Suzanna Pavelle

Suzanna Pavelle earned a high school diploma from Winchester High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon in 1995. Her career experience includes working as a small business owner.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm Suzanna Pavelle, a small business owner, community advocate, and 26-year resident of St. Johns County. My husband Brian and I built our life and our businesses here. I'm running for Florida House District 19 because the people of Flagler County and St. Johns County deserve a state government that works for them, not just for developers, insurance companies, and special interests.

I am not a career politician. As a business owner, I have spent my life solving practical problems, balancing budgets, listening to people, and getting things done. Running small businesses has taught me how to make hard decisions, take care of employees, and stay accountable.

My priorities are affordability, responsible growth, strong public schools, access to health care, lower insurance rates, clean water, and honest government. Florida is becoming harder for regular people to afford, and too many decisions being made in Tallahassee are making that worse for everyday people. I believe growth should pay for itself, local communities should have a real voice in local planning, and teachers and public schools should be funded and supported.

Affordability, clean water, safe roads, strong schools, and accountable government are not partisan issues. They affect our daily lives. I will show up, hold town halls, answer the phone, listen, and fight for practical solutions that help the people of District 19 thrive. I believe in the social contract: our government should work for us.

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?

I will fight to give local communities back the power to manage their own growth. It's called "home rule," and our legislators keep on stripping it away. I will push to require infrastructure before development, strengthen water and wetland protections, fully fund Florida Forever, and make developers pay the true cost of growth. Florida's wetlands, waterways, tree canopy, beaches, and conservation lands are natural protections for our homes, drinking water, wildlife, insurance stability, and quality of life. We need smart, resilient housing. We must rein in data centers now, before their water and energy demands drive up costs for us. We can grow and keep Florida strong and vibrant. We must protect what protects us.Florida families need strong public schools and affordable health care. Our state ranks 50th in average teacher pay, while vouchers divert dollars to private schools with far less accountability. Every school receiving taxpayer money should meet the same standards for educator conduct, financial transparency and student progress. Strong schools protect children, communities and property values.

Forty-one states, including D.C., have expanded Medicaid. Florida has not, leaving federal funding unused while working families struggle to get care and rural hospitals face closure. We can raise teacher pay, require accountability for every publicly funded school and expand Medicaid. These practical, achievable steps would help Floridians thrive.Florida has the money to improve people’s lives, but our legislators in Tallahassee too often spend it on political priorities: a detention center costing more than $1 million a day, $83 million for four acres bought from a political donor, and $50 million tied to a stadium deal. We need to focus on Floridians. We can raise over $2 billion annually by closing corporate tax loopholes and bring in billions more by expanding Medicaid. This will help working families, strengthen rural hospitals and reduce costly emergency-room care by helping people see a doctor sooner. Florida can afford strong schools, affordable insurance, clean water and environmental protection. Our government should make life better for everyone who calls Florida home.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about protecting Florida’s natural environment. As a former backcountry ranger and archaeologist—and as a SCUBA diver—I have seen firsthand how our land and water protect our communities and quality of life. I care about affordability, including housing and insurance costs families can manage. Every child deserves a strong neighborhood public school, a well-paid teacher and a solid education. I also believe in honest government that answers to residents, not developers, insurers or corporate PACs. As a business owner and former Big Brothers Big Sisters board member, I know strong communities depend on opportunity, responsibility and people looking out for one another. Government should serve people, not powerful interests.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Oath Of Office

Jax NOW PAC

Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction

Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida