We recommend Hogan Johnson in Florida House District 84 Democratic primary | Our view

Treasure Coast Newspapers Editorial Board | Treasure Coast Newspapers

RACE: Florida House District 84, Democratic primary

TERM: 2 years

CANDIDATES:

KEY ISSUES: Education; economic growth; the environment; healthcare

RECOMMENDATION: Four Democrats are vying for the seat of Larry Lee Jr., who is stepping down after six years in Tallahassee.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary, either Mark Gotz or Teri Pinney, in November.

Forest Blanton has held a variety of high-level management positions with Memorial Health System in Broward County for 35 years. He retires this month and plans to live full-time in St. Lucie County. He also served on Southwest Ranches Town Council and the Broward County Zoning Board for 13 years.

MORE: Why does TCPalm's Editorial Board recommend candidates?

Blanton's top priorities, if elected, would be the environment (especially the algae issue, which he said is discouraging economic development and tourism), education (low teacher pay and the proliferation of charter schools), and the expansion of Medicaid in Florida.

Delores Hogan Johnson is a retired public school administrator, with 33 years at Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce. She also worked for the Fort Pierce Housing Authority and the city of Fort Pierce. She founded the St. Lucie County Waterfront Council more than 20 years ago as a watchdog on activities at the Port of Fort Pierce. Lee has endorsed her as his successor. .

Her top priorities would include education (higher teacher pay, greater investment in public schools and ending "teaching to the test").

Hogan Johnson said she would work for sustainable economic development, raising the minimum wage and investing in high-skill, high-wage jobs to build the middle class. She vowed to press for full funding of a vocational education center at Indian River State College, an effort begun by Lee.

Hogan Johnson also wants to expand Medicaid and try to establish partnerships on both sides of the aisle in Tallahassee.

MORE: When will TCPalm's Editorial Board candidate recommendations publish?

Born and raised in St. Lucie County, Kim Johnson (no relation to Hogan Johnson) has worked as a teacher, coach and motivational speaker. He served on the St. Lucie County Commission from 2012 to 2016, including as chairman of the board. Johnson also served on the Florida and National Associations of Counties, and was chairman of the St. Lucie County Fire District.

If elected, Johnson's priorities include education (he supports more vocational education, less standardized testing and expanding baccalaureate degree programs at IRSC) and the environment (pursuing funding and solutions to fight negative effects of algae blooms on tourism, real estate and citizens' health). Johnson also would support Medicaid expansion in Florida.

Robert Joseph, who has worked in security/public safety most of his career, would propose legislation to eliminate sales taxes for small businesses and freeze property taxes for retirees living on fixed incomes. He believes in expanding Medicare for all.

Joseph would enhance vocational education efforts and wants to create a school district police department. He would advocate for higher wages for teachers, police officers and correctional officers. He also wants to allocate more budget money to restore the state Department of Environmental Protection's testing and compliance efforts.

Both Blanton and Johnson are good candidates with prior local government experience. We hope both will continue their public service efforts; they have much to contribute.

In this race, though, we recommend Hogan Johnson for her expertise in education and her decades of local activism.

TCPalm’s candidate recommendations are decided collectively by its editorial board. Recommendations are based on nonpartisan criteria that prioritize the best candidates for our local community.