Name: James “Jim” Brenner Campaign website: jimbrenner.com Date, place of birth: July 8, 1957 Teaneck NJ Education: Wesleyan University DA 1979 Harvard University MPP 1982 Occupation: retired; corporate and non-profit director; banker; investment manager, policy analyst Work history past 15 years. List in reverse chronological order.
Self employed as CEO of Broad Cove Partners consulting/development advisory since 2004; also 2004-2019 Non-executive Director CAL Bank Ltd, Accra Ghana; 2007-2016 Non-executive Director Ghana Home Loans, Accra Ghana; 20010 to 20018 CEO and director Ecohomes Liberia Inc. Monrovia, Liberia. Retired since 2020.
• Extensive Public Service Experience: o Former staff member for Senator John Kerry, gaining valuable insight into legislative processes and public service. o Experience working on Capitol Hill and with prominent leaders such as Barney Frank. • Diverse International and Community Involvement: o Co-founder and Board Member of the U.
S. Vote Foundation, advocating for voter access and participation. o Board Member of Ecohomes-Liberia, promoting sustainable and affordable housing solutions.
o President of the East Point Tower Condominium Association, overseeing community management and operations. o Director of the Dolphin Democrats, promoting LGBTQ+ rights and inclusive policies. o Member of various committees and boards, including the Cultural Fluency Initiative and Affordable Housing Advisory Committee in Weston, Massachusetts.
• Professional Background: o Banking and international investment executive with a focus on sustainable, grass-roots development. o Founder of Ghana Home Loans Ltd, financing middle-class home development in Ghana. o Former director of CAL Bank in Ghana.
o Founder of Ecohomes Liberia, a green-rated cooperative home development. Why are you running for this office and what specifically makes you a better candidate than your opponent(s)? I’m running for state representative because my community, my friends, my adult daughters, and my neighbors are all threatened by harmful policies coming from Tallahassee. These policies attack our reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and our environment, while driving up insurance and condominium costs.
Rather than standing up for us, the current representative is working against our interests. As a senior citizen, a condo owner, and a long-time resident of this district, I deeply care about these issues. I believe we need leadership that listens, fights for what’s right, and puts our community first.
That’s why I’m running, and that’s why I’m asking for your support. What are the three most important issues facing your legislative district? Affordable Housing and Rising Costs of Living: Housing affordability is a key concern, especially with escalating rent and property costs. Coastal Broward County, which includes District 100, is facing challenges in providing affordable housing options, particularly for middle-class and lower-income residents.
Condo fees and the overall cost of living are steadily increasing, putting pressure on homeowners and renters alike. Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability: As a coastal district, District 100 is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, flooding, and coastal erosion. Residents are concerned about the state’s response to these environmental challenges, and there is a growing demand for sustainable infrastructure and effective climate change mitigation policies.
Homeowners Insurance Crisis: Skyrocketing insurance premiums have become a major issue, with many residents struggling to afford necessary coverage due to the state’s policies favoring large insurance companies. Addressing the homeowners’ insurance crisis and ensuring fair pricing is critical for constituents. Do you support or oppose Amendment 4, the abortion rights amendment on the Nov.
5 ballot, and why? I support the amanedment. I support a woman’s right to choose because I believe in the fundamental principle of bodily autonomy and that individuals should have the freedom to make personal healthcare decisions without interference from the government. Access to safe, legal abortion is critical to ensuring that women can exercise control over their reproductive health and future.
Restricting abortion rights disproportionately affects marginalized communities, putting their health and economic stability at risk. I firmly believe that reproductive rights are human rights, and protecting a woman’s right to choose is essential for gender equality and social justice. Gov.
Ron DeSantis this year vetoed all state appropriations for arts and cultural programs, estimated at $32 million, to more than 600 organizations. Do you agree or disagree with this veto and why? I strongly disagree with Governor Ron DeSantis’ veto of all state appropriations for arts and cultural programs, which amounted to approximately $32 million for over 600 organizations. This decision undermines the critical role that arts and culture play in Florida’s economy, education, and community well-being.
