התמלול המלא של Jon Maples-Candidate for Florida House District 87-General Election Interview

vote no on Amendment 3 and give 72 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:47.479 people the option to decide if they want to ultimately, 73 00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:50.620 you know, have Florida tighten their belt a little bit 74 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:54.400 or if the American people deserve that money back. 75 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:59.289 You know, so your votes dictate how. 76 00:03:59.129 --> 00:04:01.750 Really what's your agenda here, not kind of what you say, 77 00:04:01.789 --> 00:04:04.189 but how you vote while you're in office. And so 78 00:04:04.229 --> 00:04:06.569 that's been the telltale for us. 79 00:04:06.490 --> 00:04:07.189 Is her voting system. 80 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:12.099 The previous, and I just mentioned this again, but the 81 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:19.720 previous seat holder here prior to Gregory, the Republican, I 82 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:25.439 believe won in 2024 by like 24%, if I'm correct. 83 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:28.879 President Trump won by over 10 and a half. You 84 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:31.040 narrowly lost. I think it was under 800 votes. You 85 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:32.920 could correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure you will. 86 00:04:34.990 --> 00:04:39.100 After this, Special election, that special election, you had talked 87 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:44.860 about a top-to-bottom campaign review. What kind of adjustments, if any, 88 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:47.209 did you make that you're willing to share? 89 00:04:49.129 --> 00:04:55.069 Well, we made some small but very significant adjustments. that 90 00:04:55.209 --> 00:04:58.259 I am, I mean, extraordinarily proud of. And one being 91 00:04:58.300 --> 00:05:02.860 that we started to, instead of, you know, we started listening, Joe. 92 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:05.600 We started listening to people more and showing up more. 93 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:07.040 And with time. 94 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.860 Now I can show up at these dining room tables 95 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:12.920 and in these living rooms and sit down with families 96 00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:15.519 and listen and hear what's going on with their family, 97 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:17.139 what are they having to pay for, show up at 98 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:19.980 their door and just listen and spend the time listening. 99 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:22.540 And then from there, take that back to the team 100 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:25.920 and say, hey, this is, This is what is affecting 101 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:28.180 the families in this church and the folks in our community, 102 00:05:28.379 --> 00:05:29.939 and this is a message that needs to go out 103 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:30.279 to them. 104 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:31.959 And so it's not. 105 00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:36.430 Been one of political folks managing everything, but now it's 106 00:05:36.449 --> 00:05:39.730 been more of the people that I listen to and 107 00:05:39.769 --> 00:05:42.569 the everyday person and families are the ones who are 108 00:05:42.610 --> 00:05:46.610 dictating our campaign and our messaging. We just recently did 109 00:05:47.069 --> 00:05:50.529 a little shoot where we had individual people in this 110 00:05:50.569 --> 00:05:53.300 community that aren't paid by me saying, hey, this is 111 00:05:53.329 --> 00:05:55.199 why I'm voting for John and this is why we 112 00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:55.779 support him. 113 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:57.699 They aren't political people. 114 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:00.879 They're just normal, everyday people going about their lives, trying 115 00:06:00.899 --> 00:06:02.740 to take care of their families and work hard. So 116 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:04.420 that's what I'm. 117 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:04.790 Very proud of. 118 00:06:05.610 --> 00:06:09.410 How do you feel your professional background can set you 119 00:06:09.449 --> 00:06:12.310 up for success as a legislator? 120 00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:15.639 Yeah, I mean, there's a couple of things. 121 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:17.990 First, I got my degree in computer science. 122 00:06:18.709 --> 00:06:20.389 And so with AI being a big. 123 00:06:20.269 --> 00:06:23.089 Issue now, having someone who understands AI, at least how 124 00:06:23.110 --> 00:06:26.610 it works, is important. And then, you know, as I said, 125 00:06:26.649 --> 00:06:30.029 the last 17 years, I've spent that time helping individuals 126 00:06:30.089 --> 00:06:33.810 and family prepare for their future and make very important financial. 