Florida State House District 10: Political Candidate Clean Water Questionnaire –WWALS 2026-08-04

Update 2026-08-05: Now with a response from Marshall Rawson, added to the responses from June by Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Chase Brannan, and James Hunter Batley’s response that he dropped out of the race.

Here’s what those running for Florida State Representative District 10 have to say about clean water: Chase Brannan and Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson. Marshall Rawson did not respond, and James Hunter Batley dropped out of the race.

District 10 covers Columbia, Baker, Union, and Bradford Counties, and part of Alachua County.

WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) is conducting a Political Candidate Clean Water Questionnaire: #WWALSCleanWaterQuestionnaire

We already reported responses from District 9 candidates yesterday.

In District 10 also WFNF is not popular, WMDs in their current form are problematical, hyper-scale AI datacenters are looked upon ascance, and RTCW needs more education. For these candidates’ answers to those and other questions, see below.

For much more about Water First North Florida (WFNF), see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

If you are a candidate for state or national office in Florida this year, in the Suwannee River Basin, we sent you a questionnaire. If you didn’t get it, please let us know.

https://wwals.net/donations/contact/

Florida State House District 10, Political Candidate Clean Water Questionnaire, by WWALS

Early voting for the primary starts this Saturday August 8, and Election Day is Tuesday, August 18, so we will be reporting answers for more districts whether all the candidates respond or not.

Our source for who is running is the Florida Department of State Candidate Tracking System.

https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/candidates/Index.asp

As an IRS 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, WWALS cannot support or oppose any specific candidate for office. But we can ask all candidates in a race what they think, and publish the results.

State Representative District 10

Side by Side
Each Candidate
- Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, Democratic
- Chase Brannan, Republican
- Marshall Rawson, Republican
- James Hunter Batley, Write-In
The Questions: WWALS Political Candidate Clean Water Questionnaire

Holly Point, Withlacoochee River @ NE Withla Bluffs Way 2026-06-18 –Russ Tatum for WWALS

State Representative District 10 by question (Side by Side)

Do you oppose Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I have opposed this project of sending the City of Jacksonville’s treated wastewater to this side of the Trail Ridge and into any recharge Santa Fe River and its springs, such as the famous Ichetucknee Spring Run.
Chase Brannan: I do not support the current Water First North Florida plan, as piping treated wastewater from Jacksonville into our basin raises serious concerns. However, I believe in working toward alternative solutions that protect the Suwannee River and our aquifer while addressing regional water needs. I would advocate for a thorough review, input from local stakeholders, and water strategies that prioritize our district’s long-term environmental health and local control.
Marshall Rawson: Yes
Do you support a ban on transfers of water from one river basin to another?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Yes, where the freshwater resource is used is where it also must be reused in its’ location. Using water in this manner will also make the user more obligated to keep whatever goes down it’s pipes to take more responsibility on use and re-use, instead of making it some other community’s problem if soemthing goes wrong.
Chase Brannan: I support maintaining the integrity of our local watersheds. Water transfers between basins can disrupt ecosystems and local water availability. I would favor policies that protect our district’s water security and prioritize local needs over distant diversions.
Marshall Rawson: I support the cooperation of municipal governments, counties, and Water Management Districts to operate in the manner that best meets our communities needs. And when I say community, I mean the people, not big development special interests. I support responsible use of our freshwater and would oppose any disruption to our watersheds.
Do you support seawater desalination for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Yes, I do support desalination while supporting end re-use of the brine that comes from such projects.
Chase Brannan: I’m open to desalination as one tool in the toolbox for future water security, but it needs to be thoughtfully implemented. Desalination can be energy-intensive and costly, so it should be considered carefully alongside more natural methods like conservation, recharge, and reuse. Ultimately, protecting our groundwater is key, and any desalination effort must ensure it doesn’t cause unintended environmental harm.
Marshall Rawson: Yes
Do you support potable reuse for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I do not support potable reuse for drinking water in our State. I support reduction in groundwater by reusing water for other non-potable uses such as cooling and limited irrigation.
Chase Brannan: Yes, I support potable reuse, but only with strong safeguards and community trust. Reducing groundwater withdrawals is essential, and state support for well-regulated potable reuse can help secure a sustainable water future. I’d work to ensure these projects are safe, transparent, and beneficial to our communities.
Marshall Rawson: I do not support “toilet-to-tap” potable reuse. I do not believe science is proven that this is healthy for human consumption. I remain open to being shown otherwise as these technologies evolve, and will be monitoring this issue closely in office. We must find other ways including reduction of suburban landscape irrigation and a slowing down of predatory overdevelopment tearing up our rural lands and destroying our way of live in general.
Do you support efforts to recharge the Floridan Aquifer, springs, and rivers that do not require massive engineering?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Yes
Chase Brannan: I will work to clear legal hurdles for safe, clean forestry wetland well recharge
Marshall Rawson: Yes
Do you support a water budget for north Florida, requiring water withdrawal permits to be limited or reduced when exceeded?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I will work for state support for a water budget.
Chase Brannan: I understand the importance of protecting our water, but one-size-fits-all water budgets could infringe on people’s livelihoods. I support community-driven, tailored solutions that ensure sustainability while protecting local businesses, especially farms, ranches, and agricultural operations. That’s essential to me, as I’m a farmer too. I’ll work to find solutions that safeguard both our water and our agricultural way of life.
Marshall Rawson: I will consider supporting something like a water budget for municipal landscaping irrigation. I will be less likely to support it for agricultural operations due to the national security issue of our food supply. I will continue to support cost-share plans for farms to optimize their water usage.
What will you do to reform the Water Management Districts (WMDs)?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I will work to require half of WMD’s Boards to be from science, environment, and tourism background.
Chase Brannan: I believe water management is complex, and we need balanced solutions. I support accountability, transparency, and ensuring decisions are well-informed and fair. It’s crucial that we protect our water while also respecting local voices and livelihoods. I’ll work for thoughtful reforms that promote collaboration and practical, common-sense approaches to water management.
Marshall Rawson: I will not vote to approve board members of WMDs that have direct business ties to predatory overdevelopment or big mining interests. I will push our Governor to appoint more conservative environmentalists and farmers to these seats.
Will you work to require hyper-scale datacenters

