OUR ENDORSEMENT: Darren Soto for reelection to Congress (9th district)

Endorsement: Stephanie Murphy / Headline SurferPhoto for Headline Surfer / Darren Soto the first person of Puerto Rican descent to serve in Congress from Florida for the past four years is seeking his third two-year term. YouTube video download / Soto campaign video posted Sept 15. Soto's campaign message header in Spanish - 'Luchando por Nosotros' translates to 'Fighting for Us.'

Posted: 2020-10-30 04:29:05

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Darren Soto's four years in Congress has truly benefitted Central Florida's populace, especially those in the diverse Latino community - Puerto Ricans, Venezuelans and Portuguese ethnicities.

Soto, 42, is proud to be the first person of Puerto Rican descent to serve in Congress from Florida as he should be.

This committed elected public servant is a Democrat, but he has risen above the partisan rut to get things done in Washington for the benefit of Central Florida and its melting pot of hard working citizens - from Kissimmee to Orlando and beyond. 

Headline Surfer endorses Darren Soto for a third two-year term in Congress because his track record of success is truly defined. 

Central Florida Congressman Darren Soto / Headline SurferThis committed elected public servant is a Democrat (shown here in an Oct 10 pic from his Facebook page), but he has risen above the partisan rut to get things done in Washington for the benefit of Central Florida and its melting pot of hard working citizens - from Kissimmee to Orlando and beyond. Headline Surfer endorses Darren Soto for a third two-year term in Congress because his track record of success is truly defined. 

An accomplished lawyer, legislator, environmentalist, and proud progressive representing the diverse, hardworking people of Central Florida in Congress, Soto, as described in his campaign bio Darren went into practice in Orlando after graduating from law school to stand up for people in the courtroom (and play music on the side).

Soto became involved with the Young Democrats and was elected to the Florida House at the age of 29. He served for 5 1/2 years in the Florida Housebefore he was elected to Florida Senate, where he served for four years.

During his nearly 10 years in the Florida Legislature, Soto worked to bring high-paying, high tech jobs to Central Florida; pushed for legislation to protect clean air, land, and water; expand and protect health care; help families facing foreclosure; and improve education. 

Soto has made made the most of his four years in Congress with proven results. 

Consider: 

• Soto serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee where he fights to increase access to healthcare for all Americans, to combat climate change and protect clean air and water, to boost American technology and innovation, and protect consumers. 

• He has brought millions in federal funding back to the district for disaster relief, to improve infrastructure for SunRail, I-4 expansion and other new roads, to provide food and housing assistance, to support local agriculture, and to boost high tech high paying jobs, and help small businesses and the unemployed.

• Soto pushed for and helped pass major legislation to increase hurricane readiness, protect Florida’s coasts from foreign offshore oil drilling, preserve marine life, honor veterans and civil rights heroes, map sinkholes, designate the Pulse National Memorial, provide Medicaid parity to Puerto Rico, and grant temporary protective status to Venezuelan refugees.

Soto's opponent, Bill Olson, is a political newcomer, who is far from a household name: The GOP challenger is an Army veteran whose campaign platform puts a premium on fighting terrorism, shutting down illegal immigration, lowering taxes and reducing business regulation, much of which makes him an outsider in this Latino-rich district.

Olson has not demonstrated he can relate to the district's consituents - instead mirroring the ideology of President Trump. Soto clearly is the proven leader his constituents need to represent their pressing needs - especially in this COVId-19 pandemic that has crippled the economy and limited employment in predominantly Osceola County, west of Orlando.

Darren Soto, congressman / Headline SurferCandidate Bio:

Personal: Darren Michael Soto was born Feb. 25, 1978 (age 42) in Ringwood, NJ. to a Puerto Rican father, O. Lou Soto, and an Italian-American mother, Jean Soto. He and his wife, Amanda, were married in 2013.  

Professional: Experience includes working as President of D. Soto Law Offices, summer associate with L.A. Gonzalez Law Offices and financial analyst with Prudential Insurance. 

Education: Earned a bachelor's degree in economics, and attended law school at George Washington University.

Activism: In 2006, he was named class counsel in the federal class action brought on behalf of Hispanic voters against the City of Kissimmee in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

In 2006, he was named class counsel in the federal class action brought on behalf of Hispanic voters against the City of Kissimmee in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Family: His wife, Amanda Soto, has worked as a math and science coach in the Osceola and Orange County public schools and is a member of the Osceola County Classroom Teachers Association.

FAST FACTS: Congressional bills sponsored by Soto:

About The Byline Writer:
Henry Frederick bio / Headline SurferHenry Frederick is publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched 12 years ago that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed more than a hundred journalism industry awards in print & online -- more than all other members of the working press combined in Central Florida since the mid-1990s. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism with academic honors from Full Sail University in 2019. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary programs on Discovery ID and Reelz for his investigative reporting and cops & courts breaking news stories.
 
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All written and visual content contained in this story is the sole intellectual property of Headline Surfer LLC and may not be copied in whole or in part without advance written permission from the publisher of this Central Florida online news site.