Meet Bob
I’m running for the Florida Senate to bring common sense back to Tallahassee so our state government works for our families again instead of for special interests and lobbyists. That starts by ensuring that every child in Florida receives the same opportunities to reach their full potential that I was given.
I was the youngest of ten children and my mother was still pregnant with me when my father left for good. We grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, without electricity, running water, or plumbing. When I was four, our house burned down and destroyed what little we had. Our small town came together and donated enough money for a down payment on a new home. That sort of generosity and empathy is sorely lacking in Tallahassee where instead of investing in our children, politicians have slashed services for our most vulnerable – our children and our seniors.
I have a deep appreciation for the transformative effects of teachers and of public education.
All that I have been able to achieve as a law school professor, a lawyer, and a judge, began with the intervention of several key educators at my public school who put me on a path to becoming the first of my family to attend college. My top priority will be to ensure every child in Florida receives an excellent education in safe, well-funded public schools by well-paid teachers who are treated with the respect they deserve.
After serving our country in the Navy in Vietnam, I continued my education with a law degree (JD) from the University of Oklahoma and a master of laws (LLM) and doctorate (SJD) from the University of Wisconsin. I spent nine years as a law school professor at Ole Miss and Mercer before moving to Winter Haven where I met my wife of 3 decades, Chelle. In 1994, I was elected judge in the 10th Circuit Court where I presided over thousands of family law cases until retiring in 2010.
I’ve spent my life fighting for equality, from integrating youth baseball in Oxford, Mississippi, in the 1970s to marching for civil rights in Cumming, Georgia, in the 80s to establishing court processes for domestic violence victims in the 90s, to exposing the failure to test victims’ rape kits recently. With your support, we can create a government that works for all of its citizens, not just the privileged few, and ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Get Involved
Checks can be mailed to:
Bob Doyel Campaign | P.O. Box 897 | Winter Haven, FL 33882
Questions, comments and media requests may be directed to cm@bobdoyel.com
BOB’S PRIORITIES
Restore Home Rule
The right of local government, our city and county commissions, to decide local issues is being eroded by the powers that be in Tallahassee. We call that right home rule. Incumbent Senator Kelli Stargel and Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran have mounted an all-out assault on home rule and want to centralize decision-making in Tallahassee for even the most local of issues including regulations from tree-trimming to the ability of CRA’s to invest in local communities. I believe that local elected officials and the people of the community should have the right to decide local issues, and the best government official is the one you can look in the eye when you need something done, not some anonymous beaurocrat in Tallahassee. I will work to restore home rule to our cities, our counties, and our school boards.
Reinvest in Public Education
It’s time to ensure that our children are getting the best education we can provide because an investment in quality public education is an investment in stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger economy. Our children deserve access to quality education that prepares them for the 21st century economy whether in a valued trade or technical skill or by pursuing a college education.
Our educational system could be and should be the envy of the world, if only we had the will the make it so. Instead, our schools are underfunded, students are being over tested, and teachers are being underpaid and undervalued. In particular, our emphasis on high-stakes standardized tests have forced teachers to spend more time teaching students how to take a test than they do instructing them on practical information. I openly opposed the demolition of our public schools by statutes like HB 7069, which was sponsored by Keli Stargel. When elected, I will fight to raise teachers’ wages, give them more say over what happens in the classroom, invest more resources into public schools, expand arts education, invest in our technical schools, reduce the cost of a college education, and explore better ways to evaluate our students and teachers.
Care for the Very Young and the Elderly
What civilized nation does not care for its children and its elderly? Because of underfunding by the legislature, the department of children and family services is ill-equipped to fulfil its mission, creating tragedy for those caught in poverty, abuse and illness. Fixing this is going to require investment, however, investment made early in a child’s life will save tens of thousands of dollars down the line and more importantly, a child will be given the opportunity to build a whole and healthy life.
Just as the young need attention and care, so to do those who have been productive members of society, have paid into the social-safety nets created by the Greatest Generation and should now be able to reap the benefits and quality healthcare as they age.
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POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR AND APPROVED BY BOB DOYEL, DEMOCRAT FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22