Florida House District 73: David Reeves Fairey

Name: David Fairey

Age: 38

Family: Married 18 years to Christina. We have four children, ages 17 years old to 17 months old.

Bio: Professionally, I am a CPA and hold a master’s degree in business administration and accounting. I currently serve as the CFO for a technology company in Sarasota. I was born and raised in Tennessee, and before coming to Florida in 2011, I spent five years working internationally in other corporate finance and advisory roles in manufacturing and healthcare. I love to run marathons and other endurance sports

Why are you running for office?

I am running because no matter who you are or what you look like, we all can agree everyone deserves a community that is as healthy, well educated, safe and prosperous as possible. But with our current legislators more concerned with developers than people, and with the mismanagement in this state leading to a terrible public health crisis and a crippled economy, our future is in jeopardy. We need someone like me, a proven financial professional who understands how to build and balance an economy and get us back on track. As we come together and fight for one another, we will be successful.

It is time we stop legislating like politicians and start legislating like moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and friends and neighbors. And that is what I am here to do.

What are three priorities you hope to accomplish if elected?

1. Quality health care for every Floridian;
2. Investments into the people of our great state to ensure every Floridian has a living wage, an affordable home, access to a fully funded public education and a clean, protected environment for our people and small businesses that rely on a clean environment for their business; and
3. Public service and gun safety reforms to put in place evidence-based changes to better serve our communities and keep kids and families safe.

With Florida revenues expected to finish the year at $1.6 billion below expectations:

What budget cuts would you propose?

None. As a CFO and as a student of economic history, I can confidently say you cannot cut your way to growth. Investment drives growth. We must invest in our people. I might propose some redirection of funds allocated for environmentally dangerous projects to be better spent on programs aimed at investing in the economic well-being of people and small businesses. I would not cut a dime because we don’t need to do it. Florida is a top 20 world economy on its own. Saying an economic power of that magnitude, with a more than $1 trillion GDP, can’t do this is an indictment of the mismanagement that has gone on here for far too long. That’s why we need economic professionals like me.

What would be your position on raising taxes to close any gap?

This presumes there are gaps, and I reject the framing of the question as it presumes someone who is, quite frankly, bad at the job of managing finances, and that is not me. However, raising taxes is unlikely to even be necessary if we enforce the laws on our books now, which has been estimated to be worth an additional $5 billion. Accepting the Medicaid expansion would add another $1 billion. And I could go on. And this is to say nothing of other solvency facilities the state has at its disposal should it want to use them. So I think our time is better spent discussing these.

What’s your position on calls for the state to expand its Medicaid spending?

Do it. It will add need funds as already discussed and get health care coverage to more than 1 million of our people. It is a win-win.

How would you rate Florida’s public education funding: too little, just right, too much? What would you change?

Far too little. All schools should have the best and latest resources and be funded fairly and equitably. Teachers should be paid significantly more. We need career educators, not those using teaching as a career of last resort. Our children deserve the very best, always. No person seeking an education should have a barrier to access. An educated population is a prosperous and free one. It is the best investment we could make as a state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis made the environment a top priority when elected, committing to spend/invest $2.5 billion during his term to help clean up and protect Florida’s water systems. How would you describe your position toward this spending?

It is not enough, and we must set clear goals and standards; otherwise we are just spitting on fire. We must ban drilling and fracking and commit to expanding solar adoption with a goal of being totally off fossil fuels before 2050.

Visit Florida’s budget went from $76 million to $50 million in the last legislative session. Given the pandemic and its effects on Florida tourism, what would you propose in the next session?

First, invest in public health departments across the state, and listen to the scientist. By starting and stopping the pandemic fight, we prolong the economic pain. Once we do that, we should look to spend at least what we were to stimulate tourism, in part assuring people we are safe given our public health standards and investment. The governor's bizarre, caviler and haphazard approach has led to a struggling economy, much of it was unnecessary.

The November ballot will have an amendment to require a $15 minimum wage by 2026, increasing by inflation every year after. What’s your position on the minimum wage?

Totally in favor. This is a great stimulus for our economy and will help lift people out of poverty. Those people in turn, specifically minimum wage earners, will spend more into the economy benefiting businesses throughout Florida. Data from other states bear this out and is the evidence-based position.

For the past three years, the issue of who should regulate short-term residential rentals has come before the Legislature. What’s your position: Should the state or local governments regulate them? Why?

Local governments know their communities best, and it should be left to them.

State funding for the arts increased from $2.6 million two years ago to $21.2 million in the most recent session. Arts groups requested $62 million. What’s your position on state taxpayers funding the arts? And if you support it, how much should they get?

I support this, and they should get $62 million. Art is a vital part of our culture, education and development.

Florida’s unemployment insurance compensation system was roundly criticized during the pandemic. It pays one of the lowest amounts in the nation — a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. Should that be changed, and if so, to what? Why?

Yes, it should change to not less than $600 a week because we should not pay anything less than a livable wage to anyone. It is counterintuitive and immoral to do otherwise.