19th District Congressional race: Q&A with Byron Donalds, Cindy Banyai

Amy Bennett Williams, Fort Myers News-Press

November 1, 2022 at 6:07 PM·5 min read

Note to readers: The News-Press and Naples Daily News are providing Q&A's with candidates who are running for the key races being contested in Southwest Florida for the 2022 election.

On Nov. 8, voters in Florida's 19th Congressional District will choose between Republican Byron Donalds, a first-term incumbent, and Democratic challenger Cindy Banyai

In the 834,988-person Lee and Collier district, GOP voters outnumber Democrats by 100,000.

The district, which is older, whiter and slightly more female than the rest of the United States, extends from Cape Coral in Lee County to the Ten Thousand Islands in Collier and includes Fort Myers, Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero and the barrier islands along both counties hard-hit by Hurricane Ian.

The region is also struggling with the vulnerability of its tourism-focused economy — not just to environmental crises like red tide and blue-green algae that threaten it but to the risks that come with insufficient economic diversification.

Byron Donalds

AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: Banker, elected official
RESIDENCE: Naples
EDUCATION: B.A. in finance and marketing, Florida State University
PREVIOUS OFFICES HELD: Florida representative
OTHER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Youth sports coaching

Q: What should Congress do to help Florida prepare for future hurricanes and mitigate climate change?

A: Our state isn’t a stranger to hurricanes, and every storm presents a greater opportunity to prepare better. Our region was completely devastated by an unprecedented and catastrophic storm that will undoubtedly empower the response and preparedness of local, state, and federal leaders for the future. The state of Florida does a really good job already of hardening our coastal areas, preserving our waterways, and keeping our coastline beautiful. That work is bipartisan and will continue.

Q: Do you support federal legislation on abortion access, either to codify Roe v. Wade or ban abortions past 15 weeks?

A: The U.S. Supreme Court was extremely clear this is a states' rights issue, and I think our judicial branch will continue to support the idea that any blanket policy on this issue must come from the state. I will always stand for life and stand against the Democrats’ extremist views on abortion that seek to provide unchecked authority over the life of our unborn.

Learn more: Rising star Donalds is a Black conservative aiming for national office

By the way: Byron Donalds' first bill would keep harmful algal bloom watchdogs working even if the government shuts down

Q: Do you support continued funding of military aid to Ukraine?

A: Since day one, I’ve supported the people of Ukraine and their fight to protect their sovereignty. I supported the original package of aid, but the continuous blank checks without proper oversight or fiscal considerations are reckless.

Q: How can Congress address rising cost of living for Southwest Floridians?

A: Ending reckless spending and regulations from Washington will be step one in making life easier for folks not only in Southwest Florida but the entire nation. Fortunately, under conservative leadership, our state has seen record unemployment and booming economic growth, but high prices for gas, groceries, rent, and daily life largely stem from progressive policies in D.C. When we take back the House, the GOP will push for policies that rein in spending and leases regulations on our energy and business sectors.

Q: How would you change America’s immigration system, if at all?

A: First, we must stop the invasion of our southern border. Since Biden took office, we have had nearly 4 million illegal immigrants entering our border. With this massive influx of people from more than 140 countries, we are seeing a rise in overdoses from the deadly fentanyl coming with the smugglers. Congress can tackle this issue, but the Biden administration needs to be ready to act within its considerable authority. Lastly, any immigration policy must not include amnesty.

Election news: Congressman Donalds faces old challengers, newcomer in District 19

Election 2022 primary: Donalds wins primary for his U.S. District 19 seat

Earlier: DEBATE: Banyai, Donalds square off for Congress

Cindy Banyai

AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Consultant, University instructor
RESIDENCE: Fort Myers
EDUCATION: Ph. D. in international public administration from Japan’s Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
OTHER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: B.oard of Trustee, Executive Committee – Calusa Nature Center, Board of Director – Southwest Florida Children’s Service Foundation, Architect of workforce and education coalition FutureMakers, Work with local nonprofits including Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Naples Children and Education Foundation, Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board, Quality Life Center, ran organization serving homeless families in Southwest Florida 2012-2016, Cape Coral Construction Industry Association – previous member, Bike Walk Lee Steering Committee 2010-2017, Occupy Fort Myers participant – sued City of Fort Myers for First Amendment Rights violation and won

Q: What should Congress do to help Florida prepare for future hurricanes and mitigate climate change?

A: It is the job of Congress to provide funding. We need investments in infrastructure to prevent the bridge collapses and sewage problems we saw from Hurricane Ian. Funding is also needed for coastal restoration and surge mitigation. We need leaders who believe in and will act on climate change, not ones on the take from oil and energy companies.

Q: Do you support federal legislation on abortion access, either to codify Roe v. Wade or ban abortions past 15 weeks?

A: I support federal legislation to ensure access to abortion care. Everyone deserves medical privacy. Everyone should be able to make the best health care decisions for themselves and their families. We do not need politicians coming in between the decisions of patients and doctors.

Q: Do you support continued funding of military aid to Ukraine?

A: I support continued funding of military aid to Ukraine. It is in the best interest of the American people and global security to contain Russian aggression.

Q: How can Congress address rising cost of living for Southwest Floridians?

A: Congress can provide funding for investments in affordable housing to ease our housing and rental crisis. Congress can also pass a $15 federal minimum wage and reinstate the fully refundable child tax credit to support working families.

Q: How would you change America’s immigration system, if at all?

A: We need more capacity to process asylum seekers and a pathway to citizenship, especially for those brought across the border as children. This way, border control agents can focus on stopping human trafficking and criminal activity.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Election: 19th District Congressional race Q&A: Byron Donalds, Cindy Banyai

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Byron Donalds

Cindy Banyai

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