Kim Finer

Kim Finer earned a high school diploma from Lincoln High School in Canton, Ohio. She earned a bachelor's degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1979 and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University at College Station in 1984. Her career experience includes working as a professor.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm Kim Finer — a non-politician, professional educator, and energetic citizen running for Florida House District 81. My goal: serving the citizens of District 81 by promoting specific legislation that supports the everyday lives of Southwest Florida residents. We plan to advocate for your wallet, the environment, and essential infrastructure.

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?

AFFORDABILITY

Advocating for your wallet, your home, and your family's financial security.

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Rethink homeowner's insurance through targeted legislation to reduce costs

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Improve coastal resiliency through smart development and incorporation of natural barriers — resulting in lower home costs, rents, and insurance rates

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Promote climate resiliency which directly impacts affordability across energy, transportation, food, and health care costsACCOUNTABILITY

Fighting for Government that is transparent, responsible, and answerable to the people it serves.

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Reorganize the expanded school voucher program: revise accounting methods to recover lost funds, and identify student status

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Return local control to communities — including authority over taxes, comprehensive plans, rent restrictions, zoning, and the Naples Airport Authority

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Stop passing legislation that advantages developers over locally elected governments and the communities they representACCESSIBILITY

Ensuring every citizen has access to health care, the ballot box, and the freedom to read.

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Ease access to health care — with a focus on reducing costs and expanding available procedures and medications

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Strengthen access to the ballot box: promote mail-in voting, simplify voter registration, expand early voting, and declare Election Day a state holiday to increase voter participation.

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Let them read — abolish book bans (process and action) and let trained educators determine curriculum, while parents determine access for their own children

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public education, coastal resiliency, ecosystem destruction, waterway pollution, and overdevelopment. ALL are related and interwoven.

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

My father. He was a man from a poor background, had little parental guidance, and failed to graduate high school. Yet he learned a trade, raised a family of three children, provided for us, sent us all to college (paid our tuition in full) leading to our successes (CFO, PhD. licensed social worker). He was a man of integrity and honesty-even if bullied by supervisors-he always did the right thing. His example of honesty and integrity drive me to live up to his standards.

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

Honesty, integrity, and empathy

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

Advocate for the citizens of the district. Be their voice in the legislature. That will require meetings, town halls, and regular interaction with district constituents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

My legacy is my two children. They are kind, generous, committed individuals. They regularly demonstrate loyalty and commitment to their families and community causes. They have both been successful in their chosen professions.

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

Clerk in the city's department of Public Health. Repeated each summer for three months (over 3 years) while in college.

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

Losing. I strive to do my best and give it my all and hope the effort will result in success.

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

Has to be one of compromise and respectfully listening to the "other side". Good ideas are not limited to one political party

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

Water; quality/quantity. Development impacts the water and climate change impacts the weather, water, and our resiliency.

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

Absolutely--compromise and consensus are required to achieve legislative success. The lack of compromise has led us to this combative and disrespectful place we currently have in the federal government.

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

The assassination of President Kennedy. It filled me with a profound sense of loss