U.S. Rep. Al Lawson is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Albert Chester and Lashonda Holloway. Gary Adler and Roger Wagoner are running in the Republican Primary. The winners from the August primaries will compete in November
Scroll down to read each candidate’s responses to News4Jax’s questionnaire, presented verbatim as submitted.
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Albert Chester
Party affiliation: Democratic
Age: 35
Candidate’s family: 4
Occupation: Pharmacist, School owner
Education: Doctor of Pharmacy
Political experience: Grassroots campaigning
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
- Healthcare
- Economic Empowerment
- Criminal Justice
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I will help improve their lives holistically (physical, mental, economic, environmental, etc.)
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I would like to be remembered as someone that worked to the best their ability everyday for the constituents and ensured that everyone had a fair opportunity at life, liberty, and to pursue happiness.
If elected how would you address the calls for racial justice?
I would sponsor legislation that force diversity.
What challenges does COVID-19 present to the office you are seeking?
As a millennial, the challenges are easy to overcome. We have technology that allows us to stay in constant communication. The difficulty would be communicating with constituents that are not tech savvy or cannot access the internet.
Campaign website: www.albertchester.com
Campaign’s social media pages: Facebook | Twitter
Lashonda Holloway
Party affiliation: Democratic
Age: 50
Candidate’s family: (no answer)
Occupation: Health Care Advocate
Education: Juris Doctorate
Political experience: Former Capitol Hill Staffer for Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek;
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
- Jobs
- Healthcare
- Crime
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I can help voters because I have not only worked in Congress as a Staffer and seen firsthand what Congress does not do for WE, the People but know what it’s like to have a brain tumor, lose health care coverage and face foreclosure. I also worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and sold the largest deal in History at U.S. Customs and have a keen understanding of the Constitution after earning a law degree from the University of Florida. Afterall, CONGRESS makes laws and requires negotiation.Moreover, I refuse to accept money from Big Business and Corporations. I vow to work for the PEOPLE and serve in the best interest of the people in order to form a more perfect union.Our democracy has become a mockery, the middle class is shrinking and it is becoming clear that America is divided and everyone does not have liberty and justice. For those reasons I vow to fight for a Fair Living Wage; Affordable HEALTHcare; Equity in EDUCATION and Criminal Justice Reform, for the PEOPLE.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope to be remembered as a Servant Leader. One who had the Courage to stand up to the status quo and fight for the least of these. I believe in term limits and hope that my term improves the Health, Safety and General welfare of all Americans. Moreover, I hope to restore confidence in Government and children believe in the preamble to the Constitution and are proud to say—We, the people of the United States of America....
If elected how would you address the calls for racial justice?
Yes. I would address the calls for racial justice by supporting HR 35, the “Emmitt Till Anti-Lynching Bill; the “Justice in Policing Act” in addition to enacting legislation and inserting provisions in bills that promote racial justice; I would oppose measures in Committee and on the floor that perpetuate systemic racism.
What challenges does COVID-19 present to the office you are seeking?
COVID-19 presents a challenge in actually touching Constituents and providing physical and fiscal resources and services; especially, in rural communities that lack technology and Universal connectivity.
Campaign website: www.ljhollowayforcongress.com
Campaign’s social media pages: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Al Lawson
Party affiliation: Democrat (incumbent)
Age: 71
Candidate’s family: Delores Lawson, Al Lawson III, Shani Lawson Wilson
Occupation: Insurance: Agent
Education: Florida A&M University (BA, 1970); Florida State University (MPA, 1973)
Political experience: Served 28 years in the Florida Legislature representing Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison and Wakulla counties. Elected to the House of Representatives, 1982-2000. Minority (Democratic) Leader, 2008-2010. Elected to the Senate in 2000. Elected to the U.S. Congress in 2016.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
- Improving access to quality health care
- Helping our families, small businesses and local communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic
- Ensuring our children have all the resources they need for a quality education that will help bring families out of poverty and into the middle-class.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I have a 30-year record of helping North Florida. The voters can trust that there is only one candidate in this race who will ALWAYS put the interest of all people first. Throughout my career, I have built relationships with community leaders, advocacy groups and organizations — gaining a firmer grasp of what resources are needed to make our communities stronger.
Throughout this global health crisis, I worked to secure more than $480 million in the COVID-19 stimulus package, which provided direct deposits to First Coast families, kept our transportation services in operation and helped our health care facilities. I also brought down an additional $2.2 million for public housing to help residents cover childcare and medical travel costs during the pandemic.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, I fought to protect the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits for over 22 million seniors in our country, voted to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), pushed for additional funding for community health centers, and blocked attempts to dismantle the Affordable CareAct, which would have kicked 23 million Americans off their health care and stripped away protections for pre-existing conditions for tens of millions more.
