Rebekah Jones

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Rebekah Jones completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jones' responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading-bio-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tAs a Florida scientist and COVID-19 whistleblower, I have watched leaders in my state play political games with health, safety and economic well-being of the people they ought to serve. After the Governor of Florida thrust me into the public spotlight, attacked me, ordered state police to raid my home at gunpoint, and coordinated with Nazi-linked propogandists to try to destroy my life, I refused to stay silent. We need leaders who know what's at stake, and who care enough to do what's right by the people.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading-key-message-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Science and fact-based policies</li><li>Make our world a healthier, more sustainable place</li><li>Serving the people of Florida</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading1-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy academic background in geography bolstered my passion for researching extreme events, climate change, and earth science. Through my advanced science degrees I learned how inter-connected we all are, our delicate place on this Earth, and the sensitivity of our survival to minute shifts in global temperatures. <br/><br/>\n<p>When I was 16 years old, Hurricane Katrina washed away everything I had ever known. I grew up along the northern Gulf Coast, just miles north of Gulfport, Mississippi. You could say that storm led me down the path of wanting to better understand hurricanes, climate change and disasters. I've worked in disaster response my entire professional career, and dedicated my studies in both my master's and doctoral degrees to research hurricane impacts during various climatic periods in the Holocene. <br/><br/>\r\nFrom the global scale down to a neighborhood, environmental issues encompass so many problems we face today: energy independence and cost, air quality, water quality, temperature extremes, extreme weather/storms, infrastructure, public health, global financial stability, even international intervention policy. <br/><br/>\n</p>\nThe environment is the key to crack the code, and in addressing many of those issues, we'll fix others along the way.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading2-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe historical figure I look up to most is Fanny Perkins. As the first female cabinet member in U.S. history, Fanny worked closely with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft modern labor policy. From child labor to factory safety and the minimum wage, Fanny was the brain behind one of the greatest economic revolutions in American history. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading3-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe movie won't come out until 2022, and the book sometime after, but for now I'd suggest anyone interested in knowing what motivates me to read three books:<br/>\n<p>1. Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson<br/>\r\n2. Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff<br/>\n</p>\n3. The Great Influenza by John Barry<br/><br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading4-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI made my name this past year because of my commitment to transparency and integrity. I believe both are key principals that any elected official should exemplify. Too many people get elected and forget why they ever ran in the first place - or maybe they didn't care to begin with. Every elected official should have a fair understanding of the issues, empathy for the people impacted by the decisions they make, and make their decisions (and spend their money) transparently. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading5-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI believe that, above all, it is the job of our elected officials to act in our best interests.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading6-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTo be the voice of the people whom you represent. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading7-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat legacy would you like to leave?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI want to make a meaningful difference. I realize no single member of the House can go in and change the country overnight, or make it fair or even just, but I'm sure as hell going to try.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading8-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMany people my age may say September 11, since that was very much a defining moment for our generation. But for me the thing that sticks out the most is the mass shooting at Columbine High School. I think was blissfully unaware of the gun violence epidemic in this country until that point. After that day, my eyes were opened - as they stayed - for the rest of my life.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading9-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was your very first job? How long did you have it?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI started going to work with my dad when I was 11 or 12 years old. He worked as a construction contractor hanging drywall in new homes. I did that off and on for five years or so until I took a part-time job working at a pizza joint in my home town. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading10-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is your favorite book? Why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading10-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe entire Game of Thrones series. I hope you weren't expecting me to pick some hoighty-toighty book to try to impress others with by showing I'm well read. My advanced degrees do that. The book(s) I've actually enjoyed most were in the Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading11-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIf you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tArya Stark.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading12-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was the last song that got stuck in your head?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy daughter is going through a Paw Patrol phase, so the theme song to that.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading13-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse13-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is something that has been a struggle in your life?