Press Release

The Collective PAC Congratulates Our Endorsed Candidates In Florida On Advancing in Their Races

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, The Collective PAC — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation, and power across all levels of government  —  congratulates our endorsed candidates on advancing in their races. 

Federal 

  • Congresswoman Val Demings is running to represent Florida in the United States Senate. Congresswoman Val Demings has dedicated her entire career to serving others; first as a social worker and then as a police officer in the Orlando Police Department. Congresswoman Demings served over 27 years on the force and became the first woman to serve as Chief of the Orlando Police Department. Under her leadership, violent crime fell by 40%. During that same time, Congresswoman Demings founded a youth mentoring program designed to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and youth in the community.  If elected, Congresswoman Demings will make history as the first Black person and the second woman to serve as a U.S. Senator from Florida. 

Statewide 

  • Ms. Aramis Ayala is running for Attorney General in Florida. Ms. Ayala is a civil rights advocate and former Florida State Attorney. She served as a public defender and Assistant State  Attorney for almost 15 years, before leading as the State Attorney of Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit. Ms. Ayala created history by becoming the first Black state attorney in  Florida; she will once again be breaking racial barriers if elected, and she will be Florida’s first Black woman Attorney General. Ms. Ayala plans to advocate for voting, civil, and reproductive rights and give a voice to all Floridians.

State Legislature

  • Mrs. Tiffany Hughes is running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 39. Mrs. Hughes is a community advocate, mentor, and owner of KBI Staffing Solutions LLC, a staffing firm. She is a graduate of the Florida International University and is the youngest President in history to be elected to the Orange County Florida chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. If elected, Mrs. Hughes seeks to address the housing crisis, expand medicare, and increase funding for schools and educators. 

 

  • State Representative Michele Rayner is running for the Florida  House of Representatives in District 62. State Rep. Rayner currently represents District 70 in the Florida House of Representatives and is a civil rights and social justice attorney who made history in 2020 when she became the first openly queer Black member of the Florida legislature. As a member of the Florida legislature, Ms. Rayner wants to continue to serve her community as a leader ensuring equitable recovery from COVID, protecting voting rights, and demanding real justice for the underserved. 

Municipal

  • Vice Mayor Mike Gelin is running for Mayor in Tamarac, Florida. Vice Mayor Gelin serves the community in the City of Tamarac in District Two. He is a graduate of Morris Brown College, an insurance brokerage owner, and a community advocate.  Vice Mayor Gelin served on the Community Involvement Roundtable of the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, Tamarac City’s Insurance Advisory Board, the Youth Survivors Foundation, a nonprofit providing mentoring and scholarships, and the National Forum of Black Administrators. During his tenure as a Vice Mayor, Mr. Gelin successfully lowered property taxes and passed a “Ban the Box” ordinance, which ended the discrimination against formerly incarcerated individuals in employment, housing, and public service. If elected, Vice Mayor Gelin plans to support small businesses, stimulate economic growth, and advocate for affordable housing.

 

  • Mrs. Helen Lurry is running for Saint Lucie County Commission in District Four. Mrs. Lurry is a realtor, former educator, criminal justice professional, and first-generation American. She attended Bethune-Cookman University and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminal Justice and received her Master’s Degree from the State University of New York at Albany.  If elected, Mrs. Lurry aspires to improve schools and the infrastructure in the district. 

 

  • Mrs. Paula DeBoles-Johnson is running for Leon County Commission in District Five. Mrs. DeBoles-Johnson is the Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Capital City Youth Development Corporation, which is dedicated to youth development and empowerment through education, community service, and training. Currently, she serves as the Employee Engagement and Performance Manager for Leon County Government. If elected, Mrs. DeBoles-Johnson plans to invest in economic development by supporting small businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship opportunities, advocating for safe and affordable housing, increased youth development programs, and criminal justice reform. 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state, and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward. Over the past five years, The Collective PAC has successfully helped 300 Black candidates win elections across the United States.