate District Sen Benequisto and Rep Williams are competing for will cover large parts of Lee and Charlotte Counties. Rep Williams was elected to the Florida House of Representatives District 75 in 2004 and has been re-elected into that position many times.

There have been some hot button issues in the last year in which these two legislators have voted differently that affect Lee County especially. Recently, the Aaron Edwards Bill was voted on which gave 15 million dollars to the child’s family and the lawyers involved affected by medical complications at Lee Memorial Hospital in a lump sum. Locally, Rep Trudi Williams and Rep Paige Kreegel voted against the 15 million lump sum that will hurt Lee Memorial who provides the trauma center and children’s hospital for the area. They instead wanted an amendment that would give the child 5 million dollars in an annuity of 230k a year for the life of the child (the child already receives free medical care for life) instead of a large lump sum that could be spent unwisely. Sen Benaquisto and Rep Aubuchon and others passed the 15 million dollar lump sum which could result in layoffs of employees from Lee Memorial Hospital and other changes in this public hospital that survives without tax dollars.

According to Sen Benaquisto’s website she was first elected to the Florida Senate in 2010, Lizbeth Benacquisto currently represents Southwest Florida in the 27th district. Senator Benacquisto is the Chair of the Budget Committee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development and is Vice Chair of General Government Appropriations. She is running for re-election to the Florida Senate in 2012.

According to Rep William’s website in 2004, Trudi was elected to the Florida House of Representatives serving the residents of Southwest Florida in District 75, and has been overwhelmingly re-elected for three consecutive terms. Having been appointed to Chair the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriation Subcommittee and the Select Committee on Water Policy, Trudi is a strong advocate for responsible environmental regulation. She has also served on the State Appropriation Committee and the State Affairs Committee.

Ballyorney’s Irish Pub at 13851 South Tamiami Trail in Ft Myers Fla at 6pm on May 1st is the location for this debate. Doors open and social hour starts at 6pm with drink specials and your chance to talk to many local candidates for many different elections. The last debate held by the SWFL Young Republicans had over 100 attend so come early. The Lee County Commission Candidate Debate, State House Representative debates held by the club are viewable on youtube or the SWFLYR website.

Tagged Ballyorney's, Rep Gary Aubuchon, Rep Paige Kreegel, Rep Trudi Williams, Sen Lizbeth Benaquisto, State Senate Debate, SWFLYR