Editor's note
This is the ninth of a daily series of Q&A reports with the candidates in Collier and Lee counties, counting down to the Nov. 6 election.
GOLDEN GATE — Republican incumbent state Rep. Matt Hudson is being challenged by Pam Brown, who is running without party affiliation, in the Nov. 6 race.
District 80 in the Florida House of Representatives covers inland areas of northern Collier County and western Broward County.
State representatives are elected to two-year terms.
The district was known as District 101 but is changing numbers after the Florida Legislature adopted redistricting maps using the latest census data.
Editor's note: Ninth day in a series leading up to the Nov. 6 election.
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Matt Hudson
Date of birth: July 9, 1966
How long you've lived in your county: 23 years
Education: Cardinal Mooney High School, Sarasota; Edison State College; Barry University; Hodges University
Family: two children, ages 28, 25
Political affiliation: Republican
Current position: State representative for the 101st District of the Florida House of Representatives (becoming District 80)
Q. What is the first thing you would do if elected?
A. In this down economy, jobs are my No. 1 priority. We must continue to find ways to improve the climate for business to create jobs. That starts by reducing the tax burden on business, cutting the red tape and bureaucracy, and coming up with incentives for those companies that do create jobs.
Q. What would you do to make your community a better place to live?
A. As a real estate broker, I see first-hand how hard some people have been affected by the drop in home values. I will continue to use my experience in real estate to find ways to stabilize home values in our community and across Florida.
Q. What makes you the most qualified for this position?
A. My service at the local level of government as a fire commissioner and at the state level as a legislator, coupled with my business experience, has prepared me to help to advance change to help our community.
Q. What distinguishes you from your opponent?
A. My experience in both the public and private sectors provide significant insight to help me represent our community in the Legislature.
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Pam Brown
Date of birth: Oct. 10, 1955
How long you've lived in your county: Lifelong residence
Education: Attended University of South Florida and Georgia Southern
Family: Married to Clayton Walker; one son and two granddaughters
Political affiliation: Running without party affiliation
Current position: Chairwoman of the Immokalee Fire Control District and chairwoman of Collier County Fire Service Steering Committee
Q. What is the first thing you would do if elected?
A. Start a series of town hall meetings with the constituents to prioritize the issues of the most importance and that are workable in our district. Then take those issues to Tallahassee.
Q. What would you do to make your community a better place to live?
A. Work to provide the best answers to the legislative needs of our district.
Q. What makes you the most qualified for this position?
A. The majority of the district is now rural. I am from an agriculture and ranching family that goes back to the earliest history of Collier County. I have lived in rural Collier County my entire life. I have been civically and politically active in my community for 30 years.
Q. What distinguishes you from your opponent?
A. See above
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