Candidate Profile: John Florez

NEWPORT, RI —John Florez is running for the District 13 state Senate seat, representing Jamestown and Newport. He is a Democrat. He has experience in political office. Currently, he is in his second term as a Newport City Councilor. Florez owns a business. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Drupal Connect, with offices on Bellevue Avenue. The company specializes in designing and creating websites. He is facing a Primary election next week against three other Democratic Party contenders.

Patch asked all the candidates the same questions. Here are his answers.

1) How long have you lived in the district?

Eleven years.

2) Why are you running?

We need a leader that recognizes what's needed for our district and our state to grow and flourish. Here in Newport, within a radius of a two mile drive there are more than 750 Cyber Security jobs that are unfilled. These require either a two or four year degree. In addition to strengthening our local and state economy, I'm passionate about health care accessibility for our neediest citizens and seniors. I firmly believe that I have the professional and legislative experience to be your next senator for district 13th.

3) What do you think is the biggest problem facing people in District 13? And what could you do to solve it, if you are a state senator?

I'm concerned about our neediest citizens and seniors losing their health care. Before the Affordable Care Act, almost 50 million Americans were uninsured and an estimated 45,000 Americans died each year because they lacked health insurance. No one should die because they lack the means to pay for medical care, which is why I support what every other industrialized nation on earth essentially has: a single payer, comprehensive “Medicare-for-all” program. No matter what happens on the national level, Rhode Island can implement a statewide single payer program, and in doing so will save lives, put money in the pockets of our citizens, and grow our state economy.

A concern that many people have about a single payer program is that it "costs too much." An analysis of the cost of single payer for Rhode Island found that health care costs will be reduced by about $2000 per Rhode Islander in the first year single payer is implemented and by the ten year mark, the costs will be reduced by about $4000.

Americans pay approximately twice what citizens of other industrialized countries pay for health care and we have generally less comprehensive coverage and worse health outcomes. Why are our costs so high? About a third of every dollar we spend in our health care system goes to administrative costs of our many “payers” (health insurance companies) – and the inability of these companies to negotiate better prices for care and pharmaceuticals.

Given the gridlock in Washington, Rhode Island must explore the creation of a statewide single payer health care system. It can be done: In 1962, the Canadian province of Saskatchewan (with approximately the same population as Rhode Island) enacted single payer. It was so successful that Canada adopted the program nationally within ten years.

Single payer would be good not only for individuals, it would also be good for business. The same analysis of a single payer program in Rhode Island revealed that savings under the program could increase employment in RI by nearly 3%--a gain of more than 14,000 jobs. What better incentive to get companies to come to or expand in RI than to relieve them of expensive and time-consuming management of their employees’ health insurance?

We need new leadership with a new vision. Like most Americans, I believe health care is a right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. As your state legislator, I will work toward implementing a single payer, improved “Medicare-for-all” program.

4) Have you held elected office before? If so, which office(s)?

I'm currently a City Councilor at Large here in Newport.

5) What is your personal information? such as
a) where were you born? Colombia, SA

b) are you employed? CEO of Drupal Connect

c) where did you attend school? (Did you graduate?) Binghamton University. Majored in psychology and was graduated with a B.A.

d) family relationships (spouse, children, etc.) Wife Karen, son Nefi (9), daughter Martha (12)
e) hobbies and/or past times Tennis, Chess,

Courtesy Photo: Councilor John Florez