Zach Funkhouser
K-8 adapted physical education teacher in Pasco County. In a Tampa Bay 28 questionnaire he said he is running because his generation is being left behind and describes himself as a young candidate who supports the working class.
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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.
Taxes & spending Strongly disagrees· stated position
He proposed raising taxes on the top 1 percent of earners to pay for expanded health coverage, rather than treating tax cuts as a priority.
"States should address these issues by raising taxes on the top 1%"
Property taxes Strongly disagrees· stated position
Asked whether property insurance or property taxes was the bigger concern, he defended property taxes as a necessary source of school funding and put the focus on insurance and building standards instead.
"Property taxes are important because they fund public education."
Property insurance Leans agree· stated position
Funkhouser said he would crack down on insurance companies and their junk fees.
"We would also crack down on insurance companies and their junk fees"
Housing affordability Strongly agrees· stated position
He told VOTE411 that Florida should build more permanent affordable housing and restrict investors from buying up homes, calling it his answer to the cost-of-living crisis.
"I believe creating more permanent affordable housing and cracking down on private equity and corporations from buying up all of the homes and raising prices."
Immigration Strongly disagrees· stated position
Funkhouser said he does not agree with current enforcement, calling its tactics cruel, and wants better legal pathways.
"I do not agree with the current approaches to immigration enforcement."
Abortion Strongly agrees· stated position
Asked by the League of Women Voters under what circumstances he would support access to abortion, Funkhouser answered that he would support it in all circumstances.
"I would support access to abortion in all circumstances."
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
In the VOTE411 questionnaire he said states should respond to falling health-coverage access by raising taxes on the highest earners and widening eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare.
"States should address these issues by raising taxes on the top 1% and expanding access to medicaid and medicare so more people are able to access it."
Education & school choice Leans disagree· stated position
His campaign site lists 'Rework the Voucher program' among his education priorities and says Florida ranks last in a national public-education ranking partly because of increased privatization. He does not call for ending vouchers outright.
"Rework the Voucher program"
Environment & water Strongly agrees· stated position
His issues page calls for investing in clean energy, stopping overdevelopment and increasing wetland protections, and says climate change must be addressed urgently.
"We need to stop overdevelopment, increase protections for the environment and pivot to clean energy before it is too late."
Growth & development Strongly agrees· stated position
His environment plank lists 'Stop Overdevelopment' as a priority, and he opposes large AI data centers on environmental and infrastructure grounds.
"Stop Overdevelopment"
Elections & voting Strongly agrees· stated position
He said that if documentary proof of citizenship were required to register, he would make acceptable identification available for free, and he said he would oppose the SAVE Act.
"The SAVE act is designed to oppress women and minorities and so I will fight it every opportunity I can."
Gender identity laws Strongly disagrees· stated position
Among his education priorities in the VOTE411 questionnaire he said he would work to repeal Florida's law limiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"i will work to repeal the don't say gay act"
Energy & utilities Strongly agrees· stated position
He lists investing in clean energy and caps on utility bills among his priorities, and argues data centers raise consumers' energy costs.
"Invest in Clean Energy"
No public position found on 5 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Guns, Marijuana, Crime & policing, 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
- Affordability — He says he is positioned to address the affordability crisis because he works in the trenches and sees big corporations and multi-millionaires ruining things for the rest of us.
- Banning AI data centers and Flock surveillance cameras — Funkhouser's site calls for banning large AI data centers, arguing they strain water and electricity supplies and raise consumers' bills, and for banning automated license-plate cameras, which he describes as creating a surveillance state.
- Teacher pay and testing — He calls for raising starting and experienced teacher pay and reforming testing and accountability rules, noting Florida's average teacher pay ranks near the bottom nationally.
- State preemption of local government — Asked about preemption and home rule, he said the balance of power has shifted toward the state and that this leads to workers and individuals being taken advantage of by corporations.