Candidate Profile: James Pericola

James Pericola, who served in the second Clinton Administration and as legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, is running in the Aug. 18 Democratic Primary to represent the 11th Congressional District.

Current U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster announced in April that he would not seek re-election.

Pericola faces Full Sail professor Dan Williams and West Orange High School teacher Royal Webster II. The primary winner will face the winner of the Republican Primary as well as Libertarian candidate Ralph Groves in the Nov. 3 general election.

A Catholic University-trained attorney Pericola, 50,  is the founder of the Seward Square Group, a Washington, D.C.-based government policy consulting firm. The married father of three also briefly worked as a researcher for a Member of Parliament in Britain’s House of Commons.

Pericola jumped into the Congressional race in June, shortly after Mount Dora candidate Barbie Harden Hall ended her campaign, citing health reasons.

“ It’s not something I would really care to do in most cases, but I just truly believe our country's at stake,” Pericola told VoxPopuli in a phone interview.

“When you make capricious and arbitrary cuts that result in the death of children and you have services that we've been providing for decades around the world and that we are the beacon of light for many of these countries and as a democracy that has led the world for as long as we have, I’m heartbroken,” he said. “ I love my country. I’m not going to have anyone steal my flag or think that they're more patriotic because they yell USA more than I do — but they don't. We have to show the world that we are the United States of America. Because traveling overseas a lot with my family to visit family members, you get a mixture of laughter and sadness.”

On the home front, Pericola said he is witnessing everyday Americans floundering — including his mother, who he described as suffering in “a broken healthcare system” and brother who lost his health insurance. That’s why he hopes that even after being courted by his opponents for the last year, voters will be willing to give him a look. Trump supporters too, he said, adding that’s why he launched his campaign in heavily Republican Sumter County.

“ Because a lot of the people I grew up with who voted for Donald Trump, they're hurting. They can't put gas in the tank. They can't afford healthcare. They're losing it. And I know I have the experience to make changes.

Here, Pericola answers questions from VoxPopuli and the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Affordability. Affordability is the number one issue facing families in Florida’s 11th District. The cost of groceries, gas, housing, healthcare, and insurance has stretched working families and seniors too thin. Trump promised to lower costs “on day one,” but all families have seen are higher costs, more uncertainty, and more tax breaks for those already at the top.In Congress, I will fight to lower housing and insurance costs by securing federal funding to expand affordable housing and reduce pressure on Florida’s property insurance market. I will work to cut taxes for working and middle-class families, including eliminating federal income taxes for people making under $100,000 a year. I will also take on price gouging, hold corporations accountable when they raise prices to pad profits, and oppose giveaways to billionaires and corporations.

2. Healthcare. Healthcare is personal to me. My mother is navigating our broken healthcare system right now, and I have seen firsthand how confusing, expensive, and exhausting it is for families trying to get care. No one should have to fight through red tape, delay treatment, or risk financial ruin because they got sick or because someone they love needs help.In Congress, I will fight to lower healthcare costs, protect Medicare and Social Security, restore Medicaid funding, and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. I will support expanding premium tax credits, allowing Medicare to negotiate more prescription drug prices, cracking down on price gouging, and protecting long-term care for seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers. Florida families deserve healthcare that is affordable, reliable, and centered on patients, not politics or corporate profits.

3. Protecting our Democracy. We are losing sight of who we are as a country. My wife is an immigrant, and our family’s story is rooted in the promise of America: freedom, opportunity, equal protection, and the right to have a voice in our democracy.In Congress, I will fight to protect voting rights, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, end partisan gerrymandering, and defend free and fair elections. I will also stand up for constitutional rights, including due process, equal protection, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy.Democracy is whether every citizen can cast a ballot, every person is treated fairly under the law, and government remains accountable to the people. These freedoms should not depend on your zip code, income, background, or political party.

‍Why do you deserve to elected in this race?

I have the experience to be effective for Florida’s 11th District on day one. I have spent more than 30 years in public service, law, and advocacy, including serving as a Presidential appointee, congressional staff, attorney, and senior government affairs executive. I understand how Washington works, and I know how to navigate the system to deliver results for the people I represent. This race is not about gimmicks or empty talking points. It is about lowering costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, strengthening access to healthcare, and standing up for working families, seniors, veterans, and communities across this district. Voters deserve a representative who is serious, prepared, and focused on solving problems. That is the leadership I will bring to Congress.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?

