Hello I’m Ray Worley,

Like many Floridians, I‘ve felt the crunch from out of control insurance premiums, skyrocketing property taxes and a cost of living so high that it makes the American Dream seem unattainable. People on fixed incomes have no way to keep up with the rising cost of basic needs. The cost of energy, food and municipal services are pushing everyday people to the breaking point. These are not Republican or Democratic issues. But rather, challenges we all face and must solve together, as Floridians. For the last 25 years, I have volunteered as a community organizer, devoting my time and experience reaching across political lines, to build coalitions that benefit children the elderly and the environment. Send me to Tallahassee and let me put that experience to work for you. I‘m Ray Worley and I approve this message. 

Graduate of Lake Worth High School 1968, Trained as Apprentice Crane Operator By the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 925, Graduated 1973 Contact Dennis Stansel Business Manager Local 925 at 813-626-4161 Currently receiving Disability Pension from International Union of Operating Engineers Local 925 Tampa Fl. and Social Security Disability

Affiliations: Okeechobee Main street Organization, Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce, Okeechobee Kiwanis Club, Past Scoutmaster Boy Scout Troop 965 Sponsored By Parrot Avenue Christian Church, Member and Vice President Florida Consumer Action Network, Okeechobee County Democratic Executive Committee, Secretary (on Leave of Absence)

Religion: Christian, Ordained as a Deacon in 2000, Parrot Avenue Christian Church, Downtown, Okeechobee, Florida

Continuing Education Ongoing At All Times:

Completed: Professional Development Program Clemson University,

Continuing Education Training As: Board Member FCAN, Executive Director ASA, Coordinator PYHOT, President Okeechobee County Chamber of Commerce, President of Okeechobee Kiwanis Club, Business owner ROW&A, Non Profit Multi Management closed down to retire to move to Okeechobee in 1993. Business Training Clemson University, Effective Small Business Management By Norman M. Scarborough Presbyterian College and Thomas W. Zimmerer Clemson University who provided me with the book that taught me. Hillsborough County Self-Employment Training Associates a Business Training Course For Minority Business.

1969 Operating Engineer Apprenticeship Program, 19,000 hours in the largest Lift Cranes of the times. Operating Experience received on Florida Power Nuclear Power Plant, Crystal River, Florida and Tennessee Valley Authority Units, Scotsborough, Alabama, Fossil Fuel Units, Florida Power and Light units Parrish, Florida, Tampa Electric Co, Big Bend and Black Point and Florida Power Crystal River Unit Four, Operated Tower Cranes on High Rise Construction, Tampa City Center, Metropolitan Bank, Tampa Electric Co. Headquarters all in Tampa Florida. I am third generation Operating Engineer. My Father and his Uncle ran the first Tower Crane in the Tampa Bay area in 1962 where I was allowed to climb and run the crane when I was twelve years old. This experience included operating cranes in the Phosphate mines at just about all the mines in Hillsborough, Polk and Hardee Counties I understand the workingman and know how to balance the needs of workers of all nationalities with the needs of business and government.

1978 Trained in sales and rental of Cranes by Sims Crane Service largest Crane Rental Company in the world at the time. Opened and managed their Ft Myers Branch office one of the most profitable branches Sims ever had. Also opened a Branch office for Tri W Equipment Rental Division of W.W. Williams Company. This office became their number one branch office. 

1984 Founder of Florida Consumer Action Network and currently Vice President see FCAN.Org The largest Consumer Lobbying Group in Florida and Premier Coalition Builder in the State and affiliated with US Action nationally. I am a true consumer advocate representing people on fixed incomes who have no way to keep up with the rising cost of our basic needs of survival. The cost of energy, food, electricity, communication, water, sewer, are pushing everyday people to the breaking point. People can’t afford housing, first insurance goes up now gas prices are so high that a person who drives fifty miles one way to work has a 600 to 800 dollar new mortgage payment on their ability to earn a living. I am not sure what can be done at the State level but we must start something somewhere. Over the years the common denominator for our coalition building has been the common need for Quality Air, Quality Water, Quality Food and Affordable Housing. These are the things that make us all equal in our efforts at surviving with at least a little quality of life. I have devoted my time for free to three things Children, Elderly and the Environment doing this has afforded me my quality of life.

