Florida House, District 22

Districts after 2022 redistricting

Republican Chuck Clemons and Democrat Brandon Peters won their respective party primaries in state House District 22, which now covers western Alachua County and extends west to the Gulf Coast, including Gilchrest and Levy counties.

Clemons and Peters will now face each other in November.

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News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are published exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.

  DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
Brandon Peters

Brandon Peters

Occupation: Attorney

Age: 54

Your family: My wife, Stacey, and I have five sons.

Education: Princeton University (BA, 1989); University of Virginia (JD, 1992)

Political experience: I ran for U.S. Congress in 2018 in FL-02. I was the Florida Voter Protection Director for the Biden-Harris Campaign and the Florida Democratic Party during the last election. I am a Member of the Williston Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club. I am an anti-toll roads activist and clean water advocate.

We asked our most-loyal viewers (News4Jax Insiders) what three issues they would most like candidates to address:

Viewers’ No. 1 issue: The economy

District 22 is a diverse district, and the economic needs of Alachua County differ from those of Gilchrist and Levy Counties. I am committed to ensuring that this district receives robust support from the state for rural economic development, including improving our dangerous and crumbling roads and other infrastructure, expanding access to transit to ensure residents can get to work, the doctor’s office and the local grocery store.

I will support our local agricultural industry to make sure it has what it needs to thrive, not just survive. Government can be a helpful partner to District 22 as we seek to expand our farmers’ ability to sell our healthy food products through the global marketplace.

I will prioritize working with our utilities companies to harden our electrical grid so everyone’s power can be restored quickly after a major storm. I will work with our local governments to begin planning and preparing for the impacts of sea level rise and the long-term problems they can create for homeowners and business owners alike.

I will work hard to improve educational and apprenticeship opportunities and workforce development programs so that we can align quality jobs with strong wages that support families and the business needs of our communities.

By delivering broadband internet and better healthcare for Levy and Gilchrist Counties, we will become a more attractive place to live and operate a business, which in turn will help create good jobs for our local residents.

I want to ensure that throughout this district we are investing and supporting small businesses, not just the big box stores. State government must do its part to support local businesses so they have the opportunity to compete for contracts with the state. Government contracts would represent significant revenue for some businesses and would bring greater prosperity to the communities where they are located. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and I plan to use my legislative office to help our local businesses learn how to win bids for lucrative state government business - that will be one of my most important constituent services.

In Alachua County, with the University of Florida, UF Health, and Santa Fe College being such significant employers and economic drivers, I want to ensure these institutions receive significant investments and increased funding from the state. We must protect the jobs and opportunities that these community institutions create in District 22. Our education, research and technological resources make it foreseeable that District 22 will become an engine for commerce and trade throughout the state of Florida, Latin America and the world. We can literally be the envy of the state with the right advocate fighting for us in Tallahassee.

Viewers’ No. 2 issue: Voter rights/election integrity

I have been a volunteer for Democratic Party voting rights initiatives since 2007. I became the Director of the Biden-Harris Campaign’s Voter Protection Program in Florida during the last election. Our mandate was to deliver a clean election to the voters of Florida, and we did so. I will continue to volunteer for causes and organizations that protect the rights of voters to have their voices heard in our elections.

If elected to the State Legislature, I will work hard to make sure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot that counts. I will support bills which expand opportunities for citizens to cast their ballots, including early voting and vote by mail. I will stand against legislation that makes it more difficult for our citizens to participate in the democratic process.

I oppose fraudulent claims about elections being stolen and believe that these attacks on our democracy undermine voter confidence and the integrity of our elections system.

Viewers’ No. 3 issue: Gun rights/gun safety

The recent bipartisan gun safety bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the President is a good first step to prevent gun violence. The fact is that too many dangerous people have easy access to deadly firearms. I want to see enhanced background checks, better enforcement of existing gun laws, and a focus on red flag laws as a means to prevent gun violence. We cannot remain silent and refuse to take action on this issue. Our country is the only nation in the world that has this level of gun violence, and our lawmakers must take an active role in creating workable solutions.

News4Jax asked each candidate three additional questions to help voters determine which most agrees with their views:

What do you see as the top three issues facing the state and nation over the next two years?

  • First, I would like to see Medicaid expanded and better healthcare options be made available to the people of Florida, including our Seniors. This is an action our Legislature has delayed and refused to adopt for many years without a meaningful reason.
  • Second, I want to see academic freedom protected, and I want to end the baseless attacks on our educators and teachers by Republican activists. We need to be focused on fully funding our schools and supporting our educators rather than further dividing our communities.
  • Finally, if elected I will work with my fellow lawmakers to expand the protection of civil rights, especially women’s rights, reproductive choice and voting rights.

Do you believe Joe Biden is the legitimately elected president of the United States?

  • Yes.

In light of the Supreme Court ruling striking down Roe v. Wade, would you propose or support additional laws either banning abortion entirely or guaranteeing reproductive rights?

  • I support maintaining Florida’s constitutional right to privacy and believe that we must codify reproductive choice to protect the rights of women to make their own family planning decisions without heavy-handed interference from the state. Every American should have the right to choose who to start a family with, if and when to start a family and how many children to have. Pregnancy is never something that should be forced on women by the government. All women deserve the dignity to make these life-changing decisions about their bodies, their families and their health without government interference.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

  • I am a man of the people, and I am not beholden to special interest lobbyists in Tallahassee who exercise control over our current legislators. I will answer and be responsive to my constituents only. I will fully dedicate myself to delivering results for Alachua, Gilchrist and Levy Counties - results that improve the lives of ordinary people.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

  • I want to be remembered as the State House member who stopped the proposed toll roads that threaten our way of life in North Central Florida.

Campaign website: brandon4fl.com

Campaign’s social media site(s): facebook.com/peters4statehouse | twitter.com/peters4fla | instagram.com/brandon4hd22


  REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
Chuck Clemons

Chuck Clemons

This candidate, who has served in District 21 of the Florida House since 2017, is running in District 22 after redistricting. He has not responded to email and telephone invitations to submit the News4Jax candidate questionnaire. His answers will be added promptly if the questionnaire is returned at any point prior to election day.

Campaign website: chuckclemons.com