Candidate Profile: FL. State Representative Stephen Precourt (Dist. 41)

By: Jeremy L. Fetzer
Florida State Representative Stephen Precourt is ready to stand on principle, like many times before as he bids for re-election to represent District 41 in 2010.

As he reflects on his past year’s accomplishments, it took me by surprise to hear an elected official say his biggest accomplishment was his ability to limit the burden on the families of Florida. He stated, “Sometimes doing nothing is better than doing harm”, which really shows he gets what is going on right now in Florida and at each dinner table throughout America.

When discussing his priorities for 2010, he stated he has two major priorities. His first priority is passing his Entertainment Industry Economic Development legislation (HB47); which would give tax breaks to attract entertainment companies to call Florida home and provide much needed employment opportunities to our region.

Secondly, as the newly appointed Chairman of the Energy and Utilities Committee, he wants to establish the first ever comprehensive energy policy for the state of Florida. According to Rep. Precourt, the current policy is non-existent; it is spread out amongst many different pieces of legislation and he believes we need a central plan which can map out future energy needs. From off-shore drilling to investing in nuclear energy, his vision is to start planning now so we can build for the energy needs of the future generations of Floridians.

With our current unemployment rates in Osceola County skyrocketing past the national average, Rep. Precourt understands job creation is the number one priority for every person and every family in Florida. His Entertainment Industry legislation is a job creation plan, to include tax cuts, which will help rebuild Central Florida’s community.

For the current shake-up going on in the Republican Party of Florida, Rep. Precourt supports an open debate regarding the direction of the party but recommends the debate be well behaved. He insists party in-fighting will only harm our cause and wants fellow conservatives to remember the common bonds and goals we all share. He stated, “We do need a spirited debate, but we need to remember our values, principles, and love for the country which we all share.”

When asked if he would support any legislation which would increase taxes and burdens on Florida families, Rep. Precourt stated, “We have enough taxes and fees; and we have put enough on the backs of each family in Florida and throughout America.” He continued to say, “People elected him to help not to cause more harm.” As for the backlash being felt regarding the SunRail legislation (which he did not vote on), he understands the impact it will have on the families of Florida. Osceola County alone is on the hook for $121 million in cost, but he says people need to look at the reason for the plan. With the current 7-year plan to expand the I-4 corridor, the main reason for the SunRail project was to alleviate traffic congestion by offering an alternative transportation solution.

Rep. Precourt said the bill supporters in the state legislature may not have effectively communicated the pros of the bill, but he understands and admits the opposition definitely communicated the cons of the bill. He still says this was a unique situation and timing, with the I-4 construction plans, the cost to divert traffic according to multiple cost analysis clearly identified the SunRail project would be a cheaper solution for the taxpayers of Florida.

As our interview came to an end, Rep. Precourt shared that we as Conservatives need to remember there is no such thing as a socially conservative/fiscally liberal person or a socially liberal/fiscally conservative person.

To him, being a Conservative means you are a person who respects human rights and dignity; you are a person of principle, values and morals. For him, you cannot choose to be a Conservative on one issue and not on another issue. It’s not about talking the talk but walking the walk.

Representative Precourt’s message to the county Republican Executive Committees is to get out and recruit, recruit, recruit… We need to communicate our values and principles to our communities to help get Florida and America back on track. He stated, “With the victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts, we as Republicans need to hear the message Americans all over the country have been sending us through the Tea Party rallies to the town hall meetings over the summer. We need to be good stewards of their hard earned money and get back to the founding principles which made our country great”.

For more information about Representative Stephen L. Precourt, you can visit him on Facebook.