 1985 Founder and first Executive Director of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Sub Contractors Association. This ASA Chapter grew to Fifth largest Business Network in Tampa Bay Area in one year growing to 165 members. This growth was attributed to poor General Contractor payment practices, Mechanics Lien, Notice To Owner abuse and the high cost of Workers Compensation Insurance from a policy change by Insurance Company Management. This change was from getting an injured worker back to work as soon as possible to forcing the worker to hire an attorney and fighting for every benefit the law allowed. Thus increasing the cost of Workers Compensation and decreasing the benefits injured workers get to the extent they have deteriorated to at the present time.

1988 Paint Your Heart Out Tampa founding Steering Committee Member 1989 and then Volunteer Coordinator in 1990 and 1991. Volunteers Painted homes for low income Elderly In Tampa Florida. Teams painted homes all on one day 61,102 and 111 homes were painted in subsequent years. This project continues to this day. PYHOT resulted in the City of Tampa being designated All American City and Paint Your Heart Out Tampa being declared the number one Community Service Project in the Nation in 1990. Mayor Sandra Freedman Proclaimed May 31, 1990 Ray Worley Day in Tampa Fla. My proudest Community Service Moment.

Paint Your Heart Out was an Economic Stimulus Tool over $500,000 dollars was infused into Tampa’s economy as donations of Materials, Time and Cash. Five contributors from paint manufacturers alone gave contributions of 500 gallons of paint each. Their donation was in one-gallon cans labeled by house number and in 36 different color schemes, chosen by the homeowner. 3,600 volunteers mobilized on one day to paint 111 houses. It took Pepin Rood Stadium, at the University of Tampa, to provide space for the volunteer celebration after the day was completed.

Volunteers went home feeling that they had accomplished something on one day for an elderly person that they had adopted. That made them feel good about them for the next year and then they could do it all over again. When we went into areas where we had painted houses the year before we found additional economic benefits. When neighbors saw the elderly homes fixed up they fixed up their homes. The economic theory of trickle down was in reverse not from the top down but from the bottom up.  People who could afford one day of extraordinary effort making them feel good about themselves helped people who couldn’t afford to help themselves.

The Economic Stimulus was carried to other communities. Julius Hobbs of Tampa Electric Company called. He reported that TECO was trying to buy Sebring, Florida’s Power Plant and the City wanted them to get involved in the community. We carried the program to Sebring, Florida, Anaheim, California, Shreveport, Louisiana, St Petersburg, Florida and other cities. Business development is not the only form of Economic development. Community development through volunteer programs is just as important, and can be a lot faster in results.

1991 Florida Fishing & Boating Buddies Founder and First Director. Utilizing Urban Ponds in Tampa Bay Area, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale and Jacksonville, this program was put together under the guidance of the Florida Fish and Game Commission and when up and running in all four regions taught 9,000 Kids the joys of the outdoors through fishing in one year. This program taught children respect for their environment by showing them what was under and in the waters available in their inner city parks. The program provided urban kids with a code of ethics leading to the development of best management practices for conservation of our inner city aquatic natural resources.

The first thing I was involved in after moving permanently to Okeechobee in 1994 was GLOTA Greater Lake Okeechobee Tourism Alliance.  The informal coalition developed a tourism plan for the region. It included bike and horseback riding trails around the region. Bird watching and other environmental wonders were identified and preserved, I can show you a Grasshopper Sparrow I can do this because the State has bought one of the last natural Prairie Areas left in the world and preserved it for all to see, it is in Okeechobee County. With the Demise of our natural Resources Tourism has lost its luster as a Panacea fix all for our Rural Economic Development. It however remains a very valuable tool that cannot be circumvented for quick fixes. We must tie things like the reclamation of the Kissimmee River Project and the results of the first ten miles of the river repair (filling up the ditch) to Tourism. In this the old saying if you build it they will come takes on new meaning. They are the animals and plants and when they come we will come to see them.

It has worked and the area is beautiful with fish and other wildlife making a fantastic recovery. As a kid My Great Uncle lived in Kissimmee and we went down the river often. Future kids will get to enjoy the sites and sounds of this region as well. The economy will be enhanced by the further restoration of this scenic river. There is no Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee nor Everglades by themselves they are all one entity. They have to be worked on together and with a common vision. The day of the cowboy is not dead and being a cowboy is not bad. Okeechobee is proof of that.