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading13-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse13-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy family grew up with very little money, we never owned our home, and natural disasters seemed to follow us everywhere we went. Getting a full scholarship to Syracuse was difficult - being a poor kid in Syracuse was even harder. Being a female scientist in a male-dominated field was difficult. But having the governor of my state order state police to raid my home and point guns at my two children will be something my family and I will all be coping with for the rest of our lives.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading14-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse14-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading14-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse14-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tBefore gerrymandering, the House represented the people. Senators represent states, the President represents electorates, but the United State House of Representatives represent the people of this nation.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading15-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse15-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading15-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse15-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWhile experience in a job always comes with perks, everyone has to get started somewhere. I appreciate the decades of experience some representatives of our nation have invested, while also noting the need for fresh faces who are not entrenched in the bureaucratic warfare that has crippled progress in our country for far too long.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading16-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse16-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading16-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse16-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tAs tempted as I am to say climate change, the global implications of that specific challenge puts the United States in the same position as the rest of the world. <br/><br/>\n<p>I think the United States needs to confront its sickness of the soul. We have become more divided, angry, resentful, cruel, and lacking empathy than ever before. There are Americans who actively cheer for the pain and suffering of complete strangers because one person tells them to. Whatever hurt or shared trauma our nation endured needs to be healed - however uncomfortable that process may be. <br/><br/>\n</p>\nTo make America great, we must first make America whole. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse17-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading17-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse17-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse17-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIf you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading17-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse17-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tEthics, Oversight and Reform, Science, Space and Technology, Veteran's Affairs, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse18-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading18-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse18-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse18-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading18-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse18-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tNo, actually. I think the two-year term limit forces Americans to suffer through almost constant political advertising. I would like to see the House terms extended to three-years each, running with Senate elections and then at mid-term between those. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse19-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading19-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse19-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse19-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading19-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse19-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tFranklin Roosevelt. With trusted advisors like Fanny Perkins at his side, FDR re-envisioned what this country could be and made it, for a time, truly great.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse20-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading20-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse20-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse20-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tBoth sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading20-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse20-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tUnfortunately most of the stories I've heard over the past year have been from the families of COVID-19 victims, those who have gotten sick, and those seeking answers. Each of those stories is equally impactful, not just on how I want to run my campaign, but also on a personal level. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse21-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading21-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse21-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse21-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tTell us your favorite joke.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading21-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse21-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\t\"No way can one girl with a laptop destroy the presidential aspirations of a Governor!\"\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse22-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading22-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse22-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse22-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading22-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse22-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tAbsolutely. My motto is to do the least amount of harm possible. Some decisions will always have \"winners\" and \"losers.\" As much as I'd like to avoid those problems, our world is far too complex to expect every problem to have a simple answer. Without compromise we segregate ourselves from one another and nothing gets done. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse23-101344-2021-07-24\" id=\"heading23-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse23-101344-2021-07-24\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse23-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tThe Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading23-101344-2021-07-24\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse23-101344-2021-07-24\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tIndividual income taxes currently make up 90% of the U.S. government's annual budget. Corporate taxes and the like only make up 10%. I'd like to change that. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nRebekah Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jones' responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. As a Florida scientist and COVID-19 whistleblower, I have watched leaders in my state play political games with health, safety and economic well-being of the people they ought to serve. After the Governor of Florida thrust me into the public spotlight, attacked me, ordered state police to raid my home at gunpoint, and coordinated with Nazi-linked propogandists to try to destroy my life, I refused to stay silent. We need leaders who know what's at stake, and who care enough to do what's right by the people. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Science and fact-based policies Make our world a healthier, more sustainable place Serving the people of Florida What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? My academic background in geography bolstered my passion for researching extreme events, climate change, and earth science. Through my advanced science degrees I learned how inter-connected we all are, our delicate place on this Earth, and the sensitivity of our survival to minute shifts in global temperatures. When I was 16 years old, Hurricane Katrina washed away everything I had ever known. I grew up along the northern Gulf Coast, just miles north of Gulfport, Mississippi. You could say that storm led me down the path of wanting to better understand hurricanes, climate change and disasters. I've worked in disaster response my entire professional career, and dedicated my studies in both my master's and doctoral degrees to research hurricane impacts during various climatic periods in the Holocene. From the global scale down to a neighborhood, environmental issues encompass so many problems we face today: energy independence and cost, air quality, water quality, temperature extremes, extreme weather/storms, infrastructure, public health, global financial stability, even international intervention policy. The environment is the key to crack the code, and in addressing many of those issues, we'll fix others along the way. Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why? The historical figure I look up to most is Fanny Perkins. As the first female cabinet member in U.S. history, Fanny worked closely with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft modern labor policy. From child labor to factory safety and the minimum wage, Fanny was the brain behind one of the greatest economic revolutions in American history. Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy? The movie won't come out until 2022, and the book sometime after, but for now I'd suggest anyone interested in knowing what motivates me to read three books: 1. Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson 2. Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff 3. The Great Influenza by John Barry What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? I made my name this past year because of my commitment to transparency and integrity. I believe both are key principals that any elected official should exemplify. Too many people get elected and forget why they ever ran in the first place - or maybe they didn't care to begin with. Every elected official should have a fair understanding of the issues, empathy for the people impacted by the decisions they make, and make their decisions (and spend their money) transparently. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? I believe that, above all, it is the job of our elected officials to act in our best interests. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? To be the voice of the people whom you represent. What legacy would you like to leave? I want to make a meaningful difference. I realize no single member of the House can go in and change the country overnight, or make it fair or even just, but I'm sure as hell going to try. What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time? Many people my age may say September 11, since that was very much a defining moment for our generation. But for me the thing that sticks out the most is the mass shooting at Columbine High School. I think was blissfully unaware of the gun violence epidemic in this country until that point. After that day, my eyes were opened - as they stayed - for the rest of my life. What was your very first job? How long did you have it? I started going to work with my dad when I was 11 or 12 years old. He worked as a construction contractor hanging drywall in new homes. I did that off and on for five years or so until I took a part-time job working at a pizza joint in my home town. What is your favorite book? Why? The entire Game of Thrones series. I hope you weren't expecting me to pick some hoighty-toighty book to try to impress others with by showing I'm well read. My advanced degrees do that. The book(s) I've actually enjoyed most were in the Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin. If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be? Arya Stark. What was the last song that got stuck in your head? My daughter is going through a Paw Patrol phase, so the theme song to that. What is something that has been a struggle in your life? My family grew up with very little money, we never owned our home, and natural disasters seemed to follow us everywhere we went. Getting a full scholarship to Syracuse was difficult - being a poor kid in Syracuse was even harder. Being a female scientist in a male-dominated field was difficult. But having the governor of my state order state police to raid my home and point guns at my two children will be something my family and I will all be coping with for the rest of our lives. What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution? Before gerrymandering, the House represented the people. Senators represent states, the President represents electorates, but the United State House of Representatives represent the people of this nation. Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? While experience in a job always comes with perks, everyone has to get started somewhere. I appreciate the decades of experience some representatives of our nation have invested, while also noting the need for fresh faces who are not entrenched in the bureaucratic warfare that has crippled progress in our country for far too long. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? As tempted as I am to say climate change, the global implications of that specific challenge puts the United States in the same position as the rest of the world. I think the United States needs to confront its sickness of the soul. We have become more divided, angry, resentful, cruel, and lacking empathy than ever before. There are Americans who actively cheer for the pain and suffering of complete strangers because one person tells them to. Whatever hurt or shared trauma our nation endured needs to be healed - however uncomfortable that process may be. To make America great, we must first make America whole. If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of? Ethics, Oversight and Reform, Science, Space and Technology, Veteran's Affairs, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives? No, actually. I think the two-year term limit forces Americans to suffer through almost constant political advertising. I would like to see the House terms extended to three-years each, running with Senate elections and then at mid-term between those. Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after? Franklin Roosevelt. With trusted advisors like Fanny Perkins at his side, FDR re-envisioned what this country could be and made it, for a time, truly great. Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful? Unfortunately most of the stories I've heard over the past year have been from the families of COVID-19 victims, those who have gotten sick, and those seeking answers. Each of those stories is equally impactful, not just on how I want to run my campaign, but also on a personal level. Tell us your favorite joke. \"No way can one girl with a laptop destroy the presidential aspirations of a Governor!\" Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? Absolutely. My motto is to do the least amount of harm possible. Some decisions will always have \"winners\" and \"losers.\" As much as I'd like to avoid those problems, our world is far too complex to expect every problem to have a simple answer. Without compromise we segregate ourselves from one another and nothing gets done. The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected? Individual income taxes currently make up 90% of the U.S. government's annual budget. Corporate taxes and the like only make up 10%. I'd like to change that.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Jones' campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>Environment</b>\n</p><p>As a scientist who has spent more than a decade studying the Earth, its systems, and the friction between the human and natural worlds, the environment will be one of my focus areas. \n</p><p>Environmental issues encompass a wide range of issues, from addressing climate change and comprehensive infrastructure funding, to localized problems like protecting timber forests from the Southern pine beetle and emergency planning and response. \n</p><p>​Florida's beaches should be envied by the world for their beauty. Protecting those beaches - whether from shoreline erosion, sea level rise or major hurricanes - should be a top priority. \n</p><p>​More than just beaches comprise Florida's First, however, and the unique environmental challenges to forestry, land management, and climate change can define economics in the region.\n</p><p>​We need environmental policies driven by science, not political posturing or pandering. Long-term sustainability of natural resources could have a monumental impact on the vitality of Florida's ecosystem, both for tourism and for economics.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Veterans</b>\n</p><p>Florida’s 1st has the highest percentage of veterans of any Congressional district in the United States.\n</p><p>Nearly one-fifth of every adult in the district served in the United States military, and Eglin Airforce Base employs nearly 15,000 civilian and military personnel today.\n</p><p>Though Eglin today boasts aggressive environmental protection policies, in previous decades Eglin tested a range of chemical weapons, including Agent Orange, that caused disease to military and civilian personnel. \n</p><p>I want to make it easier for veterans<u> exposed to toxic substances</u> to access Veterans Affairs benefits.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Science and Research</b>\n</p><p>Federal restrictions on funding for a range of scientific issues, from disease control to medicine, should be repealed. The government has a vested interest in developing the most advanced science in the world, and our place as a leader in scientific discovery and ingenuity in the world must be restored.\n</p><p>Decisions about policies with a wide-range of potential impacts should be made only when the best available information, data and research shows the plan to be in the best interest of the people.\n</p><p>No more gambling or bad bets with your income, safety or lives. \n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Education</b>\n</p><p><i><b>Federal Funding and Universal Pre-K</b></i>\n</p><p>While communities and states carry most of the burden in funding schools, the feds could do more to ensure every child has access to a quality education from pre-K through graduate school. Universal Pre-K would relieve working parents from a statewide average of $6,647 per year in childcare costs alone.\n</p><p><i><b>Higher Education</b></i>\n</p><p>While rich kids coast through college with D's and $0 in debt, working-class kids depend on a mix of scholarships and student loans, often requiring a minimum GPA and putting students in debt for decades with interest rates exceeding 6%. Our nation's best and brightest carry a collective debt of $1.57 TRILLION.\n</p><p>Capping interest rates to reflect our nation's priorities of furthering scientific and medical discovery through advanced study would allow brilliant students to embrace their gifts without sacrificing 10% or more of their income every month for 25 years.\n</p><p><i><b>Supporting Teachers and Families</b></i>\n</p><p>When the state of Florida refused to published data about COVID-19 in schools, I stepped up and led the effort to do so nationally. As an advocate for students and teachers, I believe early education should be a community effort that unites parents, teachers and students.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Transparency and Accountability</b>\n</p><p>I became <u>a whistleblower</u> and reluctant public figure for <u>refusing to mislead Florida's people with bad data</u> in support of a political plan not grounded by the science.\n</p><p>Since then, I've taken the fight for government accountability and transparency personally.\n</p><p>I've been invited as the keynote speaker to half-a-dozen major academic conferences about the ethics of data in a crisis, been honored with titles like<u> Whistleblower of the Year</u>, Elemental's <u>50 Experts to Trust in a Pandemic</u>, Fortune's <u>40 Under 40 for Healthcare</u>, Forbes' <u>Tech Person of the Year</u>, and have been awarded the Samuel Lawrence Prize, and more.\n</p><p>Florida deserves representatives who are honest and care about the people. Being an advocate for accountability and transparency within government is the first step in trusting your represenatatives.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Access to YOUR Representative</b>\n</p><p>Unlike some of Florida's current representatives, you won't find me in Las Vegas on a traitor tour of the country for my own self-promotion. I will be available to you as often as possible, including during my campaign. You can schedule a one-on-one with me by submitting your information through the survey on my home page. We can chat over the phone, through email, zoom, or in-person. \n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Voting Rights &amp; Voter Registration</b>\n</p><p>If you can't vote, then you can't participate in our democracy. The right to vote is one of the most sacred and fundamental pieces of a government that functions for the people. \n</p><p>Any laws that might impact a person's access or right to vote should be heavily scrutinized as appropriate. Without a vote, we lose our voice in our democracy.