First, the arts are a significant economic driver, generating revenue, supporting jobs, and attracting tourism. By defunding these programs, the state risks weakening the local economy and reducing opportunities for creative industries to thrive. Second, arts and cultural programs are vital for education and personal development, particularly for young people.
These programs often provide essential outlets for creativity, help foster critical thinking skills, and promote cultural understanding. Cutting funding could limit access to these enriching experiences, especially for underprivileged communities that rely on public funding to participate in the arts. Finally, arts and culture bring communities together, create dialogue, and enrich public life.
Florida’s diversity is reflected in its cultural institutions, and defunding these programs sends the wrong message about the state’s commitment to inclusivity and cultural representation. The decision to veto funding for the arts overlooks the long-term benefits these programs bring to Florida’s economy and society. Reversing this move would support a more vibrant, inclusive, and economically sustainable future for the state.
In the 2024 session, the Legislature passed a major change to the ethics law (SB 7014) requiring complainants to have personal knowledge of the facts of a case. Would you have voted for or against this law and why? I would have voted against SB 7014, which requires complainants to have personal knowledge of the facts when filing ethics complaints. While the goal of preventing frivolous or politically motivated complaints is important, this change could make it significantly harder to hold public officials accountable.
Ethics violations are often discovered through investigative reporting or whistleblowers who may not have direct, personal knowledge of every detail but possess credible information. This law could discourage these individuals from coming forward, potentially shielding unethical behavior. By raising the bar for filing complaints, the law risks diminishing transparency and accountability in government.
In an era where trust in public institutions is already fragile, we should be strengthening, not weakening, mechanisms that encourage whistleblowing and transparency. Public officials should be held to the highest ethical standards, and the process for addressing complaints should remain accessible to ensure integrity in public office. In the 2024 case, the Legislature passed a law (HB 1365) that prohibits homeless people from sleeping in public spaces.
Would you have voted for or against this law and why? I would have voted against HB 1365, which prohibits homeless people from sleeping in public spaces. While addressing homelessness is a pressing issue, criminalizing homelessness does not solve the root causes of the problem and only serves to push vulnerable individuals further into the margins. This approach fails to offer real solutions like increasing access to affordable housing, mental health services, or employment opportunities.
It also places a burden on law enforcement to manage a public health and social issue that would be better addressed by supportive services. Rather than criminalizing people for their circumstances, we should focus on providing safe, monitored spaces for those experiencing homelessness, as well as creating more affordable housing options and increasing access to critical support services. Compassionate, comprehensive solutions are needed to address homelessness, not punitive laws that only hide the problem without resolving it.
A vote against HB 1365 would align with my belief in addressing the underlying causes of homelessness through humane and effective policies. The Legislature in recent years has added many new exemptions to the public records law to keep information secret, such as state university presidential searches and the governor’s travel. Do you support or oppose these exemptions and why? I oppose many of the recent exemptions added to Florida’s public records law, including those related to state university presidential searches and the governor’s travel records.
Florida has long prided itself on having strong “sunshine” laws that promote transparency and accountability in government. These new exemptions undermine those principles by keeping key information about public officials and institutions hidden from the public. In the case of state university presidential searches, exempting records limits transparency in a process that involves selecting leaders of publicly funded institutions.
Taxpayers and students deserve to know who is being considered for these critical roles and to have confidence that the best candidates are being selected through an open, competitive process. Shielding this information weakens public oversight and accountability. Similarly, exempting the governor’s travel records raises concerns about public safety, potential misuse of state resources, and transparency in how public officials conduct themselves while in office.
The public has a right to know how taxpayer dollars are being used, including details about official travel and security arrangements, unless there is a compelling and clear security concern. While certain exemptions may be justified on grounds of security or privacy, a blanket approach to limiting access to public information undermines the core democratic values of transparency and accountability. Public trust in government is strengthened when officials operate openly, and weakening access to information risks eroding that trust.
