The race for Florida District 39 senate race is between incumbent Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs and Democrat Charles A. Lewis I.
One of Avila’s staff members said he was not available for an interview.
He is academic dean at Doral College and an officer in the Florida Army National Guard, according to his social media accounts.
Avila, 40, was a sponsor of what became known as the Live Local Act, which allows property owners to demolish and rebuild structures to maximum limits, without certain restrictions or penalties from municipal governments.
Lewis, 68, was born in Texas and has lived in Florida since about 2010. This is his first campaign for public office.
He said he entered the race after he was told that Avila did not have a challenger and said he has moved to the district from Tallahassee.
A retired gunnery sergeant for the United States Marine Corps, Lewis has worked as mortician and as an insurance agent. He is married and the father of six children, five of whom survive.
Lewis’ campaign is focusing on the needs of seniors, the insurance crisis and women’s reproductive rights.
“With all that we have had going on with insurance companies leaving and all these high rates we got, I’m going to use my insurance knowledge to assist our Floridians here,” Lewis said.
He is also concerned about corporations buying private properties.
“I’ve spoken to quite a few seniors that are totally displaced by this. They sell their property and are being told ‘we don’t have a place for you’,” Lewis said. “I want to end that. I want to end those corporations coming in buying land and property, putting up high rises.”
Lewis said seniors cannot afford to start over and his goal is to keep them in their homes.
He also wants to expand Medicare.
“I do not feel that politicians -- and I’m not one of those politicians, I’m just getting in -- they forget about Medicare, forget about seniors, forget about people coming up,” Lewis said.
Regarding damage that area property owners say they endure because of limestone mining, Lewis said, “A lot of … rock mining opens up the expansion of the ground … we shouldn’t have that. Geologists have said it’s not good and I stand with that.”
Lewis did not offer a plan on how to work with that industry that is in the northwestern part of the district.
Lewis said he wants to understand the culture of South Florida and to try and unify the community.
“I’m running because I don’t want all these divisions that have come up,” Lewis said.