Since Living in Okeechobee I have worked with our local Kiwanis Club on Children's issues including Playing Santa Clause to over 5,000 kids from 1998 thru 2005. Founding and with the help of Kiwanis members recognizing over 2,250 kids a year as TERRIFIC KIDS in our local Okeechobee County Schools from 2000 thru 2008. As President of the club I used the power of networking to grow the club to its largest membership numbers ever.

The Kiwanis club joined the Chamber Of Commerce. I was the clubs representative. I became a board member and then served as President of the Okeechobee County Chamber of Commerce. Representing Okeechobee Business Interest before Local Government and Citizens I was able to facilitate a Town Hall Meeting with Senator Bill Nelson coming to our community and hearing first hand about the issues affecting our unique geographical region.

During this time I also worked with numerous citizens of our community who all had one thing in common a love of Family and our County. This coalition of friends and neighbors organized a Main Street Organization.

I served as a founder and Vice President of Okeechobee Main Street. Which represents the best Main Street in Florida. But then why not Okeechobee has the best talent any organization has ever had access to and now is leading the community in Business Services and branching out into Economic Development and Historic Preservation. The power of coalition building and partnering with local government is apparent at every reading of the local media. The current leaders of these organizations work with all groups to facilitate economic development without loosing our Natural Heritage. Our current discussions with CSX Railroad are highlighting what can be done if people will organize around a common goal for a common good. It is just a little building there by the Railroad Tracks but it is now part of our environment and we want to keep it.

Appointments By Government Agencies:

Associated People of Florida 1986. Appointed By Senator Jeanne Malchon. This committee provided the Senator a consumer perspective on issues reflective of Associated Industries of Florida concerns.

Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Appointed By Hillsborough County Commission, Responsibilities included Analysis and corrective solutions for Hillsborough County Housing issues.

Okeechobee County Construction Industry Licensing Board. Appointed by Okeechobee County Commission. Served as Vice Chair. The Board evaluated all aspects of Okeechobee Construction Industry and represented the county as governing agent to contractors in surrounding counties and ours for contractors seeking to provide construction services in Okeechobee County. Testing of specialty contractors and tradesmen were also under this Boards authority.

Political Party Politics:

I have tried both sides from Democrat to Republican where I became the Vice Chairman of the Okeechobee County Party and then back to the Okeechobee Democratic Party after the 2000 Election. I have served the Democrat Party until taking a leave of absence as the Secretary to campaign for Florida State House of Representatives District 79. I have campaigned for County Commission twice before, losing both times. I have however never given up on our system of doing things. I continue to believe that our system of Government, by the people and our Country is the best in the World. This election is the first I remember that is not about Party. It is about all of Americas Citizens having lost the American Dream. There is no more Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and MOM (Family). The people can’t afford them.

Other issues include:

Energy, we have now consumed half of all known world reserves and are on the way to a date certain for using up all known world reserves of oil. We have three percent of the world reserves and consume 25 percent of the oil produced each day. Drilling won’t help in the long term. Future energy needs must come from renewable sources and be sustainable through conservation and alternative fuels and different travel modes. It is more than that our food packaging systems and pharmaceutical companies each use up the same amount as our automobiles. At issue is the loss of our personal Freedom to travel anywhere we want to especially to work.

Insurance it is about eliminating risk, the risk of having to pay out anything. In the words of a friend, who has sold Insurance for a long time? “ Ray, for the first time since I have been selling Insurance it is not fun anymore.” Health care, Homeowners, Auto all have become unaffordable for the majority of our working people..

Workers Compensation, No matter what they say everybody who gets hurt on the job is not guilty of fraud.

Mechanics Lien Law, Contractors refused to pay small Subcontractors and Material suppliers when they failed to complete the Notice To Owner Requirement of notifying the owner they were on the job and what they were providing the owner within forty five days of the first day on the job. This often caused owners to have to pay for work twice to get a release of lien.

Prompt Pay, Contractors used the lack of this to bankrupt Small Subcontractors and Material suppliers. We will pay you when we get paid even though Sub and Supplies did eighty percent of the work provided Eighty percent of the labor and the insurance. And a signed contract with Hold Harmless agreements in them that means exactly what it says. It is time for General Contractors to go back to being General contractors. Hire people to do the jobs and assume the risk associated with construction. Construction Management versus True General Contracting has not decreased the cost of nor the quality of the product produced. and has resulted in additional cost to the owner by creating unanticipated additional cost associated with high labor turnover because a lack of jobs with enough time to train a quality work force.