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I will work to a limited allotment of data centers throughout Florida and that require closed loop cooling systems and reuse of carbon energy capturing from industrial/city waste collection landfills for each energy need.
Chase Brannan: I have serious concerns about hyperscale data centers in our region because current evidence suggests they often strain water and energy resources. I’m open to future innovations if they can prove they operate sustainably, without harming our environment. But at this time, I do not support their development in North Florida until they can meet sound environmental standards and protect our water resources.
Marshall Rawson: I am opposed to hyperscale data centers. My opponent’s campaign in this GOP primary is funded in part by lobbyists that represent the world’s largest Big Tech companies, and supported by Hyperscale AI data center front groups like the Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida. There has been some excellent reporting recently about the tens of millions of dollars these Hyperscale AI companies are funneling through these groups to purchase candidates like my opponent. You will never see a Hyperscale AI data center lobbyist or business group on my list of donors, and I will never support them.
Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs)

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: As a stakeholder in the Santa Fe River Basin, I worked closely with the State WMD’s, FDACS, and FDEP for BMAPs in the Suwannee River region. Legislative funding is imperative to implement any aspect of utilizing programs to help reduce excessive nutrients entering our protected waterways.
Chase Brannan: I believe in protecting our water quality, but we must be practical. I’ll work to ensure Basin Management Action Plans are effective without overburdening farmers. Our agricultural community plays a key role in the environment, so I’ll support balanced approaches that reduce contaminants through collaboration, innovation, and incentives instead of heavy-handed restrictions. We can protect our rivers and springs while keeping farmers part of the solution.
Marshall Rawson: I support strong, fully funded Basin Management Action Plans that actually reduce the excessive nutrients entering our rivers, springs, and aquifer. In the Santa Fe and Suwannee River basins, BMAPs cannot simply be paperwork exercises; they must be backed by legislative funding, coordinated work among the Water Management Districts, FDACS, FDEP, local governments, farmers, and other stakeholders. I will support practical solutions that protect water quality without treating agriculture as the enemy. Farmers should be part of the solution through collaboration, cost-share programs, innovation, and incentives that help reduce nutrient runoff while keeping local food supply which is a key national and local security issue. Protecting our waterways and supporting our farming communities are not competing goals if the state is serious about funding and enforcing effective, locally informed plans. I will support government spending to that end.
What is your position on the rampant growth of population in Florida and its effect on our natural resources?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: The loss of natural habitat in Florida is alarming for ne housing developments. Without the tree canopy and our swamps in North Central Florida, the Floridan Aquifer is being mercilessly depleted and has no chance of recovery until we pull back water use from the already over permitted Floridan aquifer and continue to reduce any new use of freshwater.
Chase Brannan: I recognize Florida’s growth is a reality, but we have to manage it smartly. I support balanced, planned growth that protects our natural resources, especially water. We need policies that prioritize conservation, smart land use, and infrastructure that can keep up without degrading what makes North Florida special. Growth must be paired with the protection of our springs, rivers, and aquifer, so future generations can thrive here too.
Marshall Rawson: Every day we lose 800-1,000 acres of the Old, Wild Florida we love. I have been giving presentations for the better part of the last decade about the loss of the green on our ground. When I go to Tallahassee, I will fight against the out-of-control predatory development interests that have bought my opponent’s campaign. I will always oppose bills like the Blue Ribbon Projects, Agricultural Enclaves, and Live Local. My opponent simply will not be able to do that. We cannot make Florida hell for the generations who have called it their home just to feed the machine of constant new residents and growth. We have to protect Florida Residents First.
What solutions do you offer to protect our springs from over-pumping and pollution from various sources?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Changes to our lifestyles in Florida is just the beginning. Using freshwater to irrigate invasive turf grass for lawns and other non necessary water uses must be curtailed and an education campaign stemming from boot on the ground educational experiences that connect water users to the natural systems. It is my belief that businesses and individuals may not completely relate or understand their impact to the water resources. Until one can see a point source pollution problem, like the discharge pipeline stemming out from a poultry butchering plant into the Suwannee River itself, this pollution problem may not seem like a real and present threat to the health of the river and downstream
Chase Brannan: I believe in a balanced approach. We need to invest in modern water conservation technologies, promote best practices in agriculture, and support voluntary incentive programs to reduce pollution. At the same time, we must ensure fair water-use permitting, protecting our springs from over-pumping while keeping local livelihoods in mind. We can protect our springs through cooperation, working with farmers, businesses, and communities to keep our water clean and flowing.
Marshall Rawson: Protecting our springs starts with stopping over-pumping and reducing pollution at the source. We cannot keep pretending unlimited growth from rampant immigration, wasteful irrigation, and weak enforcement will somehow leave the Floridan Aquifer unharmed. I will support curtailing unnecessary freshwater use, especially irrigation of invasive turf grass and other nonessential uses. I will also support modern water conservation technology, fair but firm water-use permitting, agricultural best management practices, voluntary incentive and cost-share programs, and stronger action against point-source pollution where the damage is clear and immediate. Protecting the springs has to be practical, but it also has to be serious. We need an environmental standard that looks to our aquifer to determine if our carrying capacity can continue bringing in over 1000 people yo the state of Florida daily. If it cannot, we need to utilize our police powers to place a moratorium on new domiciles until our aquifer can replenish.
Do you support a Right to Clean Water in the Florida Constitution Article I?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I have already accomplished groundwork for Nature’s Rights in Florida. I would absolutely introduce a Right to Clean Water in Florida’s Constitution.
Chase Brannan: Clean water is essential, and I’m fully committed to protecting it. However, we need careful, practical measures to ensure clean water, not just broad constitutional language that could have unintended consequences. I support strong, enforceable policies to protect our water, working closely with communities and experts, while ensuring that we maintain flexibility to adapt as needed.
Marshall Rawson: I am open to supporting a Right to Clean Water depending on the language of the amendment, and what if any burdens it would place on our people. I will not support something that violates our existing Constitutional rights. .
Do you support repealing HB 1205 of 2025, which greatly complicates citizens petitions for amendments to the state constitution?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I have worked to pass Constitutional Amendments in Florida. Signature gathering for Amendments for statewide elections are complicated enough. Majority signature should be the rule. I would like to introduce a bill to repeal HB 1205
Chase Brannan: No
Marshall Rawson: It should be more challenging to pass a constitutional amendment than a simple majority, so I support the 60% threshold for an amendment to pass. However, we should not prevent Florida residents from building organic, grassroots movements to pose important questions from the people to our state writ large. That being said, I am opposed to out-of-state interests buying changes to our constitution. This is a tricky issue. When I am in office, I will ask for the feedback of my constituents on where they would like me to go on this topic.
Concurrent with safe sleep awareness efforts to reduce infant mortality via SIDS, will you ensure rural health departments have resources to facilitate and communities have access to drinking water testing and education? If not, how else will you address the maternal and prenatal rural drinking water crisis?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Generally, healthcare in District 10 is one of the biggest issues in our communities. These types of well water testing services will be ultimately found in Environmental Health Departments that can actually perform tests on private wells. Education through the rural public and private health departments is imperative to get the word out to the community.