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Media Accountability</b>\n</p><p>The United States makes it too hard to hold the media accountable when they publish fake news and outright lies. Media should serve as the Fourth Estate - keeping government accountable, not working as an extension of government offices.\n</p><p>I want to make it easier to hold media who publish defamatory, libelous, slanderous and grossly negligent articles about private citizens and limited public figures accountable. This issue has personally impacted my life in the last year, and I know how helpless an ordinary person can feel when the mainstream media defames and slanders the people.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_2-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-2\">[2]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Rebekah Jones' campaign website (2022)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-3\"><a href=\"#cite_note-3\">[3]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0\"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(\"div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0\"); });</script></div>", "answer_text": "Jones' campaign website stated the following:\n“ Environment As a scientist who has spent more than a decade studying the Earth, its systems, and the friction between the human and natural worlds, the environment will be one of my focus areas. Environmental issues encompass a wide range of issues, from addressing climate change and comprehensive infrastructure funding, to localized problems like protecting timber forests from the Southern pine beetle and emergency planning and response. ​Florida's beaches should be envied by the world for their beauty. Protecting those beaches - whether from shoreline erosion, sea level rise or major hurricanes - should be a top priority. ​More than just beaches comprise Florida's First, however, and the unique environmental challenges to forestry, land management, and climate change can define economics in the region. ​We need environmental policies driven by science, not political posturing or pandering. Long-term sustainability of natural resources could have a monumental impact on the vitality of Florida's ecosystem, both for tourism and for economics. Veterans Florida’s 1st has the highest percentage of veterans of any Congressional district in the United States. Nearly one-fifth of every adult in the district served in the United States military, and Eglin Airforce Base employs nearly 15,000 civilian and military personnel today. Though Eglin today boasts aggressive environmental protection policies, in previous decades Eglin tested a range of chemical weapons, including Agent Orange, that caused disease to military and civilian personnel. I want to make it easier for veterans exposed to toxic substances to access Veterans Affairs benefits. Science and Research Federal restrictions on funding for a range of scientific issues, from disease control to medicine, should be repealed. The government has a vested interest in developing the most advanced science in the world, and our place as a leader in scientific discovery and ingenuity in the world must be restored. Decisions about policies with a wide-range of potential impacts should be made only when the best available information, data and research shows the plan to be in the best interest of the people. No more gambling or bad bets with your income, safety or lives. Education Federal Funding and Universal Pre-K While communities and states carry most of the burden in funding schools, the feds could do more to ensure every child has access to a quality education from pre-K through graduate school. Universal Pre-K would relieve working parents from a statewide average of $6,647 per year in childcare costs alone. Higher Education While rich kids coast through college with D's and $0 in debt, working-class kids depend on a mix of scholarships and student loans, often requiring a minimum GPA and putting students in debt for decades with interest rates exceeding 6%. Our nation's best and brightest carry a collective debt of $1.57 TRILLION. Capping interest rates to reflect our nation's priorities of furthering scientific and medical discovery through advanced study would allow brilliant students to embrace their gifts without sacrificing 10% or more of their income every month for 25 years. Supporting Teachers and Families When the state of Florida refused to published data about COVID-19 in schools, I stepped up and led the effort to do so nationally. As an advocate for students and teachers, I believe early education should be a community effort that unites parents, teachers and students. Transparency and Accountability I became a whistleblower and reluctant public figure for refusing to mislead Florida's people with bad data in support of a political plan not grounded by the science. Since then, I've taken the fight for government accountability and transparency personally. I've been invited as the keynote speaker to half-a-dozen major academic conferences about the ethics of data in a crisis, been honored with titles like Whistleblower of the Year , Elemental's 50 Experts to Trust in a Pandemic , Fortune's 40 Under 40 for Healthcare , Forbes' Tech Person of the Year , and have been awarded the Samuel Lawrence Prize, and more. Florida deserves representatives who are honest and care about the people. Being an advocate for accountability and transparency within government is the first step in trusting your represenatatives. Access to YOUR Representative Unlike some of Florida's current representatives, you won't find me in Las Vegas on a traitor tour of the country for my own self-promotion. I will be available to you as often as possible, including during my campaign. You can schedule a one-on-one with me by submitting your information through the survey on my home page. We can chat over the phone, through email, zoom, or in-person. Voting Rights & Voter Registration If you can't vote, then you can't participate in our democracy. The right to vote is one of the most sacred and fundamental pieces of a government that functions for the people. Any laws that might impact a person's access or right to vote should be heavily scrutinized as appropriate. Without a vote, we lose our voice in our democracy. Media Accountability The United States makes it too hard to hold the media accountable when they publish fake news and outright lies. Media should serve as the Fourth Estate - keeping government accountable, not working as an extension of government offices. I want to make it easier to hold media who publish defamatory, libelous, slanderous and grossly negligent articles about private citizens and limited public figures accountable. This issue has personally impacted my life in the last year, and I know how helpless an ordinary person can feel when the mainstream media defames and slanders the people. [2] ” —Rebekah Jones' campaign website (2022) [3]"}]