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U.S. House | District 11, Justin Grabelle v. Daniel Webster

 
for house 11 race
for house 11 race
Published Aug. 18, 2016

U.S. House | District 11, Republicans

Justin Grabelle is the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent, who endorsed him shortly after announcing he would not seek re-election for the District 11 seat. U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster is a veteran state and federal lawmaker who announced his candidacy for the seat after his redrawn Orlando-area district became more heavily Democratic.

About the job: District 11 covers all of Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties, and parts of Marion and Lake, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Terms are for two years, and the annual salary is $174,000.

Justin Grabelle

Profession:

Political staffer

Political staffer

About the candidate:

Grabelle, 34, was a longtime staffer for former U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite and served as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent until last year. His home in Ocala was eliminated from the district when the lines were redrawn, but he says he would move into the district if elected.

Grabelle, 34, was a longtime staffer for former U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite and served as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent until last year. His home in Ocala was eliminated from the district when the lines were redrawn, but he says he would move into the district if elected.

Education:

Bachelor's degree from George Mason University and master's in public administration from James Madison University

Bachelor's degree from George Mason University and master's in public administration from James Madison University

Describe your top three legislative priorities.:

"1) Fully support America's military — active duty and veteran alike. 2) Bring the federal budget into balance for the long term. 3) Restore Congress' institutional check on the executive branch."

"1) Fully support America's military — active duty and veteran alike. 2) Bring the federal budget into balance for the long term. 3) Restore Congress' institutional check on the executive branch."

Do you support or oppose ending the economic embargo against Cuba?

"Oppose. I believe the economic embargo is a matter of credibility and principle. The human rights record of the Castro regime has not changed, and by unilaterally surrendering, we send a message to all of our adversaries that the only thing they need to do to get their way is to wait us out."

"Oppose. I believe the economic embargo is a matter of credibility and principle. The human rights record of the Castro regime has not changed, and by unilaterally surrendering, we send a message to all of our adversaries that the only thing they need to do to get their way is to wait us out."

Do you support or oppose changing the ban on offshore drilling near Florida?

"Oppose. ... On one side, we've seen the enormous good that drilling can do for both a local economy in terms of unemployment and for the broader consumer economy in the form of lower prices at the pump. ... On the other hand, with each passing year, drilling offshore invites the possibility of ecological and in some cases economic disaster."

"Oppose. ... On one side, we've seen the enormous good that drilling can do for both a local economy in terms of unemployment and for the broader consumer economy in the form of lower prices at the pump. ... On the other hand, with each passing year, drilling offshore invites the possibility of ecological and in some cases economic disaster."

Do you support or oppose a ban on people on the terrorist watch list owning weapons?

"Oppose. This is perhaps the best political trap the Democrats have concocted in a very long time. ... The reality is that the names of thousands of innocent Americans are on the watch list and, to the very best of my knowledge, only one person has ever successfully sued to be removed from it. So what we're talking about is denying a fundamental constitutional right of thousands of law-abiding Americans."

"Oppose. This is perhaps the best political trap the Democrats have concocted in a very long time. ... The reality is that the names of thousands of innocent Americans are on the watch list and, to the very best of my knowledge, only one person has ever successfully sued to be removed from it. So what we're talking about is denying a fundamental constitutional right of thousands of law-abiding Americans."

Assets/liabilities/income:

Assets: Savings, home. Liabilities: None disclosed Income: Staffer salary before stepping down last year

Assets: Savings, home. Liabilities: None disclosed Income: Staffer salary before stepping down last year

Personal:

He and his wife, Ginny, are parents to a toddler son

He and his wife, Ginny, are parents to a toddler son

Campaign fundraising:

Contributions: $308,178 Expenditures: $178,435

Contributions: $308,178 Expenditures: $178,435

On the web:

justingrabelle.com

justingrabelle.com

Daniel Webster

Profession:

U.S. representative

U.S. representative

About the candidate:

Webster, 67, was a longtime state lawmaker, serving as both Florida House speaker and majority leader of the Senate. He is best known in U.S. House of Representatives for twice running against establishment candidates for the job of speaker of the House.

Webster, 67, was a longtime state lawmaker, serving as both Florida House speaker and majority leader of the Senate. He is best known in U.S. House of Representatives for twice running against establishment candidates for the job of speaker of the House.

Education:

Graduated from Orlando's Evans High School and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech University

Graduated from Orlando's Evans High School and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech University

Describe your top three legislative priorities.:

"a. Protect America and those who protect her. ... b. Rein in spending, balance our budget and pay down our debt. ... c. Implement regular order in the House of Representatives. I believe that the only way we can truly achieve the reforms and tackle the issues that the American people sent us to Washington to address is through an open and transparent process that allows every member of Congress the opportunity to represent their constituents."

"a. Protect America and those who protect her. ... b. Rein in spending, balance our budget and pay down our debt. ... c. Implement regular order in the House of Representatives. I believe that the only way we can truly achieve the reforms and tackle the issues that the American people sent us to Washington to address is through an open and transparent process that allows every member of Congress the opportunity to represent their constituents."

Do you support or oppose ending the economic embargo against Cuba?

"Oppose. The Obama Administration failed to use its leverage to get reforms in Cuba. Human rights abuses continue, and we should use our economic leverage to get reforms before ending the embargo."

"Oppose. The Obama Administration failed to use its leverage to get reforms in Cuba. Human rights abuses continue, and we should use our economic leverage to get reforms before ending the embargo."

Do you support or oppose changing the ban on offshore drilling near Florida?

Oppose. No changes to current approved boundaries.

Oppose. No changes to current approved boundaries.

Do you support or oppose a ban on people on the terrorist watch list owning weapons?

Oppose — at least without guaranteed due process. "If you're a citizen of the United States, you're guaranteed due process. To add you to (the watch list) in a secret way and play it upon you and not others without there being a process ... There are many people of all spectrums of philosophical belief that have a hesitancy about doing that."

Oppose — at least without guaranteed due process. "If you're a citizen of the United States, you're guaranteed due process. To add you to (the watch list) in a secret way and play it upon you and not others without there being a process ... There are many people of all spectrums of philosophical belief that have a hesitancy about doing that."

Assets/liabilities/income:

Assets: Home, savings Liabilities: None disclosed Income: Congressional salary and as longtime owner of air conditioning business

Assets: Home, savings Liabilities: None disclosed Income: Congressional salary and as longtime owner of air conditioning business

Personal:

He and his wife, Sandy, are the parents of six children and have 13 grandchildren

He and his wife, Sandy, are the parents of six children and have 13 grandchildren

Campaign fundraising:

Contributions: $726,529 Expenditures: $609,724

Contributions: $726,529 Expenditures: $609,724

On the web:

electwebster.com

electwebster.com