Chase Brannan: I absolutely believe rural communities deserve the resources to ensure safe drinking water, especially for maternal and prenatal health. I’d push for expanding rural health department resources so they can facilitate water testing and education on safe practices. If additional support is needed, I’d work to ensure funding or partnerships that address rural water infrastructure. Safe water is foundational for healthy families, and I’m committed to that.
Marshall Rawson: Yes. Rural families deserve access to safe drinking water, and maternal and prenatal health must be taken seriously in communities that rely on private wells. In District 10, rural healthcare and environmental health are already major challenges, so our county health departments and Environmental Health offices need the ability to facilitate well-water testing, education, and outreach in coordination with public and private health providers. Families should know whether their water is safe, what risks may exist, and what steps they can take to protect mothers, infants, and children. I am not opposed to appropriations for clear, accountable needs like rural water testing, education, and public health access. What I oppose are recurring drags on the taxpayer that become permanent spending obligations, ultimately raising taxes and the cost of living for the very families who can least afford it. I will support targeted, transparent funding, partnerships, and practical infrastructure solutions that solve the problem without building another open-ended government program. Clean, safe water is foundational, and we must protect both public health and the household budgets of rural Floridians.
How will rural communities and small cities adapt to potential changes in tax structures? What strategies do you propose they implement? What about funding for public parks, 4H/youth programs, and agricultural extension?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Many of these programs that attract visitors to recreate or compete in animal or agriculture husbandry and growers could tap into the Tourism Development Council money, especially if any of these events at parks, fairgrounds, and extension offices put heads in beds.
Chase Brannan: I believe we need to give rural communities a seat at the table when tax structures change. I’d work to ensure any changes are gradual and tailored to their needs. We can help small towns adapt by supporting local economic diversification and helping them leverage state programs. As for funding public parks, 4-H, and agricultural extension, I’d advocate for maintaining stable funding streams, possibly using dedicated grants or matching programs. We must ensure these vital programs don’t fall behind—because they help keep rural communities thriving.
Marshall Rawson: Local and county government spending, just like spending in Tallahassee, is out of control. I support a full elimination of property taxes for homesteaded properties, and a slight increase in sales tax to make up the difference. I would also look for ways to make the tourists pay more of their fair share in things such as bed taxes. If Tallahassee is intending to centralize control over this issue, then perhaps some of the bigger tourist destinations that collect billions of dollars in revenue could spread that money across the state instead of building their next Boondoggle convention center or tax subsidy to lure a professional sports team with a stadium. Once again, I will listen to my constituents on this issue and understand where they would like to go to fund their needs like the parks and youth programs.
Will you ensure free speech and first amendment rights are upheld by opposing agricultural muzzle clauses?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Yes
Chase Brannan: Yes
Marshall Rawson: Yes
If you aren’t monitoring, you aren’t managing. How can water quality and supply monitoring efforts be improved and better coordinated?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: We know where our most critical areas are in our basin are located. Testing in downstream locations must be funded by a polluter funding source through permitting fees.
Chase Brannan: I’m committed to protecting our water quality through efficient, smart solutions. By enhancing coordination between agencies, utilizing local partnerships, and fostering innovation, we can monitor more effectively without unnecessary spending. Smart investments, not waste, will help us safeguard our water future.
Marshall Rawson: We need as much good information as possible on monitoring water quality and water supply. I will work with our local stakeholders like the WMDs to prioritize this, and I will push for federal funding if necessary. I am a fiscal conservative, but we cannot let our water issues continue to degrade. We need to invest in understanding the data.
Will you support the State of Florida water quality testing all rivers?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: I will work to require and fund the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to testing all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites. testing all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites to test all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites.
Chase Brannan: Yes, I support ensuring all our rivers are regularly tested. Water is life for our communities, especially in North Florida. But I’ll also advocate for strategic, practical testing, and focusing resources where they matter most. By combining state support with local input, we’ll make sure our rivers are safe while using taxpayer dollars wisely.
Marshall Rawson: about like PFAS forever chemicals, and pharmaceutical birth controls that have been shown to be endocrine disruptors. These invaders getting into our water supply are having impacts on our health that we still do not fully understand. Things that sounded like conspiracy theories in years past are now being accepted as the consequence of these disgusting products getting into our water supply. As in my last answer, we need as much good data as possible.
Would you support a pesticide liability shield?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: No
Chase Brannan: Yes
Marshall Rawson: No
What are your primary concerns regarding water?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Because the WMD’s have over-permitted the aquifer, there is not enough freshwater for the type of human growth and housing development in our District. We are recognized as the highest recharge vulnerability of the Floridan Aquifer. Housing development projects need to bust out with entirely new engineering and planning that requires no irrigation, reduce water flows in domestic and industrial uses, including closed loop cooling systems.
Chase Brannan: I’m deeply concerned about preserving both the quality and supply of water. We rely on clean water for our families, farms, and springs. Pollution, whether from runoff or failing systems, threatens that. Over-pumping the aquifer or unchecked growth could leave us short. My focus is on balancing growth, agriculture, and conservation to ensure North Florida’s water remains plentiful and safe for generations to come.
Marshall Rawson: My primary concern is that North Florida is being asked to absorb a level of growth, pumping, pollution, and development pressure that the Floridan Aquifer cannot sustain. The Water Management Districts have over-permitted the aquifer, and in a region recognized for high recharge vulnerability, we cannot keep approving human growth, housing projects, industrial uses, and suburban sprawl as if the water supply is unlimited. These decisions are putting legacy Florida families at risk. I will fight predatory overdevelopment, unchecked suburban sprawl, and policies that encourage illegal immigration because all of them place more pressure on our aquifer, infrastructure, housing, roads, schools, and taxpayers. Florida cannot protect its water while pretending unlimited population growth has no consequences. My focus will be protecting Florida residents first, defending local agriculture, conserving our springs and rivers, and making sure North Florida’s water remains safe and abundant for future generations.
Do you support the state preemptions of local government via restrictions of municipal action, codes, or ordinances?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: No
Chase Brannan: No
Marshall Rawson: No
Which state preemptions of local governments do you support, if any?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Home Rule rules should always be the way the State interacts with local governments. Legislators must give credit to and work with locals who know their communities best.
Chase Brannan: I’d be opposed to preemptions that prevent local governments from addressing their unique environmental or public health needs, especially when it comes to water, land use, or local safety. If a community needs to protect its water supply or manage growth smartly, it should have that flexibility. I’ll support local decision-making where it best serves the people on the ground.
Marshall Rawson: When state government violates our constitutional rights on things like violating the 2A with illegal gun control laws like the Majorie Stoneman Douglas bill. We just had an issue recently in Bradford County where our overzealous Sheriff infringed on the open carry rights of one of our constituents. I will support preemptions to protect those rights. But overall, home rule must carry the day in the state of Florida.

