Each candidate was given the opportunity to provide a 150-word bio and respond to our questions within 800 words.
BLAISE INGOGLIA (REP)
BIO:
Blaise Ingoglia is a small business owner and conservative champion who moved to Spring Hill, FL in 1996 from New York City, with only $1,600 in his pocket. He quickly found success in the Sunshine State, establishing a mortgage and home building company dedicated to helping first-time homebuyers achieve the American Dream. Ingoglia was first elected to the Florida House in 2014, and was subsequently re-elected until 2022. A grassroots soldier at heart, Ingoglia ran and was elected as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in 2016 and 2018. He led statewide efforts to elect President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, as well as Republican victories to local, state, and federal offices across Florida.
What are the critical statewide issues that you will focus on if elected?
Insurance reform will be a key topic, especially after Hurricane Ian. The insurance market is in crisis and Floridians are paying too much in insurance premiums.
What are the critical local issues and/or projects you will support if elected?
Every year I review the Hernando County and the City of Brooksville’s appropriation requests and submit for consideration in the budget.
What is your motivation for running for office?
To keep government small and accountable to the people. I decided to run for State Senate to help Governor DeSantis fight the “woke” agenda of the left that is destroying this country.
Are you interested in joining any particular committees?
I would like to stay on the appropriation and commerce committees. Those committees have played to my strengths as a legislator.
What are your areas of expertise?
Elections, regulatory reform, tax reform, and budgeting.
What besides your experience makes you especially suited for this office?
I am a small businessman and know, firsthand, how the decisions of government affect commerce and families.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities of this office?
Being able to stand up to special interests and do what is right for taxpayers.
BRIAN PATRICK MOORE (GRE)
BIO:
Brian Patrick Moore holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration, worked over 25 years as a health care administrator.
He served 3 years as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer working with indigent and low-income populations in Latin America and speaks Spanish.
He was a blue-collar worker for a sheet metal company and a laborer for the Southern Pacific Railroad summers.
Has been a civic activist being elected civic association president multiple times and elected as an advisory neighborhood commissioner for 4 years.
Brian was Student Body President of his high school. He played all three sports in high school and college baseball, and sandlot baseball all of his adult life. He Enjoys swimming and bicycling.
Brian is married, with two adult stepdaughters, three grandchildren. He is one of seven siblings of Irish-Catholic family. All four of his grandparents migrated from Ireland to America. He was born and raised in Oakland, California.
What are the critical statewide issues and/or projects that you will focus on if elected?
To make Florida affordable again. Life has become less affordable for most Floridians due to the lack of attention and action by the Florida Legislature on citizens’ basic needs. This involves the areas of food, housing, utilities, transportation, medicine costs, car and property insurance and healthcare.
Secondly, the state legislature has become more distracted by cultural issues and it has given too much attention to political posturing and less time to the needs of its citizens.
What are the critical local issues you will support if elected?
Job creation, protecting the environment, preserving history and protecting our civil liberties.
Also, Governor DeSantis vetoed the $10 million renovation of the Homosassa River restoration project in Citrus county (which is one of the four counties in Senate District 11).
I will fight for it again because we need to restore Florida’s magical beauty.
In addition, I will support the rebuilding of the Crystal River power facility back into a nuclear energy plant. The reason I have changed from my opposition from the past, to advocating for it now is that nuclear power is the way to create environmentally safe energy. Furthermore, the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy will take a longer time and am not convinced they will ultimately provide enough power to meet the increasing needs of Florida. The use of air conditioners is a major Dependent on power sources.
What is your motivation for running for office?
Because the legislature has become more responsive to corporate interests than to the needs of its citizens. It is time the corporations paid more of their fair share, and it is time to lessen the burden on its citizens.
My term-limited opponent from the state legislature has made the state government become bigger, costlier and it is imposing its authority at the expense of the citizens’ freedoms and rights.
State government has gone wild, become authoritarian, and my opponent has significantly contributed to this condition. What we need are more decision-making in the hands of its citizens and local government, not with a tyrannical state government.
Are you interested in joining any particular committees?
Commerce & Tourism— which involves Economic development.
Environment and Natural Resources— to protect Florida’s air, water and pristine natural resources
Banking and Insurance— because of the need to improve property and auto insurance
What are your areas of expertise?
Skills in researching data; articulating and writing simple explanations of complex matters
What besides your experience makes you especially suited for this office?
Am independent thinker, motivated by applying principles over political correctness; engaging personality; an aggressive advocate for causes; a team player, willing to compromise, strong-willed, not afraid to speak out on behalf of citizens.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities of this office?
To represent the people. Make laws to protect and benefit the welfare of the citizens, and secure the safety of all state residents.
