Kevin Parker

Kevin Parker was born in Queens, New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College in 2012. Parker’s career experience includes working in hospitality at a local tourist destination. He has been affiliated with the following organizations:

Progressives for Democracy in America, LGBTQ Issues Chair

Osceola County DEC, Precinct Captain and Diversity and Inclusion Chair

Osceola County Progressive Caucus, Founding Member and Secretary

Osceola County Democratic Black Caucus, member

Osceola Young Democrats, member

Theta Chi Fraternity[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Kevin Parker, I am originally from New York and in 2004 I moved to Florida with my mother and siblings, I grew up in a single family home where money as always tight. I was the first in family to go to college and in 2012 I graduated from Florida Southern College with two Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees, I am also a founding member and alumnus of Theta Chi Fraternity. I've been working in the community as an organizer for a few years and I am a member of several organizations in the Central Florida area.

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?

From personal experience as a child and as an adult I know what life is like for the average American.We need legislators who are going to stand up and fight for the working class! Our government needs to stop catering to the corporations and the richest people in the country!Everyone is entitled to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". We can achieve this by demanding justice and equality for every person in this country.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Environmental

Cultural and Society

Economic Affairs

Criminal Justice

Health

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

I look up to John Lewis. The late Rep John Lewis was the original progressive before there was a name for it. He stood and fought for equal rights for black Americans in the civil rights movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in the march from Selma to Montgomery to defend the rights of African Americans to vote. John Lewis is an inspiration to me because he continually fought for the good of the people, defending their rights and trying to improve their lives. He kept this determination throughout his years and has left behind an incredible legacy built on defending civil rights and standing strong in the face of adversity.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

A Bug's Life. If you've seen it you know why. So in the movie the ants work day in and day out collecting grain for the grasshoppers. One ant, Flik, begins to question why they do all of the work and get to keep only a small fraction of what they harvest he has ideas that will drastically improve the lives of the ants in his colony but the leaders reject these ideas out of fear of upsetting the status quo. Theres one scene in particular that speaks volumes to my ideology. So in this scene Hopper, the leader of the grasshoppers, and his folk are relaxing at their little desert oasis. One of the grasshoppers starts talking about the one insignificant ant. Hopper laughs along with them and throws a grain at the grasshopper and asks him if it hurts. The grasshopper says no, so Hopper does it again and asks again if it hurts, the grasshopper continues to laugh and say no. Suddenly Hopper pulls the lid off of their little grain silo, emptying its contents on top of the grasshopper, presumably crushing him to death. Hopper climbs to top of pile and says this: "You let one ant stand up to us then they all might stand up! Those 'puny little ants' outnumber us 100 to 1, and if we ever let them figure that out there goes our way of life! It's not about food, it's about keeping those ants in line." The commentary about the struggle between the 1% and the working class made in this movie was way ahead of this time. We are the ants.

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

I think the the most important characteristics for elected officials are compassion, selflessness, strong moral compass, and intelligence.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I think about others well-being before my own and I try to put others before me. I am emphatic to the situations of others, I am compassionate, strong-willed and I always try to do the most good.

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

The core responsibilities of a US Representative is not only to advocate for their direct constituents but to advocate for every American and make decisions and policies that benefit the people and improve their daily lives.

What legacy would you like to leave?

It occurred to me the other day that I would be first black gay man to sit as US Rep in Florida. The legacy I want to leave has two sides to it. I want the future generations to embrace the things that make them different and not see it as a reason not to run for public office. I want them to look at my successes and say "If he can do it, so can I". The other side is that I want people to look at me and see me as a true progressive, someone who fought for the people and never stopped fighting.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that happened in my lifetime was 9/11. I was 11 years old at the time. That is an event that will always be able to recall vividly.

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

My very first job was working at a Quick Service restaurant in Walt Disney World, I had that job from 2009-2013.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I love this book because I like the contrast of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) between Wicked and The Wizard of Oz. Wicked is described as the story of Oz before Dorothy. In Wicked we learn about who the Wicked Witch really was, her motives behind the things that she did, and how the powers that were had described her as a terrorist for going against was normal and doing what she was right.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

This is a hard one, I would want to be Spiderman. My last name is already Parker, I'm from New York, and Peter while he may not have made the best decisions he always did what he thought was right.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Thunder by Imagine Dragons

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

Coming out was a struggle in my life. I am Jamaican American. My parents are both from Jamaica and I was the first of my siblings to be born in the US. Any one that knows Jamaica knows that they are a highly religious country and homosexuality is not accepted. Being gay in Jamaica can get you disowned, beat up, or could be even fatal. When I first began to grapple with my sexuality I was terrified about what would happen if she had found out. So throughout high school I was afraid to really be myself. When I transitioned to college I was away from home and I felt like I could really be myself. It wasn't until about halfway through my first year that I finally had reconciled with myself that I was gay and that I would lead my life in a way that made me happy by my standards and not anyone else. I recently came out to my mom a few years ago, as hard as it was, but her reaction was everything I hoped I was. She knew that I was the same person, the same son she raised and she loved me regardless. It breaks my heart that not everyone in the LGBTQ community has a success story like mine, I am committed to standing by my community to offer support and love when they can't get it from their own parents.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The US House of Representatives is unique in the fact that it has the ability to mirror the constituency of the country and be a true representation of the voices that need to be heard.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think it is a good idea to have some experience in government/politics.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The greatest challenges to the United States over the next decade are going to be, the widening wealth gap between the 1% and the Working Class, addressing the systematic racism that exists within our society, and probably the most important the national security threat presented by the Climate Crisis.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Education and Labor

Ethics

Oversight and Reform

Natural Resources

Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth

Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Energy and Commerce

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes, it allows constituents to vote for a different another person if they are not satisfied with the job that they are doing. Without waiting through another 2 years of bad policy making.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I'm in favor of implementing term limits. By enacting term limits we are able to diversify our government by giving other would-be candidates a chance at becoming their district representative and therefore bringing new ideas and perspectives to our legislative bodies.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I want to model myself off of Nina Turner. She's so fierce in her conviction to do what is right for the people, she's fearless and unafraid to speak her mind and speak truth to power.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

One story sticks out to me, and unfortunately this story is not original. A young man by the name of Jean Sam Celestin was having a mental health crisis when his family called emergency services to request a mental health professional. Ocoee and Windermere PD showed up. Instead of helping Sam, they tased him, hog tied him, berated and belittled him, and left him face down on his chest, hands handcuffed behind his back until he couldn't breath which caused him to die from asphyxiation. FDLE, Ocoee PD and the state attorney are refusing to reopen the case. The family is still trying to get justice for Sam two years later. Sam's story just reaffirms my commitment to enacting policy that hold law enforcement officers accountable and reallocating funding to make sure that police departments can hire mental health professionals to respond to situations in which they are required.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I hope there are some Harry Potter fans out there

How does Harry Potter get down hills?

Walking, JK Rowling (jk rolling)

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

I think compromise is necessary in policy making, its how we can make sure that both sides are happy with the end result. The difference is in how we negotiate.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

This would allow me to push for legislation that closes corporate tax loopholes, restructure the tax bracket and raise taxes for the insanely wealthy.

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