Mills Dock, Santa Fe River @ NW 282nd Dr 2026-07-15 –Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for WWALS

State Representative District 10 by candidate

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, Democratic
Chase Brannan, Republican
Marshall Rawson, Republican
James Hunter Batley, Write-In

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, Democratic, State Representative, District 10

Do you oppose Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin?
I have opposed this project of sending the City of Jacksonville’s treated wastewater to this side of the Trail Ridge and into any recharge Santa Fe River and its springs, such as the famous Ichetucknee Spring Run.
Do you support a ban on transfers of water from one river basin to another?
Yes, where the freshwater resource is used is where it also must be reused in its’ location. Using water in this manner will also make the user more obligated to keep whatever goes down it’s pipes to take more responsibility on use and re-use, instead of making it some other community’s problem if soemthing goes wrong.
Do you support seawater desalination for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
Yes, I do support desalination while supporting end re-use of the brine that comes from such projects.
Do you support potable reuse for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
I do not support potable reuse for drinking water in our State. I support reduction in groundwater by reusing water for other non-potable uses such as cooling and limited irrigation.
Do you support efforts to recharge the Floridan Aquifer, springs, and rivers that do not require massive engineering?
Yes
Do you support a water budget for north Florida, requiring water withdrawal permits to be limited or reduced when exceeded?
I will work for state support for a water budget.
What will you do to reform the Water Management Districts (WMDs)?
I will work to require half of WMD’s Boards to be from science, environment, and tourism background.
Will you work to require hyper-scale datacenters
I will work to a limited allotment of data centers throughout Florida and that require closed loop cooling systems and reuse of carbon energy capturing from industrial/city waste collection landfills for each energy need.
Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs)
As a stakeholder in the Santa Fe River Basin, I worked closely with the State WMD’s, FDACS, and FDEP for BMAPs in the Suwannee River region. Legislative funding is imperative to implement any aspect of utilizing programs to help reduce excessive nutrients entering our protected waterways.
What is your position on the rampant growth of population in Florida and its effect on our natural resources?
The loss of natural habitat in Florida is alarming for ne housing developments. Without the tree canopy and our swamps in North Central Florida, the Floridan Aquifer is being mercilessly depleted and has no chance of recovery until we pull back water use from the already over permitted Floridan aquifer and continue to reduce any new use of freshwater.
What solutions do you offer to protect our springs from over-pumping and pollution from various sources?
Changes to our lifestyles in Florida is just the beginning. Using freshwater to irrigate invasive turf grass for lawns and other non necessary water uses must be curtailed and an education campaign stemming from boot on the ground educational experiences that connect water users to the natural systems. It is my belief that businesses and individuals may not completely relate or understand their impact to the water resources. Until one can see a point source pollution problem, like the discharge pipeline stemming out from a poultry butchering plant into the Suwannee River itself, this pollution problem may not seem like a real and present threat to the health of the river and downstream
Do you support a Right to Clean Water in the Florida Constitution Article I?
I have already accomplished groundwork for Nature’s Rights in Florida. I would absolutely introduce a Right to Clean Water in Florida’s Constitution.
Do you support repealing HB 1205 of 2025, which greatly complicates citizens petitions for amendments to the state constitution?
I have worked to pass Constitutional Amendments in Florida. Signature gathering for Amendments for statewide elections are complicated enough. Majority signature should be the rule. I would like to introduce a bill to repeal HB 1205
Concurrent with safe sleep awareness efforts to reduce infant mortality via SIDS, will you ensure rural health departments have resources to facilitate and communities have access to drinking water testing and education? If not, how else will you address the maternal and prenatal rural drinking water crisis?
Generally, healthcare in District 10 is one of the biggest issues in our communities. These types of well water testing services will be ultimately found in Environmental Health Departments that can actually perform tests on private wells. Education through the rural public and private health departments is imperative to get the word out to the community.
How will rural communities and small cities adapt to potential changes in tax structures? What strategies do you propose they implement? What about funding for public parks, 4H/youth programs, and agricultural extension?
Many of these programs that attract visitors to recreate or compete in animal or agriculture husbandry and growers could tap into the Tourism Development Council money, especially if any of these events at parks, fairgrounds, and extension offices put heads in beds.
Will you ensure free speech and first amendment rights are upheld by opposing agricultural muzzle clauses?
Yes
If you aren’t monitoring, you aren’t managing. How can water quality and supply monitoring efforts be improved and better coordinated?
We know where our most critical areas are in our basin are located. Testing in downstream locations must be funded by a polluter funding source through permitting fees.
Will you support the State of Florida water quality testing all rivers?
I will work to require and fund the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to testing all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites. testing all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites to test all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites.
Would you support a pesticide liability shield?
No
What are your primary concerns regarding water?
Because the WMD’s have over-permitted the aquifer, there is not enough freshwater for the type of human growth and housing development in our District. We are recognized as the highest recharge vulnerability of the Floridan Aquifer. Housing development projects need to bust out with entirely new engineering and planning that requires no irrigation, reduce water flows in domestic and industrial uses, including closed loop cooling systems.
Do you support the state preemptions of local government via restrictions of municipal action, codes, or ordinances?
No
Which state preemptions of local governments do you support, if any?
Home Rule rules should always be the way the State interacts with local governments. Legislators must give credit to and work with locals who know their communities best.

