Name: Richard Corcoran
Age: 47
Residence: New Port Richey
Occupation: attorney
Political affiliation: Republican
Political experience: currently representing state House District 45, former chief-of-staff to Sen. Marco Rubio
Office being sought: Florida House District 37
Why are you running for this office?
I am committed to making Florida government more efficient, effective and accountable to the hardworking taxpayers of Florida. Part of the American dream is creating your own business and being your own boss. I have fought, and will continue to fight, to build a state where hard work is rewarded and every American has the opportunity to succeed. This is the most effective way to build a healthy economy where all can prosper.
What are your top three priorities?
1. A healthy economy is paramount to our future. We must strive to increase the efficiency of our government by making it more accountable to the people. We must stress policies that promote economic freedom and reward hardworking taxpayers for their determination to succeed and risks they take in creating jobs.
2. If we get education right, a great deal of other issues will sort themselves out. We must ensure every child in Florida has an opportunity for quality education. We must promote educational freedom by allowing families to choose the best way to educate their children.
3. Health care is an important issue. The costs of the state’s Medicaid program have more than doubled over the past ten years — more than doubling. If we do not strengthen the system, it will consume our entire budget. By promoting free-market principles we will be able to benefit consumers everywhere.
Why should voters choose you?
What we need right now at all levels of government is real leadership. We need leaders who have a real philosophy and have the courage to fight no matter how much pressure is put upon them: leaders who will govern selflessly and who put the interests of the people ahead of themselves at all times. I was raised by two WWII veterans who both lived through the Great Depression who taught me that honor is something to be valued more than anything else. Every day I strive to live up to those expectations.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
I was raised here and have lived in Pasco for over 20 years. I am a veteran and I have been a small business owner during my legal career. I have held many different staff positions in the House that include being the Chief-of-Staff to Senator Marco Rubio while he was in the Florida Legislature. It takes courage to do what is right for the people of Pasco, and my core principle’s will help guide me through the Legislature to make the difficult decisions necessary for the government to be as efficient, effective and accountable to the people as possible.