127 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:34.660 Decisions for their family. 128 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:38.180 I think if we look at that with affordability being 129 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:40.240 an issue, having someone who does this for. 130 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:43.319 A living and has the expertise needed to. 131 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:45.980 Navigate this, to be able to make Florida more affordable, 132 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.699 not just as a talking slogan, but actually be able 133 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:51.399 to provide value and really do something. 134 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:53.100 I think this really is a. 135 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:56.430 Benefit add to our community and to this district. And 136 00:06:56.449 --> 00:07:00.129 I'm looking forward to, uh, if the people decide to 137 00:07:00.170 --> 00:07:01.790 send me to Tallahassee to be able to use those 138 00:07:01.810 --> 00:07:02.870 skills to make things better. 139 00:07:03.670 --> 00:07:06.810 Amendment three is a, it's a big issue. Um, we 140 00:07:06.829 --> 00:07:08.670 could call it the elephant in the room across the 141 00:07:08.709 --> 00:07:13.689 state and, and, and throughout the election. Um, season. I 142 00:07:13.730 --> 00:07:18.339 know that you have talked about being a strong advocate 143 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:22.060 for the complete elimination of property taxes. Obviously, that's not 144 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:24.680 even on the table with Amendment 3, although ultimately it 145 00:07:24.740 -->

00:07:28.139 could lead to that. But the first $ 150 and then 146 00:07:28.139 --> 00:07:33.199 $ 250 increase of the homestead exemption. Your opponent, we talked 147 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:36.959 about Amendment 3, and she said it's a tax shift 148 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:40.139 rather than a tax cut worries about reduction in funding 149 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:44.000 for public safety, other essential services, talks about no fiscal 150 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:47.959 impact study being done, calling that atypical and saying it 151 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.329 was an irresponsible proposal. Those are her words and would 152 00:07:51.370 --> 00:07:55.550 have a catastrophic impact on our municipalities and our economy. 153 00:07:56.589 --> 00:07:59.240 I'm guessing you feel different. So share your thoughts. 154 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:02.399 Well, let me start with this. 155 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:05.120 I'm a Floridian, born and raised, Joel. 156 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:07.920 And so oftentimes when people move to our state and 157 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:08.779 they run for office. 158 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:11.019 They don't have any sense of the history of the 159 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:17.310 state of Florida. And so let me just quickly, 30. 160 00:08:15.689 --> 00:08:18.889 Seconds, give you a quick rundown. In 1980, well, let's 161 00:08:18.910 --> 00:08:22.509 say 1934, voters approved the first homestead property exemption. In 1980, 162 00:08:22.509 --> 00:08:30.500 they raised that exemption from $ 5, 000 to $ 25, 000. 163 00:08:26.860 --> 00:08:28.779 In 1992, we did Save Our Homes. 164 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:32.159 Now, with all this being said, you still need 60 165 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:33.139 percent vote. 166 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:35.799 In order for this to pass. So every single time 167 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:36.419 this was on. 168 00:08:36.330 --> 00:08:41.429 The ballot, it got 60 percent to vote, and it passed. 2008, 169 00:08:41.429 --> 00:08:44.570 Amendment 1, it approved in January. It moved the portability 170 00:08:44.590 --> 00:08:48.419 for Save Our Homes. 2020, they extended from two years 171 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:53.230 to three years. And then 2024, they raised it again 172 00:08:53.490 --> 00:08:55.710 with inflation to $. 173 00:08:55.149 --> 00:08:55.710 50, 000. 174 00:08:55.429 --> 00:08:58.509 So now in 2026, we're looking at this saying, all right, 175 00:08:58.720 --> 00:08:59.389 we're taking this. 176 00:08:59.289 --> 00:09:01.320 From $ 150, 000. 177 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:04.960 To $ 250, 000. 178 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.440 All I'm telling you is this, that over the years 179 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:06.759 in the history of Florida, when this has been approved, 180 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:10.490 the world didn't come crashing down. The economy didn't collapse. 181 00:09:11.269 --> 00:09:15.070 Everything that she's saying is irresponsible because the history says, well, 182 00:09:15.090 --> 00:09:19.919 all those things didn't occur over the last decade. Six 183 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:22.340 times this has been on the amendment over the course 184 00:09:22.379 --> 00:09:23.960 of this history of the state of Florida. 