Elaine Schwartz for Florida State House of Representatives Distr

Background:

-I have been an activist for liberal/progressive causes and have been training for this job my whole life.
-From my experience as a classroom teacher, as an Elder Law attorney working for the rights of the elderly and disabled, and as an appointed Commissioner on the Hollywood Housing Authority, I have put the first principles of bettering our community and "having a stake in each other's future" (to paraphrase Barak Obama) not only in words but in my actions.
-I have joined liberal causes, AND worked and lead them, having been Florida State Public Affairs Co-Chair for National Council of Jewish Women for many years, leading the advocacy efforts on behalf of children, families, constitutional rights, gender equality and gay rights, as well as efforts against war.

Goals:

-Fighting for our families, protecting our seniors, and building a first-class public education system - are being trampled on by right-wing extremists in Tallahassee.
- I want to be sure that our Democratic Voice is heard loud and clear!

Issues:

* Quality Public Education - funding, enhancement, class sizes and teachers salaries
* Quality Health Care for everyone
* Removing Government intrusion into our private lives, but returning it to protect Workers, Families, and enforcement of Constitutional rights for marriage equality, civil rights liberties, separation of Chruch and State and separation of powers.

Grassroots Support:

-A Huge role! I am walking door to door with supporters daily!
-Grassroots organizing is the base of my campaign.
-As President of the Hills Democratic Club of Hollywood, our base includes many of the 1,000 volunteers who we helped organize during the last presidential campaign.
-Also, I helped found, and am currently a director, of a progressive group in Broward County called the "Grassroots Patriots - Feet on the Street Democrats"(www.grassrootspatriots.org) which has been the backbone of two recent Democratic victories in recent local races.
-With good walking lists, walkers, and help from the thousands of volunteers during the Kerry campaign, we plan to rekindle that energy into the coming elections.

DFA Values:

-My background will tell you, from deeds and not just words and promises, the focus of my priorities.
- As an Elder Law Attorney, I am keenly aware of the absolutely need for social programs that help preserve the dignity of seniors as they approach diminution of their faculties through responsible programs for Public Benefits, as well as the crying need for a reformed health care and insurance system.
-In addition, my fervor for constitutional protections came was formulated by two of my law school professors at NYU School of Law, Norman Dorsen (head of the ACLU for 25 years) and now Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Minority rights, including those of women and gays, and separation of church and state, must be protected to preserve our democracy.
-As to fiscal responsibility, I am the only candidate in this race who has a deep understanding of the limitations faced by government in taxing/spending programs, since I have served as an attorney at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an Assistant City Attorney in Hollywood, Florida and as an appointed commissioner on the HUD Hollywood Housing Authority.
- Fiscal responsibility begins at home - with the demand that our government refrain from cutting social programs by increasing tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, and providing "corporate welfare" through non-bid contracts here and abroad
-Proof of my own campaign\'s fiscal responsibility, as Tom Fiedler, Executive Editor of the Miami Herald stated, is the "first primary" - convincing individuals to "invest" in the candidate. More than 250 individuals from this community, of varied backgrounds, have contributed to my campaign so far. To date, I have received the endorsements of the AFLCIO, the State, County and Hollywood Professional Firefighters, and the Broward Teachers Union.