KEVIN AMBLER v. JIM NORMAN:
Candidates for Florida Senate, District 12

Experience/Issues

Kevin Ambler

Jim Norman

College Degrees

Cornell University
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Economics and Business
(4-yr Air Force ROTC Scholarship.)

Southwestern University School of Law
Juris Doctorate Degree.

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

NONE

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

Military Service

U.S. Air Force, Judge Advocate (JAG)
22 years combined Active Duty and Reserves - MacDill AFB

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

NONE

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

Civic/Community Organizations

• Past President, Board of Trustees Northdale Special Dependent District
• Military Officers Association of America
• American Legion
• Carrollwood Area Business Association
• Rotary
• Sertoma
• Carrollwood Cultural Center
• Gasparilla Film Festival Advisory Board
• Florida Tourism Commission
• National Rifle Association

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

NONE

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

State Legislative Experience

Florida House of Representatives
Elected 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008

• Chair, Public Safety & Domestic Security Policy Committee
• Vice Chair, Government Accountability Act Council
• Government Operations Appropriations Committee
• Governmental Affairs Policy Committee
• Joint Legislative Sunset Committee
• Policy Council
• Chair, Health Care Appropriations Committee
• Vice Chairman, Health Care Regulation Policy Committee
• Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee
• Criminal & Civil Justice Policy Council
• Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care
• Health and Family Services Policy Council
• Joint Legislative Budget Commission
• Rules & Calendar Council
• Select Joint Advisory Committee on Title Insurance
• Co-Chair, Joint Legislative Sunset Committee
• Committee on Courts
• Committee on Education Innovation and Career Preparation
• Committee on Utilities and Telecommunications
• Policy & Budget Council
• Vice Chairman, Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee
• Colleges and Universities Committee
• Health Care Appropriations Committee
• Judiciary Committee
• Vice Chairman, Subcommittee on Tourism
• Business Regulation
• Commerce
• Judiciary
• Joint Legislative Auditing
• Local Government & Veterans’ Affairs
• Select Committee on Florida’s Economic Future
• Select Committee on National Defense & Space Related Economic Development
• Subcommittee on Energy
• Subcommittee on Health Appropriations
• Subcommittee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

NONE

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

Professional and Business Experience

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney

Small business owner, law offices & retail stationery business

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

Lobbyist/Comptroller employee
for Salvation Army

Hillsborough County Commissioner

(Source: Candidate Bio.)

Helped Create Jobs?

In 2010, Ambler co-sponsored bills to save thousands of aero-space industry jobs and create thousands of transit industry jobs.

In 2009, under Ambler's leadership, a major film company was recruited to Florida that will create over 6000 high wage jobs with more than a $450 million economic impact.

(Source: Florida’s Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.)

From 2007-2010, under Norman’s leadership, the Tampa Bay area lost 139,000 jobs (more than 10% of its workforce).

In 2010, unemployment in the area has reached 12.8% (the highest since the Great Depression).

(Source: State of Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.)

Reduced the Budget?

Ambler co-sponsored bill to cap local tax increases to reign in out of control county spending, forcing Hillsborough County to decrease its 2008-2010 budget for first time in 18 years.

(Sources: Legislative records, BOCC budgets.)

Norman voted for county budgets that increased every year from 1992-2008.

The county budget from 2006 to 2008 increased 17.3%.

(Source: BOCC budgets.)

Lowered Taxes?

Eliminated a tax on your savings by axing the Intangible tax .

Co-sponsored bill for back-to-school sales tax holiday.

Spearheaded the Florida Constitutional Amendment to double the homestead property exemption.

(Sources: Legislative records, BOCC budgets.)

Supported a 1/2 cent sales tax for indigent health care in Hillsborough County (with no citizenship verification).

Led effort for 1/2 cent sales tax increase to build a stadium.

(Source: BOCC records; St. Petersburg Times.)

The choice is clear: It’s not just experience… It’s the right experience that matters!

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Kevin Ambler, Republican, for State Senate, District 12.