185 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:26.179 So here's what's really a fact. 186 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:30.460 Palm Beach County saw its budget expand by 58% in 2019, 187 00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:34.980 and mostly due to increased property tax revenue. They got 188 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:38.070 a windfall of money because of rising property tax values. 189 00:09:38.330 --> 00:09:43.769 And over this period, the county's population only increased by 6%. 190 00:09:43.769 --> 00:09:46.070 I don't know about you, Joe, but my revenue in 191 00:09:46.129 --> 00:09:49.980 my business hasn't gone up by 58%. But, you know, 192 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:52.740 that's just for that. But over that same time frame. 193 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:55.230 We do have to, in fact, in. 194 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:58.960 Inflation, increase costs by 31%. So there will be some 195 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:04.519 increased spending by governments that's warranted. But this particularly impacts 196 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:10.379 retirees on fixed income, whom nobody's talking about. Lower-to-middle-income homeowners, 197 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:12.350 whom trying to buy a home for the first time, 198 00:10:12.409 --> 00:10:14.970 have been stressed to begin with. But now, with inflation 199 00:10:15.029 --> 00:10:18.710 pushing higher prices across the board, rising tax for particular 200 00:10:18.730 --> 00:10:25.879 board members, Ultimately, voters must decide if reducing taxes on 201 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:29.740 homeowners is more important than funding some local government. And 202 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:33.320 I'm not talking about essential services like police and fire. 203 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.679 We have to take care of our guys and protect 204 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:38.379 us and keep our streets safe. 205 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.600 And we need them, and we will fund them. 206 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:44.720 But November's result will tell us whether the evidence for 207 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.120 rooting has been pinched tightly enough to ask the local 208 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.000 government to tighten them down just a little bit. 209 00:10:50.990 --> 00:10:54.690 And property tax reform, obviously one of the big issues. 210 00:10:55.090 --> 00:10:58.190 If this doesn't get done, then I guess we'll see 211 00:10:58.230 --> 00:11:01.110 where we go from there if voters don't approve that. 212 00:11:02.009 --> 00:11:07.429 Property insurance, another issue. Any specific bills in your head 213 00:11:07.490 --> 00:11:11.399 that you might want to write or help write or 214 00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:15.279 at least support should you get into the statehouse? 215 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:20.590 Well, as it relates to property insurance or property

tax 216 00:11:20.649 --> 00:11:21.529 or just me in general? 217 00:11:21.590 --> 00:11:24.649 Anything to help the consumer, whether it be the property taxes, 218 00:11:24.690 --> 00:11:27.750 the property insurance, anything else to help. You know, people 219 00:11:27.769 --> 00:11:29.629 are having affordability issues right now. 220 00:11:31.610 --> 00:11:33.750 Yeah, and let me speak to the property insurance is 221 00:11:33.789 --> 00:11:38.529 very important. And holding insurance companies accountable to bring their 222 00:11:38.549 --> 00:11:39.809 rates down is something. 223 00:11:39.549 --> 00:11:43.100 That, you know, I will be committed to doing. But 224 00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:45.700 beyond that, the more. 225 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:50.309 Competition drives prices down, meaning citizens was our main insurer, 226 00:11:50.669 --> 00:11:53.710 the government, basically. Now that we've got businesses stepping into 227 00:11:53.750 --> 00:11:57.559 the arena, we've got 21 new insurers in Florida, we're 228 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:00.639 expecting for that to drive rates down because there's competition now. 229 00:12:01.570 --> 00:12:04.289 And now competition, when they're competing for our business, for 230 00:12:04.710 --> 00:12:07.289 our insurance premiums, for our homes, they're going to have 231 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:10.860 to compete against 21 other companies. So that means prices 232 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:11.600 should come down. 233 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:13.539 But I'm going to continue to work to make sure. 234 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:15.779 That is the case, to drive bills down. 235 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:18.620 And I believe Peggy Gossett-Salmon has some bills that we've 236 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:21.480 been talking about in that space as well. 237 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:23.539 So I'm excited to get the opportunity to work on that. 238 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:26.940 And then lastly, as it relates to education, I believe 239 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:30.360 that our graduating seniors should be able to pass the 240 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:33.220 immigration test that we make all new citizens who want 241 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:35.899 to come to our country legally taken pass. So I 242 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:39.830 believe getting civics back into school is civics with a purpose. 243 00:12:40.629 --> 00:12:42.649 And that means that you're going to be taking civics 244 00:12:42.690 --> 00:12:44.809 in order to, when you're a senior going to graduate 245 00:12:44.830 --> 00:12:47.509 high school, to be able to pass the immigration test 246 00:12:47.529 --> 00:12:49.809 that we make new citizens. 247 00:12:49.470 --> 00:12:50.389 Through our country pass. 248 00:12:50.409 --> 00:12:51.960 And so that's something that I'm. 249 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:54.379 Pretty excited about that no one's really doing that. 250 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:56.659 I think will help our students really regain a value 251 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:59.039 for this country and begin to love and work hard 252 00:12:59.139 --> 00:13:01.840 again for their families and that American dream stays alive. 253 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:03.519 That's what I was going to ask you. What's your 254 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:08.289 main motivation for that immigration test for people who are 255 00:13:08.309 --> 00:13:09.129 already citizens? 256 00:13:10.429 --> 00:13:15.750 Well, first off, I think it's irresponsible for our kids 257 00:13:15.789 --> 00:13:19.279 to graduate and not know anything about our country and 258 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:21.879 not be able to pass the very immigration test that. 259 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.139 Other people who come here who want. 260 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:25.080 To be here have to pass. 261 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:29.960 Number two, I think it reminds us of what was 262 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:32.840 paid in order for us to be free, start our company, 263 00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:36.220 have our families, raise our families here and live here 264 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:39.389 and enjoy this country, it costs something. And so our 265 00:13:39.429 --> 00:13:41.529 kids should understand that. And that means they're going to 266 00:13:41.549 --> 00:13:43.909 work hard for their families because they know that the 267 00:13:43.970 --> 00:13:44.990 opportunity that they. 268 00:13:45.090 --> 00:13:45.889 Have is a blessing. 269 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.100 And so we want to get back to some of 270 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:51.990 those basic, fundamental, common-sense things where our kids understand the 271 00:13:52.070 --> 00:13:55.629 value of working hard, believing in this country, loving this country, 272 00:13:55.950 --> 00:13:58.909 and taking care of their families, and just basic common-sense stuff. 273 00:13:58.929 --> 00:14:00.850 We're going to teach them how to read, write, and civics. 274 00:14:01.289 --> 00:14:02.070 We're not going to teach. 275 00:14:01.929 --> 00:14:04.129 Them about boys' and girls' bathrooms or any of the 276 00:14:04.169 --> 00:14:06.129 weird stuff that's happening on the left. We're going to 277 00:14:06.169 --> 00:14:08.289 keep it very basic, very simple, and we're going to 278 00:14:08.309 --> 00:14:11.570 get back to the basics for this country. 279 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:17.259 Two candidates in this race, Statehouse District 87, the incumbent Democrat, 280 00:14:17.350 --> 00:14:20.710 Emily Gregory, and the gentleman we're talking to now, Republican 281 00:14:20.730 --> 00:14:24.029 John Maples. In a nutshell, to wrap up this interview, John, 282 00:14:24.549 --> 00:14:27.580 why ultimately should folks give you a shot, put you 283 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:28.279 in the Statehouse? 284 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:32.159 Yeah. Well, first of all, thank you for the opportunity 285 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:37.029 to be here today. Decisions that we're making today, Joel, 286 00:14:37.289 --> 00:14:40.929 shape what tomorrow looks like for our kids, our grandkids. 287 00:14:40.970 --> 00:14:42.830 You and I will be just fine, but we're fighting 288 00:14:42.870 --> 00:14:44.990 for them. And I want you to know that I'm 289 00:14:45.049 --> 00:14:47.470 here to the folks in District 87. 290 00:14:47.470 --> 00:14:48.070 I'm listening. 291 00:14:48.210 --> 00:14:48.950 You can trust me. 292 00:14:50.029 --> 00:14:50.950 My name is John Maples. 293 00:14:50.990 --> 00:14:52.549 I'm a Republican candidate. 294 00:14:52.129 --> 00:14:55.070 For Florida District House 87, and I would appreciate your 295 00:14:55.409 --> 00:14:57.049 support on and before November 3rd. 296 00:14:57.250 --> 00:14:57.889 Thank you, guys. 297 00:14:59.629 --> 00:15:01.879 All right, John. Appreciate you talking to the voters in 298 00:15:01.889 --> 00:15:07.240 District 87. Again, John Maples. Republican candidates here on WJNO.com.