Chairman of Okeechobee County Save our Everglades Campaign. More commonly known as the Penny a Pound Sugar Tax Ballot Initiative. Years later we are now buying US Sugar and although for a lot of people it appears that this will create an economic hardship it might open this area up to new industry. Such as the Film Industry and Tourism and other ideas identified at a recent Decision Makers Forum put on by Florida Atlantic University about the plight of our Region.

Merger of the Game and Fish Commission and The Environmental Protection Agencies Salt Water Departments. Creating the new Florida Conservation Commission. This agency was constitutionally provided for and it made no sense to stop regulating our aquatic resources at the Salt Water Line.

Ban the Nets issue. Greed killed this old family business system the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few who could not control their own industry.  The ban has resulted in a comeback of once depleted fish stocks. Which were killed off because of their Row, which was sold in bulk to a foreign market. Not even widely used by any other than poor people or people who were raised in Florida, in our country, with the carcasses of the adults left at the Boat Landings.

Numerous Clean up this or that issues.

Additional info upon request.

Federal Issues:

Work on Social Security Stopping Privatization.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, I was the poster Child for FCAN's National efforts to get Medicare authorized to negotiate for the 36 million Medicare recipients. I was one of the first people in America to fall into the Dough-Nut hole. I feel that a national insurance card should be available which allows all medical services to be accessible with one card including Prescriptions.

The SCHIP program Health Care for kids FCAN has been in the news time after time in its efforts to protect this greatly needed program.

Iraq, This issue is not about ending the war for me but what happens to the Soldier when they come home. They can’t afford housing, healthcare, gas, and insurance, light bills, phone bills, television, access to information technology and their jobs are harder to find. They are not alone in their suffering their entire family suffers with them. The family has to take up the slack because of failed policies by the Veterans Administration. Promises have not been kept to provide the courageous people who come back wounded with needed healthcare. I do agree with my Grand Sons MOM a volunteer for the MOVEON Organization I don’t want to be in a war situation and have the draft started again and take my two grandsons 7 and 5 when they get old enough to go. My family members including my grandson’s father have served and will continue to do so. I am the seventh generation of first-born male children born to the Worley Clan. I have a son and a grandson that continues this tradition. All have been born in Florida.

Interest of Special Concern:

1) Promotion of good Government very few politicians are aware of the cost of not doing.

!) Children's Rights there are none

1) Elderly Rights, Grand Parents Rights, there are none

1) Eliminating Discrimination in all forms. All Americans should learn a foreign language. It is easy to discriminate against someone you can’t communicate with. In my opinion the worst form is Cruelty, our acceptance of this form and the passing it off as humor has to be stopped. When someone is cruel it is not funny and should not be tolerated as a joke.

1) Consumer Fraud it is blamed for everything from Insurance rates to Medical costs.

1) Competition in all Services it is supposed to bring prices down.

1) Consumer Choice Act of 2007 when consumer protections were stripped out of this legislation thirty-six hours before passing a new coalition was formed. This new group is called the Florida Media Coalition and it has celebrated its first year with its first annual Video Awards Presentation Dinner. I predict that it will be Public Access Televisions answer to the Academy Awards in ten years. Our goal is to get consumer protections taken away put back into the law.

1) Cell Phone Service; there is no consumer oversight in this industry.

1) Affordable Housing It is not Affordable for millions of Americans.

1) Contracting it is an individual right to get what you pay for.

1) Business it is an individuals right to go into business for themselves.

1) Labor it is an individuals right to be able to join a Union

1) Crane Operator Certification, Licensing and Safety

1) A Strong Commitment to Agriculture as the foundation of our most basic needs of Survival. Our ability to produce quality food is our environment and that capacity has to be protected.

Yes, they are all listed as number one.

My Dream:

A vision of People helping People without expecting compensation for doing what is right and responsible and in the pursuit of good government. This dream can be a reality. I have been very lucky in my life; I have met some great people along the way. The Queen of England, General Swartzcoph, The real Arron Brokavitch as well as so many different politicians at all levels that it still amazes me that so many people have taken the time to share with me the answers to my questions.  I believe my strongest asset, which I bring to the Florida State House of Representatives District 79 is the lack of fear in asking the right people for help with common problems and implementing the collective solutions developed by consensus of all effected parties.

We can start by using a few more of those NESS words, Respectfulness, Truthfulness, Friendliness, Kindliness ETC.

Respectfully

Ray O. Worley