Attorney and Democratic donor John Morgan challenged state Senate candidate Tom Leake to a debate, criticizing Praz's role in changes to Florida's homeowners insurance laws and claiming those changes benefit insurance companies at the expense of homeowners. housing.
Attorney and Democratic donor John Morgan on Tuesday publicly challenged state Senate candidate Rep. Tom Leake to debate changes to Florida homeowner's insurance laws.
In a video statement addressed to residents of Flagler and St. Johns counties, Morgan criticized Leake's legislative background and his ties to the insurance industry. Morgan claims Leake played a key role in a special legislative session aimed at solving the homeowner's insurance crisis, though he claims Leake's leadership led to changes that now require homeowners to pay their own attorneys' fees from their insurance payouts if their claims are denied, which could leave them without enough money for necessary repairs.
“Prior to Tom Leake's bill, insurance companies were responsible for attorneys' fees if they denied a claim,” Morgan said in the video. “Homeowners must now cover these costs themselves, leaving them with no means to repair their homes.”
The legislation, House Bill 1A, introduced major reforms to Florida's property insurance laws by changing the structure of attorneys' fees, often shifting costs to claimants if their recovery falls below certain thresholds. It allowed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to charge policyholders up to a 15 percent surcharge to cover deficiencies, mandated policy terms requiring binding arbitration, and required disclosure of flood insurance information on homeowners' policies. The bill further encourages depopulation by incentivizing private insurers to underwrite policies, exempting them from certain deficit assessments.
Morgan also raised concerns about Leake's financial gains while in office, suggesting a conflict of interest.
“When it came to Congress, it cost about a million dollars. When he left he was worth about $16 million working for the insurance industry,” Morgan said. However, Leake did not serve in Congress, but in the Florida Legislature.
Despite the reforms, Morgan says insurance rates continue to rise. He noted that Donald Trump advised against the legislative changes and referred to a tweet from the former president who claimed it was “the biggest bailout of an insurance company for 'globalist insurance companies' in history.” Morgan also highlighted Leake's vote against an amendment that would have cut insurance rates by 6 percent over two years.
“Not only did Tom Leake do this to 'fix' the crisis, but we've never seen interest rates go down. Prices have gone up,” Morgan said.
In his statement, Morgan offered to donate $100,000 to a charity of Leake's choice if Leake agreed to a public debate on the issue, provided the charity was not one of Leake's favorites.
“If you have the courage to do so, we will discuss this matter,” Morgan challenged. “But you don't have the guts. Your courage is with the insurance companies.
Morgan concluded by urging voters to rethink their support for leeks.
“If you vote for him, you're voting against yourself,” Morgan said.
Leake is currently running in a competitive GOP primary race expected to be the most closely watched of Florida's 2024 election cycle. Elected to represent House District 25 in 2016 and re-elected to House District 28 in 2022 after redistricting, Leake is now seeking to defeat the Trump-endorsed St. John County Sheriff David Shore. Also, Gerry James, another Republican, is a qualified candidate for the Aug. 20 primary.
The trio looks set to succeed the senator. Travis Hutson in Senate District 7 as he faces term limits. Senate District 7 includes Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and parts of Volusia counties.
Leake currently chairs the House Appropriations Committee and previously chaired the Committee on Public Ethics and Integrity, the Committee on Pandemics and Public Emergencies, and the Committee on Appropriations. It has received approval from Gov. Ron DeSantisAttorney General Ashley Moodychief financial officer Jimmy PatronusUS representatives Michael Waltz and Corey Millsand Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunes. It was also supported by various state senators, representatives and organizations such as Americans for Prosperity-Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, Shoar received the support of congressmen from Florida John Rutherford and Greg Steube.