Floridians are being squeezed from every direction, and people are tired of hearing politicians talk about affordability without doing anything that actually lowers costs. Families need relief they can feel in their monthly budget, not more excuses from Washington.My approach is to attack the cost-of-living crisis from multiple angles. I will push for federal housing investments that help increase supply and support storm hardening and mitigation efforts that can help bring down insurance pressure over time. I will support tax relief for working people and middle-class families, including eliminating federal income taxes for individuals making under $100,000 a year.I will also fight to lower everyday costs by cracking down on price gouging, increasing competition, and holding corporations accountable when they raise prices while posting record profits. Florida families should not have to choose between paying rent, buying groceries, filling a prescription, or keeping their insurance. Government should be focused on lowering costs and helping people keep more of what they earn.

Will you vote Yes or No on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?

No. I do not support a constitutional amendment that slashes local revenue without a responsible plan to replace it. If it passes, local governments will be forced to make difficult choices, and my priority would be protecting essential services like public safety, emergency response, roads, infrastructure, libraries, parks, and services for seniors and families.I would not support replacing lost revenue primarily through higher fees or service cuts that shift the burden onto working families, renters, seniors, and people on fixed incomes. Instead, I would push for a full audit of local spending, stronger budget transparency, pursuit of state and federal replacement funding, and fair revenue options that do not gut essential services or make everyday life more expensive. Tax relief should lower costs for families, not create new costs somewhere else or weaken the services communities depend on.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?

Floridians should not be stuck paying higher electric bills because massive data centers and large corporations are putting new pressure on the grid. If a company creates major new energy demand, that company should help pay for the infrastructure needed to support it. Families and small businesses should not be left holding the bill.Florida’s utility regulators need to press utilities harder before approving rate hikes. That means demanding clear proof of need, forcing more transparency, rejecting excessive profit margins, and making sure costs are assigned fairly. A reliable grid matters, but affordability has to matter too.Congress does not set your electric bill, but I would still use every federal tool available to lower long-term energy costs, including strengthening oversight, expanding energy assistance for low-income families and seniors, funding grid modernization, and addressing federal policies that drive up costs.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?

The biggest environmental issue Florida must address is protecting our water while building resilience against extreme weather and climate change. I have spent many years working on climate legislation, so I understand that these challenges require serious policy, long-term planning, and practical solutions.In Congress, I will support federal investments in water quality, Everglades restoration, stormwater infrastructure, flood mitigation, and disaster resilience. I will work to hold polluters accountable, reduce harmful runoff, and help communities modernize infrastructure so they are better prepared for stronger storms, flooding, extreme heat, and long-term climate risks.

Has Congress abdicated its role?

They're a co-equal branch of government, and it's a bad joke. They haven't done a damn thing. And that needs to change. This district's had an absentee landlord for 20 years. I don't think most people have even seen their member of Congress.

How do you view the Trump Administration policies?

I've never seen a more corrupt or inept group of people in charge of our government.

It was supposed to be no wars, prices down on Day One. Has he lowered costs on Day One? No. They've gone up in every facet of your life. Have we stopped foreign wars? No. We've become goons around the world intimidating people with our awesome military power. That's in no way meant to disrespect our military. My grandfather served bravely in the Pacific, and I love the military. But it's not fair to the military and to have dead service members because we don't have thoughtful policy and as we alienate allies.  We're also seen as a very arrogant nation now too. You go into Sweden, and you start telling them how they should handle their issues … and they said, Thank you very much. You're a guest in our country, and if you don't like it, you can leave.

 Immigration is a very personal issue, as is healthcare. My wife's an immigrant. Our kids are dual citizens, and when I hear people in the community, just foolishly, for cheap applause lines on their end, say we're going to deport 30 million people that are here legally, that's my family you're talking about. You wanna pick a fight with me? I'll be as credible and fight as hard as I can possibly fight for my family. Above all else, that's what matters to me. But what else matters to me is my fellow citizen and this country, which is on a path that is unsustainable, both in spending and how we're perceived around the world based on this failed experiment that is the Trump administration.

 We've really hurt ourselves in the last 10 years in particular, and it likely is not going to end with Trump because it's so ingrained. But I think at a certain point, there has to be an understanding that if we are to be the United States of America, the one that the world has always looked to, we have to be humble. We have to work to re-secure our allies, and we need to be a lot smarter about how we wield our power around the world.

American support for Israel is at a crossroads. Where do you stand?

 I just think we should, as a country, be able to say things like It's wrong to bomb innocent women and children, and they shouldn't be starving. We should be able to acknowledge Israel's right to exist. We should acknowledge that they were attacked on the 7th, and that's wrong. But we should also be able to say we stand with Israel, but not the Netanyahu government and some of the atrocities that he's carried out. I don't think that makes you an antisemite. If it does, then I think we need to reevaluate what the word means.

It’s one of those issues meant to divide, and it's away from now we're seeing on, on the far left that if you say anything in favor of Israel, then you're the problem. I don't agree with that. Israel is our ally, and we need to maintain those relationships.