Herald recommends: A grassroots underdog offers an alternative in House District 115 | Editorial

The race for an open seat in Florida House District 115 is a David-versus-Goliath contest, pitting a well-funded Republican with a long career working behind the scenes in politics against a Democratic newcomer.

The newly redrawn, Republican-leaning district covers Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and Cutler Bay. Republican Alina Garcia has a “30-year career in public service,” according to her website, starting in 1992 as a legislative aide in Tallahassee. She’s worked for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo and Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo.

The Herald Editorial Board invited Garcia for an interview but she said she could not attend. When asked if she would like to reschedule, Garcia didn’t respond.

With little record of her service available to the public, we were left to decipher her website for her platform. She wants to expand Florida’s homestead property tax exemption and lower gas taxes. She also writes about ensuring “parents have more control over their child’s education.” That appears to be code for the type of culture-war legislation Republicans passed this year, such as the infamous parental rights bill known as “Don’t say gay” that banned discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in K-3, even though schools have said they weren’t teaching those topics to younger students.

Garcia has raised more than $460,000 from small donation and big checks from political committee affiliated with the Republican Party and special interests. Because she chose not to present her platform to us, we only spoke with Democratic opponent Christie Cantin Davis.

Davis, 54, has been a Palmetto Bay resident since 2004 and has no record of public service or political involvement — “I am just somebody who I grew up in District 115,” she said.” She told the Editorial Board she jumped in the race when she found out Garcia would be running unopposed with no alternative for voters who disagree with the direction Florida has taken.

“Really, what prompted me to get off the couch more than anything is the lack of diversity coming from the state. It’s a very far-right mindset,” Davis said.

Davis’ priorities, if elected, would be protecting abortion rights after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, opposing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to allow Floridians to carry a concealed weapon without a permit — her family owns guns, but she believes gun owners should do their “due diligence” — and allowing teachers to teach without interference from Tallahassee. Besides “Don’t say gay,” the Legislature passed legislation to restrict how schools teach about race. Her views on these issues are in sync with those of the Editorial Board.

As a longtime homeowner, she said she’s prepared to represent the interests of Floridians struggling to pay for property insurance.

“I don’t have, like, specific plans but I will be a voice of common sense, of reason,” she said.

Davis works for her brother’s healthcare insurance brokerage firm. She’s raised about $11,000, a lot of it in loans to herself and donations from family members. She said she’s relying on “word of mouth” and volunteers. But with the money game stacked against her, she faces an uphill climb.

Despite her inexperience, Davis does present voters with an alternative. If elected, she likely would face a large learning curve in Tallahassee compared to her opponent, but she displayed enough knowledge about the issues affecting everyday people like herself. She’s running a true grassroots campaign.

The Miami Herald Editorial Board recommends CHRISTIE CANTIN DAVIS for House District 115.