Donald Kanfer

Donald Kanfer graduated from East Meadow High School. Kanfer earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1972 and an M.D. from the University of Parma in 1983. Kanfer's career experience includes working as a veterinarian.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am not a politician but, rather, a large animal veterinarian by trade. I have resided in Volusia County for over 40 years and my work has taken me over the length and breadth of our district. I have lived in the DeLand area since 1986 and raised my family here. I know its geography, its people, its issues and concerns. I am dissatisfied with our current representation in Tallahassee that does not represent me, my friends and neighbors, not our problems and concerns. I have been actively involved in my community through my Rotary club, our county and state veterinary associations, and prior service as a supervisor on the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District, in addition to have twice before been a candidate for our county council.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Life in our district is becoming unaffordable. First and foremost is our insurance costs: homeowners, automobile and health. That eats into a huge amount of our income, and is something our state government has tremendous control over. Our recent legislatures have been handing the insurance companies a blank check to charge what they will and hide their profits through affiliated companies and then cry poverty and losses. We need to protect the policyholders, not the insurance company profits.Owning a home, or even renting one, is becoming beyond the reach of our citizens. Home prices have soared over the last decade, faster than inflation, and purchasing a home is becoming less of an option for our children and grandchildren, while keeping our homes is becoming a burden for older residents. "Affordable" housing means different things to different people, depending upon who you are talking to. To developers, one thing; to someone trying to find a decent place to live on a Florida salary, quite another. It's a combination of factors from down payment, to closing costs, interest rates, zoning, impact fees, construction costs, and so on. All things that our state legislature, and local governments, can control.The degradation of our environment. Anyone in Central Florida who commutes knows about our increasing traffic, which is only going to get worse as we continue to grow. We need controls on our growth that does not result in loss of our quality of life. We can not afford to keep jeopardizing our springs, aquifer, rivers and waterways and at the same time aggravating the flooding in our neighborhoods. We need to insure that our roads, schools, public services and utilities keep pace with growth and still preserve the character of our communities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Preserving our local communities and our environment and getting state government out of our county and municipal government's decisions. Tallahassee has been gradually usurping our local government's authority and ability to govern ourselves for years while consolidating power for themselves. not only for local zoning, land use and development, but also in our schools and school boards. We know what is best for our communities, not beurocrats in Tallahassee.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Cincinnatus. He answered the call, did his duty, and left when the job was accomplished

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

honesty and integrity

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To faithfully represent the desires and concerns of his or hers constituents regardless of personal beliefs

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I always did what was right, not expedient.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working on dairy farms during my high school years, milking cows and baling hay.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

procrastination

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The governor should be setting the tone and direction for his or hers administration but should not be interfering in the legislative process. The legislature exists to represent the will of the citizens and transform those needs and desires into appropriate legislation.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Continued uncontrolled growth coupled with consolidation of power in Tallahassee which will further erode our quality of life and the lack of attention to changing climate which may result in additional environmental problems and sustainability.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

It is necessary if we want to involve others in our enterprises but not at the expense of maintaining our integrity

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Democratic Women's Club of Florida

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The assassination of President John Kennedy