Chase Brannan, Republican, State Representative, District 10

Do you oppose Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin?
I do not support the current Water First North Florida plan, as piping treated wastewater from Jacksonville into our basin raises serious concerns. However, I believe in working toward alternative solutions that protect the Suwannee River and our aquifer while addressing regional water needs. I would advocate for a thorough review, input from local stakeholders, and water strategies that prioritize our district’s long-term environmental health and local control.
Do you support a ban on transfers of water from one river basin to another?
I support maintaining the integrity of our local watersheds. Water transfers between basins can disrupt ecosystems and local water availability. I would favor policies that protect our district’s water security and prioritize local needs over distant diversions.
Do you support seawater desalination for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
I’m open to desalination as one tool in the toolbox for future water security, but it needs to be thoughtfully implemented. Desalination can be energy-intensive and costly, so it should be considered carefully alongside more natural methods like conservation, recharge, and reuse. Ultimately, protecting our groundwater is key, and any desalination effort must ensure it doesn’t cause unintended environmental harm.
Do you support potable reuse for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
Yes, I support potable reuse, but only with strong safeguards and community trust. Reducing groundwater withdrawals is essential, and state support for well-regulated potable reuse can help secure a sustainable water future. I’d work to ensure these projects are safe, transparent, and beneficial to our communities.
Do you support efforts to recharge the Floridan Aquifer, springs, and rivers that do not require massive engineering?
I will work to clear legal hurdles for safe, clean forestry wetland well recharge
Do you support a water budget for north Florida, requiring water withdrawal permits to be limited or reduced when exceeded?
I understand the importance of protecting our water, but one-size-fits-all water budgets could infringe on people’s livelihoods. I support community-driven, tailored solutions that ensure sustainability while protecting local businesses, especially farms, ranches, and agricultural operations. That’s essential to me, as I’m a farmer too. I’ll work to find solutions that safeguard both our water and our agricultural way of life.
What will you do to reform the Water Management Districts (WMDs)?
I believe water management is complex, and we need balanced solutions. I support accountability, transparency, and ensuring decisions are well-informed and fair. It’s crucial that we protect our water while also respecting local voices and livelihoods. I’ll work for thoughtful reforms that promote collaboration and practical, common-sense approaches to water management.
Will you work to require hyper-scale datacenters
I have serious concerns about hyperscale data centers in our region because current evidence suggests they often strain water and energy resources. I’m open to future innovations if they can prove they operate sustainably, without harming our environment. But at this time, I do not support their development in North Florida until they can meet sound environmental standards and protect our water resources.
Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs)
I believe in protecting our water quality, but we must be practical. I’ll work to ensure Basin Management Action Plans are effective without overburdening farmers. Our agricultural community plays a key role in the environment, so I’ll support balanced approaches that reduce contaminants through collaboration, innovation, and incentives instead of heavy-handed restrictions. We can protect our rivers and springs while keeping farmers part of the solution.
What is your position on the rampant growth of population in Florida and its effect on our natural resources?
I recognize Florida’s growth is a reality, but we have to manage it smartly. I support balanced, planned growth that protects our natural resources, especially water. We need policies that prioritize conservation, smart land use, and infrastructure that can keep up without degrading what makes North Florida special. Growth must be paired with the protection of our springs, rivers, and aquifer, so future generations can thrive here too.
What solutions do you offer to protect our springs from over-pumping and pollution from various sources?
I believe in a balanced approach. We need to invest in modern water conservation technologies, promote best practices in agriculture, and support voluntary incentive programs to reduce pollution. At the same time, we must ensure fair water-use permitting, protecting our springs from over-pumping while keeping local livelihoods in mind. We can protect our springs through cooperation, working with farmers, businesses, and communities to keep our water clean and flowing.
Do you support a Right to Clean Water in the Florida Constitution Article I?
Clean water is essential, and I’m fully committed to protecting it. However, we need careful, practical measures to ensure clean water, not just broad constitutional language that could have unintended consequences. I support strong, enforceable policies to protect our water, working closely with communities and experts, while ensuring that we maintain flexibility to adapt as needed.
Do you support repealing HB 1205 of 2025, which greatly complicates citizens petitions for amendments to the state constitution?
No
Concurrent with safe sleep awareness efforts to reduce infant mortality via SIDS, will you ensure rural health departments have resources to facilitate and communities have access to drinking water testing and education? If not, how else will you address the maternal and prenatal rural drinking water crisis?
I absolutely believe rural communities deserve the resources to ensure safe drinking water, especially for maternal and prenatal health. I’d push for expanding rural health department resources so they can facilitate water testing and education on safe practices. If additional support is needed, I’d work to ensure funding or partnerships that address rural water infrastructure. Safe water is foundational for healthy families, and I’m committed to that.
How will rural communities and small cities adapt to potential changes in tax structures? What strategies do you propose they implement? What about funding for public parks, 4H/youth programs, and agricultural extension?
I believe we need to give rural communities a seat at the table when tax structures change. I’d work to ensure any changes are gradual and tailored to their needs. We can help small towns adapt by supporting local economic diversification and helping them leverage state programs. As for funding public parks, 4-H, and agricultural extension, I’d advocate for maintaining stable funding streams, possibly using dedicated grants or matching programs. We must ensure these vital programs don’t fall behind—because they help keep rural communities thriving.
Will you ensure free speech and first amendment rights are upheld by opposing agricultural muzzle clauses?
Yes
If you aren’t monitoring, you aren’t managing. How can water quality and supply monitoring efforts be improved and better coordinated?
I’m committed to protecting our water quality through efficient, smart solutions. By enhancing coordination between agencies, utilizing local partnerships, and fostering innovation, we can monitor more effectively without unnecessary spending. Smart investments, not waste, will help us safeguard our water future.
Will you support the State of Florida water quality testing all rivers?
Yes, I support ensuring all our rivers are regularly tested. Water is life for our communities, especially in North Florida. But I’ll also advocate for strategic, practical testing, and focusing resources where they matter most. By combining state support with local input, we’ll make sure our rivers are safe while using taxpayer dollars wisely.
Would you support a pesticide liability shield?
Yes
What are your primary concerns regarding water?
I’m deeply concerned about preserving both the quality and supply of water. We rely on clean water for our families, farms, and springs. Pollution, whether from runoff or failing systems, threatens that. Over-pumping the aquifer or unchecked growth could leave us short. My focus is on balancing growth, agriculture, and conservation to ensure North Florida’s water remains plentiful and safe for generations to come.
Do you support the state preemptions of local government via restrictions of municipal action, codes, or ordinances?
No
Which state preemptions of local governments do you support, if any?
I’d be opposed to preemptions that prevent local governments from addressing their unique environmental or public health needs, especially when it comes to water, land use, or local safety. If a community needs to protect its water supply or manage growth smartly, it should have that flexibility. I’ll support local decision-making where it best serves the people on the ground.

