Welcome, Candidates!

VoteWater.org is a nonpartisan, grassroots initiative designed  to help Floridians identify clean-water representatives from the pool of local, state and federal candidates across Florida. Our team of volunteers will survey candidates for their stances on water-quality solutions. The outcome of this survey will be shared with hundreds of thousands of Florida voters during the 2022 election season and will form the basis for our Vote Water election guide.

Instructions

Below, you will find five issues followed by proposed solutions in the form of questions. These surveys may vary by slightly by office jurisdiction. Your opponents will receive identical questions. You will find additional space between each question for comments.

Important Final Step: To certify your responses you will be emailed a confirmation link. Please check your email after you have submitted the survey to finalize your submission. Thank you for your participation.

Question 1(Required)
1) The application of biosolids to farmland has been implicated in water pollution and harmful algal blooms in the St. Johns River and Big Cypress Lake. While temporary bans on the application of biosolids have been enacted, your county has not permanently banned the practice. Do you favor a permanent ban on the application of biosolids in your county?
Comments (Optional) References
Question 2(Required)
2) Though water quality in the Indian River Lagoon is improving, seagrass continues to die and imperil the endangered manatee populations. There's a growing consensus that the continued use of herbicides like Glyphosate (Roundup) may play a role in this; and a 2021 scientific study found Glyphosate in more than half of all Florida manatees sampled. Do you support banning spraying herbicides in waters (canals, streams and creeks) entering the Indian River Lagoon?
Comments (Optional) References
Question 3(Required)
3) State legislation, FDEP data and the Blue-Green Algae Task Force all report agriculture as the dominant source of phosphorus and nitrogen within most impaired watersheds of Florida. Do you agree industries and property owners should be held to clearly enforceable pollution standards and penalties; including mandatory adoption and verification of best management practices, and to implement inspection programs targeting septic, agriculture and industrial wastewater?
Comments (Optional) References
Question 4(Required)
2) Florida is booming, with an estimated 1,000 people moving here every day. As a result, development is pushing growth further into Florida’s rural and natural areas, imperiling wildlife and natural resources like clean water. Will you oppose changes to your county’s Comprehensive Plan/Urban Development Boundary that would allow non-agricultural development in rural areas outside the urban, most densely developed area(s) in your county?
Comments (Optional) References
Question 5(Required)
5) The Clean Waterways Act, passed in 2020, compels county governments and municipalities to resolve excess nutrient loading from septic and antiquated wastewater treatment systems. These pollution sources continue to adversely impact the health of the Northern Indian River Lagoon Complex (Indian River, Banana River, Mosquito Lagoon). Will you prioritize, in partnership with the state, the funding of wastewater treatment infrastructure and advocate for septic to sewer conversion requirements to meet the law’s standards?
Comments (Optional) References
Your Name(Required)