My Goals as CFO
As a candidate for Florida CFO in the 2026 elections, I have some ideas on how to fix Florida’s broken insurance system. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s a quick rundown of some key reforms I believe can make a real difference. I welcome discussion and ideas from anyone who wants to help improve Florida’s insurance market. First, Florida Citizens Insurance should be transformed into a reinsurance provider for wind and hail claims rather than a primary insurer. If private carriers know they won’t face catastrophic losses from these events, they’ll be more willing to enter the Florida market, increasing competition and driving down prices. Additionally, while I am not a fan of taxes, I see the benefit of implementing a 0.5% sales tax that would go directly into a catastrophe fund that can only be used in cases of major disasters. This would ensure Florida is financially prepared for hurricanes and other large-scale events without burdening policyholders with skyrocketing premiums.
One way to keep claims out of litigation is by strengthening insurance appraisal as an alternative dispute resolution method. There needs to be a two-way appraisal provision so either the insured or the carrier can demand appraisal—not just the carrier. Additionally, appraisers and umpires should be licensed and regulated with clear ethical guidelines and statutes, including strict timelines for completion. No party affiliated with the claim should be able to demand or influence the outcome of the appraisal process.
As a licensed Public Adjuster, I have firsthand experience with how easy it is to enter this profession—sometimes to the detriment of policyholders. A Public Adjuster who lacks knowledge or experience can cause significant financial stress on homeowners, even leading them to lose their property. Currently, there are minimal requirements to become a Public Adjuster. I propose raising the bar by requiring a bachelor’s degree, a one-year supervised apprenticeship under a licensed Public Adjuster, and hands-on experience handling claims for different roof types, water losses, and fire damage. The supervising Public Adjuster should be required to submit a sworn affidavit certifying the apprentice’s competency before they can become fully licensed.
Insurance carriers must also be held accountable. Too often, they delay claims, fail to conduct proper investigations, or refuse to provide policyholders with necessary documentation. As CFO, I would direct DFS to issue administrative fines against adjusters and carriers that violate state laws, with penalties ranging from license suspension to revocation for repeated offenses. Additionally, while Florida law already requires Public Adjusters to provide a disclosure form explaining their role to policyholders, I would require insurance carriers to do the same. Most homeowners don’t understand the different types of adjusters they’ll deal with during the claims process or that they have the right to hire their own adjuster to advocate for them.
Since Governor DeSantis and state legislators eliminated attorney fee rights for policyholders, homeowners are left with no real way to fight back against their insurance companies except by hiring a Public Adjuster or going it alone. I will push for a prevailing attorney fee statute to restore some of the legal rights taken from Floridians. Furthermore, I will press fraud charges against insurance carriers, their third-party investigators, and engineers if they commit insurance fraud. Fraud isn’t just something policyholders commit—insurers and their hired experts engage in fraudulent practices too, and they should be held accountable. Finally, insurance carriers frequently cite “company guidelines” to justify denying, underpaying, or negotiating claims. However, if these guidelines are not explicitly stated in the insurance policy and made available to the public, they should be unenforceable. Any adjuster attempting to use undisclosed company guidelines to justify a decision should face administrative fines.
Florida’s insurance market is broken, but it can be fixed. My plan focuses on encouraging more insurance carriers to enter Florida, keeping claims out of unnecessary litigation, holding both insurers and adjusters accountable, and restoring legal rights to policyholders. If we work together, we can make insurance in Florida affordable, fair, and transparent again. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on how we can make these reforms a reality. Let’s fix this system once and for all!