Marshall Rawson, Republican, State Representative, District 10

Do you oppose Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin?
Yes
Do you support a ban on transfers of water from one river basin to another?
I support the cooperation of municipal governments, counties, and Water Management Districts to operate in the manner that best meets our communities needs. And when I say community, I mean the people, not big development special interests. I support responsible use of our freshwater and would oppose any disruption to our watersheds.
Do you support seawater desalination for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
Yes
Do you support potable reuse for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
I do not support “toilet-to-tap” potable reuse. I do not believe science is proven that this is healthy for human consumption. I remain open to being shown otherwise as these technologies evolve, and will be monitoring this issue closely in office. We must find other ways including reduction of suburban landscape irrigation and a slowing down of predatory overdevelopment tearing up our rural lands and destroying our way of live in general.
Do you support efforts to recharge the Floridan Aquifer, springs, and rivers that do not require massive engineering?
Yes
Do you support a water budget for north Florida, requiring water withdrawal permits to be limited or reduced when exceeded?
I will consider supporting something like a water budget for municipal landscaping irrigation. I will be less likely to support it for agricultural operations due to the national security issue of our food supply. I will continue to support cost-share plans for farms to optimize their water usage.
What will you do to reform the Water Management Districts (WMDs)?
I will not vote to approve board members of WMDs that have direct business ties to predatory overdevelopment or big mining interests. I will push our Governor to appoint more conservative environmentalists and farmers to these seats.
Will you work to require hyper-scale datacenters
I am opposed to hyperscale data centers. My opponent’s campaign in this GOP primary is funded in part by lobbyists that represent the world’s largest Big Tech companies, and supported by Hyperscale AI data center front groups like the Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida. There has been some excellent reporting recently about the tens of millions of dollars these Hyperscale AI companies are funneling through these groups to purchase candidates like my opponent. You will never see a Hyperscale AI data center lobbyist or business group on my list of donors, and I will never support them.
Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs)
I support strong, fully funded Basin Management Action Plans that actually reduce the excessive nutrients entering our rivers, springs, and aquifer. In the Santa Fe and Suwannee River basins, BMAPs cannot simply be paperwork exercises; they must be backed by legislative funding, coordinated work among the Water Management Districts, FDACS, FDEP, local governments, farmers, and other stakeholders. I will support practical solutions that protect water quality without treating agriculture as the enemy. Farmers should be part of the solution through collaboration, cost-share programs, innovation, and incentives that help reduce nutrient runoff while keeping local food supply which is a key national and local security issue. Protecting our waterways and supporting our farming communities are not competing goals if the state is serious about funding and enforcing effective, locally informed plans. I will support government spending to that end.
What is your position on the rampant growth of population in Florida and its effect on our natural resources?
Every day we lose 800-1,000 acres of the Old, Wild Florida we love. I have been giving presentations for the better part of the last decade about the loss of the green on our ground. When I go to Tallahassee, I will fight against the out-of-control predatory development interests that have bought my opponent’s campaign. I will always oppose bills like the Blue Ribbon Projects, Agricultural Enclaves, and Live Local. My opponent simply will not be able to do that. We cannot make Florida hell for the generations who have called it their home just to feed the machine of constant new residents and growth. We have to protect Florida Residents First.
What solutions do you offer to protect our springs from over-pumping and pollution from various sources?
Protecting our springs starts with stopping over-pumping and reducing pollution at the source. We cannot keep pretending unlimited growth from rampant immigration, wasteful irrigation, and weak enforcement will somehow leave the Floridan Aquifer unharmed. I will support curtailing unnecessary freshwater use, especially irrigation of invasive turf grass and other nonessential uses. I will also support modern water conservation technology, fair but firm water-use permitting, agricultural best management practices, voluntary incentive and cost-share programs, and stronger action against point-source pollution where the damage is clear and immediate. Protecting the springs has to be practical, but it also has to be serious. We need an environmental standard that looks to our aquifer to determine if our carrying capacity can continue bringing in over 1000 people yo the state of Florida daily. If it cannot, we need to utilize our police powers to place a moratorium on new domiciles until our aquifer can replenish.
Do you support a Right to Clean Water in the Florida Constitution Article I?
I am open to supporting a Right to Clean Water depending on the language of the amendment, and what if any burdens it would place on our people. I will not support something that violates our existing Constitutional rights. .
Do you support repealing HB 1205 of 2025, which greatly complicates citizens petitions for amendments to the state constitution?
