State Representative District 70: Keisha Bell

Name: Keisha Bell 

Age: 45 

Family: -- 

Bio: 

Keisha Bell was born in St. Petersburg and is the daughter of public school educators. Bell graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor's degree in psychology and from Florida State University College of Law. Bell is a licensed attorney with a diverse professional background. Through Legal Aid organizations, she has provided legal services to those most underrepresented in Duval, DeSoto, Hendry, Glades and Lee counties. 

Bell returned to St. Petersburg and spearheaded the Youth Conference Program, through which she facilitated more than 100 conferences throughout public schools in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. After years of accomplishments in nonprofit work, inclusive of managing a Federal Community Partnership Grant and overseeing a budget of nearly $1 million to assist with reducing health disparities in District 70’s St. Petersburg, Bell returned to practicing law full time. Since then, she has worked for the State’s Office of Attorney General, in addition to serving as private counsel. 

After campaigning for Florida State House District 70 in 2018 and losing to the incumbent by 13% in a competitive three-person race, Bell has maintained a connection with all four of District 70’s counties. She has a long track record of community service that includes: being a member of the Community Planning and Preservation Commission; the Fred G. Minnis Sr. Bar Association; the National Organization For Women – Pinellas Chapter; and formerly on the Pinellas County Charter Review Commission; the Executive Committee and Governance Committee of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s Board of Trustees; the Florida Association of Women Lawyers Pinellas County Chapter Member; and a member of the St. Petersburg Chamber. In addition to her wide community involvement, she continues to mentor a student through Pinellas County Schools. Furthermore, Bell writes a weekly column for the Weekly Challenger. 

Why are you running for office? 

I am running for the Florida House because I believe in District 70 and its people. This district is my home because I’ve spent most of my life here, and I care what happens to the people in my community. Throughout my career, whether as a family law attorney, nonprofit leader or community volunteer, I have fought for those in need, and there is significant need in District 70. We need access to affordable, quality health care, funding for our public schools, living wages and environmental justice. I have a long track record of investing in and advocating for the people of District 70, including by bringing financial resources here. We are in critical times, and I am prepared to serve. 

What are three priorities you hope to accomplish, if elected? 

1. Access to high quality and affordable health care, including the expansion of Medicaid;
2. Funding for our public schools and work to give school districts the flexibility it needs to create restart programs for the communities they serve; and
3. Finding solutions to the threat of climate change 

With Florida revenues expected to finish the year at $1.6 billion below expectations: 

What budget cuts would you propose? 

The full financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic is yet unknown, and it is clear that there will need to be some difficult conversations regarding our state budget over the next fiscal year and beyond. 

What would be your position on raising taxes to close any gap? 

I support raising taxes on the wealthiest 1%. 

What’s your position on calls for the state to expand its Medicaid spending? 

Everyone should have access to high quality and affordable health care. I support expanding Medicaid because more people need coverage. 

How would you rate Florida’s public education funding: too little, just right, too much? What would you change? 

Too little – I would pay Florida public school teachers adequate compensation for their work. Current salaries and benefits for teachers are not reflective of the transformative, life-changing work they are tasked with doing, and the bonus incentives offered are not consistent enough to take the place of a pay raise. Additionally, more funding must be directed toward ensuring our public schools have the tools necessary to meet the evolving needs of individual students, as well as fund additional wraparound services and promote apprenticeships and trade schools for recent graduates. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis made the environment a top priority when elected, committing to spend/invest $2.5 billion during his term to help clean up and protect Florida’s water systems. How would you describe your position toward this spending? 

Encouraged. 

Visit Florida’s budget went from $76 million to $50 million in the last legislative session. Given the pandemic and its effects on Florida tourism, what would you propose in the next session? 

The full financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic is yet unknown, and it is clear that there will need to be some difficult conversations regarding our state budget over the next fiscal year and beyond. 

The November ballot will have an amendment to require a $15 minimum wage by 2026, increasing by inflation every year after. What’s your position on the minimum wage? 

I support its increase to at least $15 an hour. 

For the past three years, the issue of who should regulate short-term residential rentals has come before the Legislature. What’s your position — should the state or local governments regulate them? Why? 

I generally support the right of law-abiding citizens to rent their properties for vacation or short-term rental homes. However, it is important that municipalities are able to have different rules and ordinances that are appropriate for their specific city or county. I support home rule. 

State funding for the arts increased from $2.6 million two years ago to $21.2 million in the most recent session. Arts groups requested $62 million. What’s your position on state taxpayers funding the arts? And if you support it, how much should they get? 

As a general rule, I support funding the arts. The full financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic is yet unknown, and it is clear that there will need to be some difficult conversations regarding our state budget over the next fiscal year and beyond, hence the latter part of this question at this time I will need more information. 

Florida’s unemployment insurance compensation system was roundly criticized during the pandemic. It pays one of the lowest amounts in the nation — a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. Should that be changed, and if so, to what? Why? 

Yes, the amount should be increased, and the length of time for receiving benefits should be extended to provide financial relief to last for at least up to 26 weeks to out of work Floridians.