FLORIDA CREDIT UNION ASSOCIATION

2016 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

1.

Candidate Name: _______________________________________________________________

2.

Campaign Committee Name: ______________________________________________________

3.

Campaign Address: _____________________________________________________________

4.

Campaign Phone: (_____)___________________ Treasurers Name: ____________________

5.

Candidate E-mail Address: _______________________________________________________

6.

Senate / House: (circle one)

7.

Party Affiliation:

8.

Have you ever held another elected office?

Democrat

District Number: ________________________________

Republican

Third Party: _____________________________

Yes

No

9. If "Yes" to 8, what office(s) have you held? ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
10. What is your current occupation and employer? _______________________________________
11. Has your campaign been formally endorsed by any financial services industry trade group(s)?
Yes
No
12. If "Yes" to 11, what group(s)? _____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
13. Are you a member of a credit union(s)?

Yes

No

14. If "Yes," which credit union(s)? ____________________________________________________

15. Have you or any family member ever been employed by a credit union or served as a volunteer?
Yes
No
16. If "Yes," to 15, what credit union(s) and what position(s)? ________________________________
17. How would you rate your overall knowledge and understanding of credit unions and credit union
issues?
Very Strong
1 2

Very Weak
4 5

18. Credit unions are not-for-profit, financial cooperatives owned by their members. All money not needed to
operate the credit union is returned to members in the form of lower rates on loans, higher rates on savings,
lower fees, and dividends paid to members. Because of their unique structure and operation, credit unions are
exempted from paying corporate income taxes, although they do pay other forms of state taxes including
payroll and property tax. Because they are owned by their members, any new tax on credit unions would be a
tax on the individual members. Banks argue that credit unions tax-exempt status provides for unfair
competition and that some larger credit unions have outgrown their tax-exempt status. If elected, would you
support maintaining the corporate income tax exemption for credit unions?
Yes
No
Need More Information
Explain:

19. The LSCU believes the state operating statute for credit unions should be as flexible as possible while
insuring the safety and soundness of the credit union industry. If elected, would you support additional
statutory changes to eliminate unnecessary regulation as well as allow credit unions to expand the products
and services they can offer their members?
Yes
No
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Explain:

20. As local units of government look to minimize fees and increase their return on deposits and investments,
credit unions are well positioned to offer competitive rates. However, under current state law, the state, local
units of government and school districts are prohibited from depositing funds in credit unions. If elected, would
you support efforts to include credit unions as permissible depositories?
Yes
No
Need More Information
Explain:

21. Each year, credit unions and other financial institutions pay millions of dollars that are lost as a result of
some merchants mishandling sensitive consumer information found on debit and credit cards. These losses
are often caused by companies failing to follow required security measures, yet it is the credit union and the
consumer who end up paying for the problems. The LSCU supports legislation that would prohibit the storage
of card data; PIN numbers; and security codes from credit or debit cards. Merchants could be required to
reimburse financial institutions for the cancellation or re-issuance of cards, closing of accounts, fraud losses
and notification of cardholders. These proposals give retailers added incentive to protect consumers'
information. If elected, would you support this common sense approach to data security by making those
responsible for the breach be responsible for paying for costs associated with the breach?
Yes
No
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Explain:

22. Financial literacy is important to all Floridians, particularly youth graduating from High School and entering
the real world. Too many students enter college or the work force without any knowledge of how to be
financially solvent and how to protect themselves against financial problems. If elected, would you support
having high school students take a course in financial literacy as a requirement toward graduation?
Yes
No
Need More Information
Explain:

23. Foreclosure continues to be a major issue in Florida, with the process often taking several years.
Foreclosures go through the state court system, involving the judiciary in every step of the process.
Backlogged courts, judges schedules, hearings, and required paperwork all contribute to a prolonged
process and courts are simply unable to process a large volume of foreclosures in an expedited manner.
Lenders, such as credit unions, are unduly burdened by the current foreclosure laws which allow a
homeowner who defaults on their mortgage obligation to remain in a home, payment-free, for an
extended period of time. Alternatively, homes are often left abandoned and unsecured creating a safety
concern for neighborhoods dragging down already depressed property values. Would you support a nonjudicial foreclosure process designed to expedite the process by allowing a lender and mortgagee to
settle a foreclosure outside the court system?
Yes
No
Need More Information
Explain:

24. Candidate Signature_________________________________________ Date___________

(Questionnaires submitted without a valid candidate signature will not be considered for endorsement and/or financial support.)

Please submit surveys to:

Florida Credit Union Association

Attn: Advocacy Department
3692 Coolidge Court
Tallahassee, FL 32311
Fax: 850-558-1013
Questions? Please feel free to contact:
Jared Ross,
SVP, Governmental Affairs
jared.ross@lscu.coop
866-231-0545, ext. 1012

Jennifer Martin,
Dir., Governmental Affairs
jennifer.martin@lscu.coop
866-231-0545, ext. 1150

Jordan Burroughs,
Political Affairs Coordinator
jordan.burroughs@lscu.coop
866-231-0545, ext. 1008

The Florida Credit Union Association is an affiliate of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, a trade
association representing credit unions in Florida and Alabama.