It should be more challenging to pass a constitutional amendment than a simple majority, so I support the 60% threshold for an amendment to pass. However, we should not prevent Florida residents from building organic, grassroots movements to pose important questions from the people to our state writ large. That being said, I am opposed to out-of-state interests buying changes to our constitution. This is a tricky issue. When I am in office, I will ask for the feedback of my constituents on where they would like me to go on this topic.
Concurrent with safe sleep awareness efforts to reduce infant mortality via SIDS, will you ensure rural health departments have resources to facilitate and communities have access to drinking water testing and education? If not, how else will you address the maternal and prenatal rural drinking water crisis?
Yes. Rural families deserve access to safe drinking water, and maternal and prenatal health must be taken seriously in communities that rely on private wells. In District 10, rural healthcare and environmental health are already major challenges, so our county health departments and Environmental Health offices need the ability to facilitate well-water testing, education, and outreach in coordination with public and private health providers. Families should know whether their water is safe, what risks may exist, and what steps they can take to protect mothers, infants, and children. I am not opposed to appropriations for clear, accountable needs like rural water testing, education, and public health access. What I oppose are recurring drags on the taxpayer that become permanent spending obligations, ultimately raising taxes and the cost of living for the very families who can least afford it. I will support targeted, transparent funding, partnerships, and practical infrastructure solutions that solve the problem without building another open-ended government program. Clean, safe water is foundational, and we must protect both public health and the household budgets of rural Floridians.
How will rural communities and small cities adapt to potential changes in tax structures? What strategies do you propose they implement? What about funding for public parks, 4H/youth programs, and agricultural extension?
Local and county government spending, just like spending in Tallahassee, is out of control. I support a full elimination of property taxes for homesteaded properties, and a slight increase in sales tax to make up the difference. I would also look for ways to make the tourists pay more of their fair share in things such as bed taxes. If Tallahassee is intending to centralize control over this issue, then perhaps some of the bigger tourist destinations that collect billions of dollars in revenue could spread that money across the state instead of building their next Boondoggle convention center or tax subsidy to lure a professional sports team with a stadium. Once again, I will listen to my constituents on this issue and understand where they would like to go to fund their needs like the parks and youth programs.
Will you ensure free speech and first amendment rights are upheld by opposing agricultural muzzle clauses?
Yes
If you aren’t monitoring, you aren’t managing. How can water quality and supply monitoring efforts be improved and better coordinated?
We need as much good information as possible on monitoring water quality and water supply. I will work with our local stakeholders like the WMDs to prioritize this, and I will push for federal funding if necessary. I am a fiscal conservative, but we cannot let our water issues continue to degrade. We need to invest in understanding the data.
Will you support the State of Florida water quality testing all rivers?
about like PFAS forever chemicals, and pharmaceutical birth controls that have been shown to be endocrine disruptors. These invaders getting into our water supply are having impacts on our health that we still do not fully understand. Things that sounded like conspiracy theories in years past are now being accepted as the consequence of these disgusting products getting into our water supply. As in my last answer, we need as much good data as possible.
Would you support a pesticide liability shield?
No
What are your primary concerns regarding water?
My primary concern is that North Florida is being asked to absorb a level of growth, pumping, pollution, and development pressure that the Floridan Aquifer cannot sustain. The Water Management Districts have over-permitted the aquifer, and in a region recognized for high recharge vulnerability, we cannot keep approving human growth, housing projects, industrial uses, and suburban sprawl as if the water supply is unlimited. These decisions are putting legacy Florida families at risk. I will fight predatory overdevelopment, unchecked suburban sprawl, and policies that encourage illegal immigration because all of them place more pressure on our aquifer, infrastructure, housing, roads, schools, and taxpayers. Florida cannot protect its water while pretending unlimited population growth has no consequences. My focus will be protecting Florida residents first, defending local agriculture, conserving our springs and rivers, and making sure North Florida’s water remains safe and abundant for future generations.
Do you support the state preemptions of local government via restrictions of municipal action, codes, or ordinances?
No
Which state preemptions of local governments do you support, if any?
When state government violates our constitutional rights on things like violating the 2A with illegal gun control laws like the Majorie Stoneman Douglas bill. We just had an issue recently in Bradford County where our overzealous Sheriff infringed on the open carry rights of one of our constituents. I will support preemptions to protect those rights. But overall, home rule must carry the day in the state of Florida.

