José ‘Dante’ Sánchez Sanchez calls for increased teacher pay, better roads in HD 64 platform

José “Dante” Sánchez Sanchez, a U.S. Air Force veteran and longtime community advocate running for House District 64, will run on a platform centered on addressing neglected community issues, including chronic flooding, battered roads and inadequate street lighting.

Sánchez Sanchez, a self-described “new Democrat,” is seeking the seat currently held by Republican Rep. Susan Valdés, who is facing term limits. Valdés was elected to her seat, and subsequently re-elected several times, as a Democrat. But she switched parties late last year. Now, Democrats are looking to reclaim the seat.

Sánchez Sanchez is one of three Democrats vying for the seat. The other candidates are former Tampa City Council member Mike Suarez and Luis Salazar.

Sánchez Sanchez said in a press release that his campaign is founded on his Christian faith and family values. He is running on the principle of “God, Family, and Community,” he wrote, adding that every Tampa family should have access to a safe, functional and well-maintained community.

“My faith teaches me that good stewardship means caring for the people and the place we call home,” Sánchez Sanchez said. “When our neighbors can’t drive down a street without hitting a pothole, or when our homes flood year after year due to unresolved infrastructure issues, we are failing in that stewardship. As your representative, I will stop the talk and start the work to deliver the basic services District 64 Tampa deserves.”

Sánchez Sanchez’s platform includes working to create stronger schools, safer neighborhoods and a brighter future for every constituent.

And Sánchez Sanchez has now released a roadmap for his plans to improve neglected infrastructure, including pursuing state funding to address chronic flooding, investing in modern drainage, building flood resilience and ensuring well-maintained public works.

Sánchez Sanchez’s platform includes establishing initiatives to repair damaged roads, improve street lighting and improve pedestrian safety. While he would have the ability to bring state funding home from his district, much of the work on road and lighting infrastructure is controlled at the local level.

And while that’s also true for schools, Sánchez Sanchez said he would prioritize investment in public education. Similarly, his platform calls for greater attention to overall family well-being, economic development and enhancing access to affordable health care and housing.

He’s also calling for increasing teacher salaries, something that has been a struggle to achieve for many Democratic lawmakers. Sánchez Sanchez’s plan calls for establishing local school district efficiencies to eliminate wasteful spending, with all savings used to increase teacher pay and expand school programs for students, such as trade programs.

“We need a representative who listens to the concerns you raise at the dinner table,” Sánchez Sanchez said. “I am ready to fight for our families, for our schools, for our environment, and for a Florida that works for everyone.”

Sánchez-Sanchez immigrated from the Dominican Republic in 2005 and has spent nearly two decades involved in Catholic ministry, marriage enrichment programs, immigration assistance and veterans’ issues. He became Hillsborough County’s first Hispanic electrical inspector in 2014 after working as a journeyman electrician and earning multiple technical certifications.

He later founded Trypower Electrical Services Inc., a contracting firm that specializes in critical water and wastewater utility facilities. His work in the sector follows earlier roles with Hillsborough County Public Schools and the county’s wastewater department, where he focused on infrastructure safety and compliance.

The district has a voter advantage for Democrats, who hold more than 37% of the electorate. Republican voters, meanwhile, account for nearly 29% of the district’s voters, according to the most recent L2 voter data.

As of Wednesday, no Republican had yet filed for the seat.

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Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics contributed to this report.