Therefore, I would advocate for a more balanced approach that carefully considers the public’s right to know while ensuring necessary protections are in place. What additional measures do you support to address Florida’s property insurance crisis? To address Florida’s property insurance crisis, I support a range of additional measures aimed at stabilizing the market and providing relief to homeowners: 1. Strengthening State Oversight and Regulation: The state must enhance its regulatory oversight of insurance companies to ensure fair pricing and protect consumers from arbitrary rate increases.
Implementing stronger consumer protection standards can prevent insurers from taking advantage of homeowners through excessive premiums or sudden policy cancellations, particularly after disasters. 2. Expanding the Role of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation: Citizens, the state-backed insurer, should be allowed to expand its coverage to serve more Floridians.
The private market has struggled to provide affordable coverage, and allowing Citizens to act as a more robust safety net could offer immediate relief to those facing skyrocketing premiums. 3. Creating Reinsurance Support Programs: The state should explore providing reinsurance support or subsidies to insurers, which can help them manage risk more effectively.
Reinsurance costs are a major factor in high premiums, and state assistance could reduce these costs, benefiting policyholders. 4. Encouraging Mitigation Efforts: Florida should expand incentives for homeowners to make their properties more resilient to hurricanes and flooding.
Providing tax credits, grants, or low-interest loans for windstorm protection measures, roof reinforcements, and flood-proofing will not only reduce the risk of damage but also lower insurance premiums over time. 5. Promoting Competition in the Insurance Market: Encouraging more insurance companies to enter the Florida market by reducing barriers to entry and offering incentives for insurers to write policies in high-risk areas can help increase competition, driving down premiums.
6. Addressing Fraud and Litigation Abuse: While protecting consumer rights, Florida needs to address rampant fraud and litigation abuse, which contribute to rising insurance costs. Legal reforms targeting frivolous lawsuits related to property claims can help stabilize the market without undermining legitimate claims.
7. Supporting Long-Term Climate Resilience Strategies: Since Florida’s property insurance crisis is driven in large part by climate change and the increasing frequency of natural disasters, the state must invest in long-term climate resilience. This includes strengthening building codes, improving infrastructure, and adopting comprehensive coastal protection strategies to reduce the risks faced by homeowners.
By implementing these measures, we can help stabilize Florida’s property insurance market, ensure fair pricing, and protect homeowners from the financial burden of rising premiums. Describe in specific detail one demographic, economic or social factor about your legislative district that sets it apart from all the others. One specific factor that sets Florida House District 100 apart from other districts is its vast amount of waterfront property and coastal geography, which directly influences its economy, demographics, and environmental challenges.
The district includes 16 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, 32 miles of Intracoastal Waterway, and hundreds of miles of canals, totaling more than 1,000 miles of waterfront property. This unique geography significantly shapes the local economy, with a strong emphasis on tourism, marine industries, and real estate development. The waterfront areas attract affluent homeowners, retirees, and seasonal residents, contributing to higher property values and significant economic activity related to boating, waterfront dining, and luxury real estate.
Additionally, the district’s large condominium population, especially in cities like Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, presents specific challenges related to housing affordability, condo association governance, and rising maintenance costs. At the same time, the district is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as rising sea levels, flooding, and coastal erosion, which threaten both the environment and the long-term economic viability of the area. These environmental factors have made climate resilience and sustainability central concerns for residents, setting District 100 apart in terms of the legislative priorities and community needs.
Have you been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime, had an adjudication withheld or had a matter sealed or expunged? If yes, please explain. Yes once in Massachusetts I was charged with reckless driving on Cape Cod in 2004. I turned onto a one-way street because it was dark and I thought it was two-way.
The charges were settled and sealed. Have you been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, including bankruptcy or foreclosure or had a restraining order issued against you? If so, please explain. No; I was sued for negligence in Fort Lauderdale (condo water damage) but settled out of court.
