Jax Daily

JaxDaily interviews ‘Doc’ Renuart

JaxDaily: Our area is going to be electing a lot of fresh faces to the legislature this year. What about your background and experience qualifies you to hit the ground running if you are sent to Tallahassee?

Doc Renuart: The legislature is about building support for your policy objectives. I’m a Ronald Reagan conservative - I share his deeply held conservative principles, and his belief in relationship-building to get things done. I have been drawing more support than my chief opponent, out-fundraising her in each of the last three quarters and qualifying by petition.

I have been president of the Ponte Vedra Republican Club, a member of the State Medicaid Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee, and Chair of the State Medical Review Board for the FL Army National Guard.

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JaxDaily: If you are elected, what would be some of your top priorities for your time in office?

Doc Renuart: The most critical issue the state is facing is the economy and jobs. I want to reduce government regulations that place a tremendous drag on business and industry. This inhibits the creation of jobs and limits new business from looking at Florida for relocation. The state needs to release moneys from existing trust funds now to jump start the housing market. Taxes need to be lowered to prevent suffocating taxpayers during these rough economic times. I will also look to improve access to affordable healthcare for those who are under-insured.

Property insurance and the Catastrophic Fund are a crisis that needs to be re-addressed by legislature. The Cat Fund has Florida at risk for $28 Billion if a hurricane the size of Hurricane Andrew hits Florida. That could add an assessment of over $1000 to each insurance policy if these funds need to be replaced. Insurance is supposed to be spread out over a global risk pool. Attracting additional insurance companies to share that risk is our best solution.

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JaxDaily: What is your opinion on the St. Johns River Water Management District’s proposal to drain water from the river to supply Central Florida’s growing needs?

Doc Renuart: I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from the University of Florida. Much of our studies were focused on Florida waterways. I know that minimal changes in nutrients, salinity, and pH can cause drastic effects on the fragile ecosystems in our river system. My first mailing was dedicated to my defense of the St Johns River and will work with other North Florida delegates to vehemently oppose any mass siphoning of St Johns River or it tributaries.

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JaxDaily: What, if anything, can the state do to help the City of Jacksonville solve the high violent crime rates that we’ve been experiencing?

Doc Renuart: The state funds a lot of our crime prevention initiatives, like juvenile programs, probation and prisoner re-entry assistance, and the Drug Court that recently was almost cancelled in the 4th Circuit. I will look to local officials for guidance on what they need from the state to carry out a local strategy.

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JaxDaily: Which groups and individuals have endorsed your candidacy thus far?

Doc Renuart: Sen. Steve Wise, Sen. Durell Peaden, Sen. Carey Baker, Rep. Ed Homan, Rep. Paige Kreegel, St Johns County Commissioner Ron Sanchez, St Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, Jacksonville City Council members Clay Yarborough, Glorious Johnson, Don Redmon, Jack Webb, Jacksonville Beach City Council member Tom Taylor, Northeast Florida Builders Association, Florida Forestry Association, Co-endorsed by Duval Teachers United and Central Labor Council, Florida Medical Association, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Florida Podiatry Association, Florida Dental Association, and Florida Association of Physician Assistants.

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JaxDaily: On a personal note, what’s your favorite place to grab a bite to eat?

Doc Renuart: My wife Jackie and I enjoy dinner at Ragtime in Atlantic Beach. Around Ponte Vedra Beach, we often get a quick bite at Bogey’s Grill or AquaGrill, but for very special occasions we sometimes splurge and go to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse where our daughter works.

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JaxDaily: Have you read any good books lately?

Doc Renuart: I have been reading Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which recounts Abraham Lincoln’s administration and the challenges of building consensus within his cabinet during our country’s greatest struggle. I recommend this as great reading for anyone considering public service.

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JaxDaily: What other kinds of things do you enjoy doing while you’re not campaigning?
Doc Renuart: As I am a family man, I love to go camping with the family or with the scouts. My wife and I are avid football fans and we enjoy attending Pop Warner, High School, Gator, and College games. Restoring American muscle cars is my favorite hobby. I have an award winning 1968 Firebird that I enter in car shows.

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JaxDaily: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few of our questions, is there anything else you’d like to add?

Doc Renuart: I am a Ronald Reagan conservative, deeply rooted in the same values as the people of the 18th district. I have been a leader in Northeast Florida Republican politics. Unlike my opponent, I have not spent my public service as part of the culture of big government and rapidly increasing spending. I’m proud to be a Colonel and former Chief Medical Officer of the Florida Army National Guard, having served in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan in my three tours of duty, including flying on more than 25 combat helicopter missions in 2007.

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