Merrillee Malwitz Jipson
Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, 61, co-owns Rum 138, a recreation outfitter and art gallery on the Santa Fe River, and has spent about two decades advocating for North Florida's springs and rivers as a founding member of groups such as Our Santa Fe River and as a former Sierra Club lobbyist. She holds a BFA from Ringling College of Art and Design.
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Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Property taxes Leans disagree· stated position
She notes homestead taxes are already capped and fund vital services, and proposes capping taxes on heirs' property instead of broad cuts.
Property insurance Leans disagree· stated position
She says insurance costs for coastal, flood-prone or forested properties should reflect owners' choices rather than be spread to others.
"The cost to insure these properties must reflect the choices of these property owners, rather than passing these costs down to others."
Housing affordability Leans agree· stated position
On housing she proposes limits on corporate ownership of rental property and restrictions on foreign investors, rather than the Live Local Act.
Immigration Leans disagree· stated position
She says federal immigration policy interferes with the state's need for workers in agriculture, construction and tourism.
Abortion Strongly agrees· stated position
She says government has removed personal choice on abortion and that the decision must rest with a doctor and patient.
"Abortion must be a carefully made choice between a medical doctor and the patient."
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
She supports single-payer, Medicare-for-all style reform and says Florida should accept federal health-care money.
"I support single-payer, Medicare-for-all reform. It saves money, eliminates unnecessary middlemen, and treats healthcare as what it is: a basic condition of a decent life."
Environment & water Strongly agrees· stated position
Protecting the Floridan Aquifer and clean water is the core of her platform; she opposes industrial data centers and intensive development in the region.
"Life begins with clean water and clean air. Without them, nothing else is possible."
Growth & development Strongly agrees· stated position
She says the Live Local Act should be rescinded, opposes state preemption of local land-use decisions and says the district cannot sustain more intensive development over the aquifer.
"The Live Local Act must be rescinded as local communities understand the conditions of their neighborhoods and development issues"
Crime & policing Leans disagree· stated position
Her site calls for equal justice and accountability for law enforcement regardless of wealth or fame.
"Equal justice is not a political position. It is the foundation of a free society."
No public position found on 9 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Guns, Education & school choice, Marijuana, Elections & voting, Gender identity laws, Energy & utilities, Trump administration, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Response to reporting on her opponent's past associations — Asked about reporting on Marshall Rawson's attendance at the 2017 Charlottesville rally and ties to the League of the South, Malwitz-Jipson said racism has no place in the Legislature and asked voters to weigh what kind of leadership they want in Tallahassee.