I understand the importance of prioritizing community projects, such as cleaning up the contamination at the Fairfax Wood Treaters Superfund site, working to create the first national POW/MIA Memorial and Museum at Cecil Field, and establishing a VA Hospital in Jacksonville. I have also worked on critical infrastructure improvements to JAXPORT's Blount Island Marine Terminal, JTA's Bay Street Innovation Corridor, the City of Jacksonville's Urban Core Riverfront Revitalization project, and several projects that promote job growth and ultimately create a stronger economy.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I am a humble servant. Like Shirley Chisholm, I firmly believe, "Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth." I would hope to be remembered for standing tall on the issues that matter most and always putting the people of North Florida first.
If elected how would you address the calls for racial justice?
As someone who grew up in the heart of segregation, I have first-hand accounts of racial inequality and injustice. We are at a crossroad in America, and it's up to us to take the best path forward. While serving in the Florida House of Representatives, I sponsored and passed the first reparations from a legislative body in the United States to the victims of the Rosewood Massacre. Throughout my political career, I have worked to right the wrongs of our past and end racial injustices at every step.
In the wake of George Floyd's and Breonna Taylor's murders, I addressed the call for racial justice by cosponsoring the Justice in Policing Act, which requires police officers to wear body cameras, ends the usage of chokeholds as a practice and ends "No Knock Warrants." There must be accountability and transparency. We must rebuild the trust between police departments and the communities they serve. We must ensure we are inclusive when we are asking for justice — women lives, trans lives— they must matter as well. We need to tackle racial inequities in our education system and take a closer look at the inequities within the criminal justice system that result in these mass incarcerations. If re-elected, I will continue to fight to ensure America is moving forward and that this is more than a moment, but a longstanding movement.
What challenges does COVID-19 present to the office you are seeking?
Never in my lifetime did I expect we would be experiencing something of this magnitude. Although we cannot physically meet with constituents, organizations and other Members of Congress, we must do everything we can to get this COVID-19 pandemic under control so that we can save lives and get people back to work. Too many people are hurting right now, have lost their jobs, are worried about their health and are concerned about their future for us to sit back and wait. COVID-19 cases are spiking drastically, threatening the lives and jobs of many in our community. That is why I have been and will continue to fight for access to additional COVID-19 testing sites to help flatten the curve, funding for businesses to keep employees on payroll and doors open, and hazard pay for our frontline workers who are risking their lives to keep our community going. We have more work to do, and our assistance is needed to help Americans cope with this crisis.
Campaign website: www.allawson.com
Campaign’s social media pages: Facebook | Twitter
Gary Adler
Party: Republican
Age: (no answer)
Candidate’s family: (no answer)
Occupation: Business Owner
Education: Jacksonville University, Graduate
Political experience: Local Community involved volunteer / leader
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
- The effects of the economic breakdown from the Corona virus and safely and appropriately opening the economy back up and putting citizens bank to work
- Addressing racial inequities through continued open dialogue without caving to a mob mentality
- Improving healthcare accessibility and improving quality education access through school choice
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Actually meet with local communities throughout District 5 and listen to the needs of citizens, communicate the concerns and problems with Washington, and diligently work on the necessary legislation to employment these concerns and opportunities. I am A Problem solver !
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
That I made a positive difference for the quality of life, For all the Citizens of District 5; and leave the office of Congress having served district 5 , in a much better position with regard to healthcare , Educational options , poverty , safety , economic opportunity , and Community enthusiasm and pride.
If elected how would you address the calls for racial justice?
I will hold regular town hall meetings with local Elected and volunteer leaders , clergy and Local law enforcement, and bring together- with conversation and sponsored civic events to help all citizens realize that we are more alike than we are different, and our goals and aspirations can be better achieved with a stronger sense of community
What challenges does COVID-19 present to the office you are seeking?
To fast track the ability to help those struggling financially, with assistance in funding , food/ supplies and safety . To make masks , testing and health safety information readily available , To be smart and safe with the process of opening up the economy , and educate the public to eliminate the anxiety and fearfulness of doing so.
Campaign website: electadler.com
Campaign’s social media pages: Facebook | Twitter
Roger Wagoner
Party: Republican
Age: 49
Candidate’s family: Republican
Occupation: Mortgage Banker- Branch Manager
Education: 3 years of College
Political experience: None
What do you see as the top three issues in this race?
- Economic Development
- Law & Order- protecting our 1st & 2nd Amendment rights
- Education - School Choice
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I will be available and hands on to bring New Leadership to this district that spans through 8 counties. All eight are very different in need as some our rural other two are bigger cities.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
That I was leader who stood up for the people in our district and stood up to corruption in DC and made our District better in every way.
If elected how would you address the calls for racial justice?
I would use my Christian background and beliefs with Common Sense to address it.
What challenges does COVID-19 present to the office you are seeking?
It has been challenging to say the least in getting out meeting people face to face and speaking to groups of people.
Campaign website: wagonerforcongress.com