Dr. Sylvain Doré (R) vs. Stan McClain (R)

(This story has been updated to accurately reflect the latest information.)

Race for representation Florida Senate District 9 matches Republican Stan McClain former Marion County Commissioner and current member of the Florida House of Representatives, Vs. Democrat Dr. Sylvain Dore, former professor of anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry, pharmacy and neuroscience at the University of Florida.

District 9 covers all of Marion and Levy counties, as well as the southern half of Alachua County. The current senator, Republican Keith Perry, faces term limits and cannot run for re-election. Likewise, McClain faces term limits and cannot seek another term representing the 27th District in the state House of Representatives. (This district covers parts of Marion, Lake and Volusia counties.)

How much money have candidates for Florida Senate District 9 raised and spent?

As of Oct. 4, the latest date for which information is available, Dore had collected $15,610 in donations and loaned his campaign $50,000, according to records kept by the Florida Division of Elections. He spent $48,063.

During the same period, McClain raised $147,050 and spent $142,777, according to the state database.

McClain gets help in the final days of the campaign. On October 24, a flyer paid for by the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee appeared in mailboxes, accusing Dore of pursuing a liberal agenda that is “too radical for Florida.”

Doré’s priorities include health care, education and protecting a woman’s right to choose.

On its website, Doré lists these and six other areas of focus: cost of living, agriculture, public safety, culture and the arts, economic prosperity and sustainability.

On health care, Dore advocates for Medicaid expansion. He said this will help ensure that everyone has health insurance, which he said is very important. It also emphasizes the availability of preventative care, including glasses and dental care.

On education, he advocates for subsidized child care, which costs a parent no more than $12 to $18 a day until the child reaches preschool age. He saw this approach work well at UF, where as a leader he helped coordinate the expansion of the Baby Gator child care and enrichment center for the children of UF employees. He notes that he did this as part of a bipartisan effort with a Republican majority on the board.

“I think it’s very important because it gives the child the opportunity to start at the same level,” Dore said, noting the importance of brain development in children ages 0 to 6.

Regarding a woman’s right to choose: “Access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion, is a fundamental human right that must be protected and expanded,” Doré writes on her website. “Our state needs leaders who will champion policies that give people the freedom to make decisions about their bodies, health and future.”

Public safety, Doré emphasizes, is “the cornerstone of the well-being of our society.” But he doesn’t propose a “lock them up” strategy.

“We must address the intertwined issues of substance abuse and mental health with compassion and pragmatism. Florida must implement evidence-based programs that offer support and treatment, rather than punishment, to people struggling with addiction and mental health issues,” he writes on his website.

Dore describes himself as a fiscally conservative Democrat. He said he wants to build a sustainable Florida where everyone has a chance to achieve the American dream.

Stan McClain’s Priorities in Tallahassee

On his website, McClain vows to continue to join Gov. Ron DeSantis in the fight to “contain radical liberals” and protect against “federal government abuses.” He supports school vouchers and charter schools and opposes heavy-handed government regulation that stifles job creation.

Its website does not specifically address abortion, but it does say: “We must build a culture that respects life and honors values such as traditional marriage. We must vigilantly protect the right of all citizens to freely practice their faith.”

In the interview, McClain reiterated his belief that life begins at conception and must be protected at all stages. He opposes measures to restrict abortion rights. Amendment 4, which is on the Florida ballot on November 5th.

Stan McClain’s time in the Florida Legislature

McClain has served in the Florida House of Representatives since 2016 and chairs the House Budget Committee. Lately, he is perhaps best known for sponsoring legislation that paved the way for volunteer chaplains to serve as counselors in public schools.

In an interview, McClain said the idea of the bill is to give schools “another option” to help students and ease the burden on counselors. Districts must provide their consent, and parental consent/supervision is key. Osceola County stopped the move accept the program. McClain doesn’t yet know of a single county that fully agrees.

McClain also sponsored the controversial House Bill 1069, which deals with sex education in schools. USA TODAY summarizes that the law “prohibits any discussion menstrual cycles at school until the sixth grade.” DeSantis signed the bill into law in May 2023.

Critics say the law is flawed because girls can experience their first menstrual periods before they reach sixth grade and they should be allowed to discuss their own health without government interference. McClain said there was a misunderstanding. The bill prohibits general discussion until sixth grade, but it does not (and never has) prohibited a teacher from helping a student or answering a question.

Asked about legislative advances, McClain points to a reduction in the business occupancy tax—the sales tax building owners pay on the rent they receive from business tenants—from 5.5% to 2%. The tax cuts were part of the 2023 tax cut package that the GOP-led Legislature passed through McClain in his capacity as chairman of the House Budget Committee.

McClain is also pleased that the House has consolidated its jobs and education committees. Any discussion of education now includes career and job issues as primary rather than secondary considerations. “It was very important for us to do it this way,” he said.

Due to redistricting, Marion County will now have only one state senator representing it in Tallahassee. Keith Perry of Gainesville provided good representation, McClain said, but if Marion only has one senator, it would be good to have a county resident fill that role (he lives in Summerfield). In addition, he had already represented Marion as a state representative and before that as a county commissioner.

Florida Senate District 9

The district covers all of Marion and Levy counties, as well as southern Alachua County. State senators serve four-year terms and receive $29,697.

2024 general elections

Mail-in ballots must be returned to the Board of Elections by 7:00 p.m. on November 5, which is Election Day. Early voting is in full swing. On Election Day, polling stations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Bring photo ID to the polls. Don’t know where your polling station is? Would you like to see a sample newsletter? Visit votemarion.gov or voting.com

Dr. Sylvain Dore

Age: 58

Political party: Democrat

Residence: Gainesville

Class: Small real estate business owner/manager and retired professor at University of Florida/Veterans Administration

Experience: Director, Research Operations Program, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida; President of the University of Florida Faculty Senate; member of the FF board of trustees; Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Pharmacy, Neuroscience, UV and Veterans Administration; elected member of the Florida State University System Faculty Senate Advisory Council; Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Certificate in Leadership and Management, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business.

Family: Lonely; 11 nieces and nephews, and cared for six foster children on weekends for three years.

Website: https://sylvaindore.com/

Stan McClain

Age: 62

Political party: republican

Residence: Summerfield

Class: State Certified Residential Construction Contractor

Experience: Marion County Commissioner; Representative for District 27 in the Florida House of Representatives (Budget Committee Chairman)

Family: Married; 11 children; 18 grandchildren

Website: https://www.stanmcclain.com/

(This story has been updated to add new information)

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