James Hunter Batley, Write-In, State Representative, District 10

Responded, “I am not interested in the race. My full support goes to Marshall Rawson.”

The Questions: WWALS Political Candidate Clean Water Questionnaire

Here you can see what the choices were.

Do you oppose Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin?
- Yes
- I will propose a moratorium
- I will work to cancel the project
- No, I support WFNF
- Other
Do you support a ban on transfers of water from one river basin to another?
- Yes
- I will work for a legal ban
- No
- Other
Do you support seawater desalination for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
- Yes
- I will work for state support for seawater desalination
- No
- Other
Do you support potable reuse for drinking water and to reduce groundwater withdrawals?
- Yes
- I will work for state support for potable reuse
- No
- Other
Do you support efforts to recharge the Floridan Aquifer, springs, and rivers that do not require massive engineering?
- Yes
- I support forestry wetland well recharge
- I will work to clear legal hurdles for safe, clean forestry wetland well recharge
- No
- Other
Do you support a water budget for north Florida, requiring water withdrawal permits to be limited or reduced when exceeded?
- Yes
- I will work for state support for a water budget.
- No
- Other
What will you do to reform the Water Management Districts (WMDs)?
- I will work to make WMD boards elected.
- I will work to create a WMD board member recall mechanism.
- I will work to require all WMD board positions to be filled.
- I will work to require half of each WMD’s board to be from scientific or environmental backgrounds.
- Other
Will you work to require hyper-scale datacenters
- To use closed-loop cooling
- Not to discharge untreated wastewater into waterways or groundwater
- To provide their power through renewable energy instead of from new fossil fuel power plants (which require massive cooling water)
- I will work for a moratorium on hyper-scale datacenters
- I will work for a ban on hyper-scale datacenters
- I support hyper-scale datacenters with none of the above requirements
- Other
Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs)
- I will work to modify BMAPs so they actually reduce nitrates and other contaminants leaching into rivers and streams
- I will work to require and fund the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to enforce existing contamination laws
- Other
What is your position on the rampant growth of population in Florida and its effect on our natural resources?
[Long answer text]
What solutions do you offer to protect our springs from over-pumping and pollution from various sources?
[Long answer text]
Do you support a Right to Clean Water in the Florida Constitution Article I?
- Yes
- If elected to the legislature, will you introduce a bill for Right to Clean Water in the Florida Constitution Article I?
- If elected to the legislature, will you support a bill for Right to Clean Water in the Florida Constitution Article I?
- Should a Right to Clean Water also include Right to Clean Air and Soil?
- No
- Other
Do you support repealing HB 1205 of 2025, which greatly complicates citizens petitions for amendments to the state constitution?
- Yes
- If elected to the legislature, will you introduce a bill to repeal HB 1205?
- If elected to the legislature, will you support a bill to repeal HB 1205?
- No
- Other
Concurrent with safe sleep awareness efforts to reduce infant mortality via SIDS, will you ensure rural health departments have resources to facilitate and communities have access to drinking water testing and education? If not, how else will you address the maternal and prenatal rural drinking water crisis?
[Long answer text]
How will rural communities and small cities adapt to potential changes in tax structures? What strategies do you propose they implement? What about funding for public parks, 4H/youth programs, and agricultural extension?
[Long answer text]
Will you ensure free speech and first amendment rights are upheld by opposing agricultural muzzle clauses?
- Yes
- No
If you aren’t monitoring, you aren’t managing. How can water quality and supply monitoring efforts be improved and better coordinated?
[Long answer text]
Will you support the State of Florida water quality testing all rivers?
- Yes
- I will work for testing all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites.
- I will work to require and fund the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to testing all rivers frequently and at closely-spaced sites.
- No
- Other
Would you support a pesticide liability shield?
- Yes
- No
What are your primary concerns regarding water?
[Long answer text]
Do you support the state preemptions of local government via restrictions of municipal action, codes, or ordinances?
- Yes
- No
Which state preemptions of local governments do you support, if any?
[Long answer text]

Poe Springs, Santa Fe River @ CR 340 2026-07-25 –Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for WWALS

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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