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Campaign News Letter to Governor Crist
Campaign News Letter to Governor Crist | Letter to Governor Crist |
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| Written by Web Administrator | |
| Thursday, 10 December 2009 | |
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I was concerned
recently when Governor Charlie Crist held an economic roundtable that
did not include representatives from the entertainment industry or from
renewable energy businesses. Below is my letter to the Govenor asking
him to include these groups at his next meeting.
The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Dear Governor Crist:
Congratulations on the
success of the Florida Small Business Summit recognizing the many
contributions of Florida’s small business owners and the important
impact they make to our state’s economy. I was impressed with the
broad diversity of businesses represented by those invited to
participate in the summit and congratulate you for your leadership in
advancing innovation and excellence in Florida.
I am writing to also
encourage that future state-sponsored events promoting and recognizing
Florida’s small businesses are more inclusive of representatives from
two important industries in Florida: the renewable energy and the film, entertainment and television
industries. These two industries hold great promise for the future of
our state, compliment the strengths we already have, and help lead the
nation on several levels.
As you probably already
know, Florida’s film, entertainment and television industry is strong
and has tremendous potential. Florida’s tourism and the film,
entertainment and television industry go hand-in-hand and complement
each other. Tourism, however, is vulnerable to the recession, while
the film, entertainment and television industry is almost
recession-proof.
According to a study on Florida’s Film and Entertainment Industry Economic Impact Analysis in 2007, film and entertainment-related spending accounted for:
In 2008, every dollar of
film incentives provided by the State is associated with $22 in
additional gross state product and $1.44 in additional tax revenue. The
study shows that over 68,000 jobs were created in 2007 directly in
arts, entertainment and recreation services.
Additionally, due to
spending in the industry supply chain and industry payrolls, jobs were
created in other parts of the Florida economy. These spinoff jobs
included:
Florida’s renewable energy
businesses also play a pivotal role in transforming our economy and way
of life. Although one small business (Hypower Inc.) in this area was
included among the summit participants, I think we can and should do
better at including more in future state-sponsored events. The
American Solar Energy Society’s recent report forecasts nearly 37
million green-collar jobs by 2030 in the renewable energy and energy
efficiency industry. Florida’s green-collar workforce can only grow if
we invest to build and strengthen our renewable energy businesses.
In his book Hot, Flat and Crowded,
Thomas Friedman writes “We are not going to regulate our way out of the
problems of the energy-climate era. We can only innovate our way out,
and the only way to do that is to mobilize the most effective and
prolific system for transformational innovation and commercialization
of new products ever created on the face of the earth – the U.S.
marketplace.” We must do a better job to build and strengthen
Florida’s renewable energy and energy conservation and efficiencies
businesses, which contribute to Florida’s innovation and excellence.
Florida must do a better job to create the environment for what
Friedman describes as the spurring of “massive,
no-holds-barred-everybody-in-their-garage-or-laboratory innovation,”
which will lead us to new sources of clean energy.
Once again, thank you for
your vision and leadership in recognizing Florida’s small businesses.
I appreciate you taking the time to consider my request. Clean, green
industries such as the renewable energy and the film, entertainment and
television industries are on the cusp of the seismic paradigm shift we
face and can help spark a healthy economic and cultural rebirth in
Florida.
Sincerely,
Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda
State Representative, District 9
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Contact Michelle
MIchelle's Bio
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We must reclaim respect and fairness for Florida's public servants and work to solve the health care crisis in Florida, particularly as it effects our most vulnerable: our children, our elderly, and our sick.
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Michelle has been continuously employed as a life guard, waitress, lawyer and community college professor, helping to support her family since she was fourteen.
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Class President 1974
Student Government 1974-76
Lettered Varsity Soccer & Track Teams 1974-77
1st New York State Key Club President
Canandaigua Academy, NY
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Michelle grew up close to where Susan B. Anthony campaigned relentlessly for suffrage. Here is one of her favorite quotes: “It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.”
~Susan B. Anthony -
Michelle fell in love with the founding fathers in 4th grade and has wanted to be a public servant ever since!
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Michelle developed, wrote, and oversaw the process for the Request for Proposal/Invitation to Bid for Tallahassee Community College’s venture into new learning technologies.
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Michelle developed and wrote content for 14 Legal Studies Program Courses offered online. Her's was the first full program to be offered completely online.
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Michelle played varsity soccer throughout her high school career and encourages her daughters to stay active.
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Michelle graduated high school in just 3 years!
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Michelle spent 4 years as an enforcement attorney for the Department of Environmental Protection (Now DEP) before joining Tallahassee Community College.
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Michelle moved to Florida in 1977 to attend New College. Accepted to Cornell, her grandfather convinced her to come south.
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New College in Sarasota. Then graduated from the University of Florida Law School.
Photo Gallery
Michelle and her mother, Jeppa, at the Downtown Market
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, Democrat, for State Representative, District 9
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