- May 2, 2024
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Editor's note: Candidates responses have not been edited for grammar and are presented as received.
NATALIE JACKSON
BIO INFO
Age: 53
City/town of residence: Orlando, FL. I live Downtown near Lake Eola.
Family: Son: Kevin Edwards. He’s a lawyer and Naval Academy graduate. Mother: Francis Oliver. She’s a retired public-school teacher and the curator of the Goldsboro Museum in Sanford, FL.
Education:
Qualifications:
Natalie Jackson is a Central Florida native from Sanford, FL. Growing up, she saw the realities of the struggles that would power her through her career and chose the path that would lead her to run for Congress. Natalie’s mother, Francis, was a teacher and social activist. Her father, Nathaniel Jackson Jr., was a Vietnam War Veteran killed in action. His courage and commitment to our country inspired Natalie to follow in his footsteps. Natalie graduated from Lake Mary High School and attended Seminole State College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. She later earned an ROTC scholarship and graduated from Hampton University with a B.A. in History.
As a single mother to her son and recent graduate, Natalie was commissioned as a Naval Intelligence Officer and graduated from Naval Intelligence School. She was assigned to an air wing aboard the USS Roosevelt as a Middle East analyst, becoming a part of the first team of women allowed on a combat vessel. After her service on the USS Roosevelt, Natalie was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Pentagon, as part of an internal think tank that taught operators about new satellite systems. Her experience at the Pentagon provided her the expertise to work with the Department of Defense, other departments in the Federal Government, and across Washington to participate in moving America forward.
At the age of 30, after nearly a decade of active-duty service in the U.S. Navy, Natalie earned a scholarship to the University of Florida Law School. After graduation, Natalie began working as a public defender, seeing first-hand the need for justice reform as clients were shuffled through a system designed to get convictions above all else. She knew that if you wanted to change the system, you had to be willing to do the work to make that change.
Natalie started a private practice as a co-owner of The Women’s Trial Group, representing women, children, and the underserved community in injury cases. Natalie represented Torey Breedlove, who was shot in the middle of the night by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) 137 times, killing him and endangering countless others. With her representation, OCSO was denied qualified immunity, which was the catalyst to the OCSO changing its policy on shooting into moving cars.
Natalie would go on to fight on behalf of the community during the Pine Hill Barbershop Raids. The OCSO teamed up with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to conduct a series of raids on black barbershops in Pine Hills and Parramore. Natalie secured a ruling that denied OCSO qualified immunity and changed the law to ensure that certain types of joint operations were deemed illegal.
Building a reputation for taking the tough cases, the everyday fights for Civil Rights and justice, and being willing to battle uncooperative institutions have turned Natalie Jackson, the Florida attorney, into a nationally recognized Civil Rights lawyer.
In 2012, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump called Natalie to partner as local co-counsel on the Trayvon Martin case. Her work on this case put her on the national stage with the Black Lives Matter movement. She continued working with Ben Crump, representing the families of Breonna Taylor, Andre Hill, and several other tragic, high-profile cases. Natalie has worked on the inside to fight for equal justice alongside other activists and community leaders engaged in grassroots activism. Encouraged by community activism, Natalie is inspired to partner at a congressional level to guide America to live up to its potential. Natalie Jackson is running for Congress to build an America that lives up to its promises. We shouldn't give up on the American Dream – we should fight for it.
Natalie is a member of the National Bar Association, The NAACP, Equality Florida, Florida Justice Association, ACLU, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority)
Prior Membership Include: Boys & Girls Club (Seminole County Florida Board Member), the American Red Cross (Central Florida Region Board Member), Seminole County Florida NAACP (Volunteer Legal Counsel), and Orange County Florida NAACP (Volunteer Legal Counsel).
U.S. REP DISTRICT 10 Q&A (DEM)
What are the key differences between you and your opponents?
Ten candidates in my race hope to fill the empty seat left vacated by Val Demings as she runs for higher office. These candidates include career politicians, business people, and activists. What makes me different is that I have the combined experiences of all the other candidates (and more):
As a former Naval Intelligence Officer and Middle East Geo-Political Analyst, I’ve worked for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. So, I have federal government experience.
As a Civil Rights Attorney, I have helped to change laws and policies outside of politics in cases like The Pine Hills Barbershop Raids, The Breonna Taylor Case, The Torre Breedlove Shooting, and the Andre Hill Case.
As a Community Activist and Organizer, I’ve been on the front line of the Black Lives Matter Movement, the Say Her Name Movement, the Ban of Our Bodies Movement, and the Trayvon Martin Case (where I served as co-counsel to Attorney Ben Crump).
As Central Florida Small Business Owner for over 17 years, I know the struggles of the employer and the employees.
As a young single mother (I had my son when I was 20 yrs. old), I’ve personally known and have felt the hardship of day-to-day living while struggling to pay rent, buy food, find affordable childcare, and go to school to provide a better life for my child and me.
What are the values and morals that have guided your life, and how will you use them as District 10 representative?
Two quotes sum up my guiding values and principles. They are:
"Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom." - Thomas Jefferson
As District 10’s representative, I will fight for our democracy by protecting voting rights and ensuring free and fair elections.
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." - Muhammad Ali.
As District 10’s representative, I will work for affordable housing, economic stability, justice reform, healthcare for all, quality public education, and equality for all.
As District 10 representative, describe how you will work across the aisle.
As a former Adjunct Professor at FAMU Law School, I taught my students to never stop talking when negotiating. Communication and information are the keys to compromise. I believe in the adage, "there are no friends or enemies in politics, only issues." My job is to build consensus to make sure that the issues of importance to District 10 are addressed.
Describe the state of our nation’s economy and what steps need to be taken to improve it.
Over the past year, wages grew 5.6 percent, but prices rose 8.5 percent. That means workers got a 2.9 percent pay cut.
Of course, the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have affected our economy, but a constant critical issue is a lack of competition. We need to invest in the growth of small businesses and not allow them to be crushed by large corporations. We must stop modern monopolies and protect a genuinely free market to bring costs down.
I support policies that keep and grow jobs in America—like more vigorous antitrust enforcement, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, strengthening collective bargaining rights and workplace protections, increasing access to quality education and healthcare, and protecting Medicare and Social Security for our seniors and future generations.
Define “recession.”
A recession is a significant, pervasive, and persistent decline in economic activity.
What is your evaluation of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision.
Congress has been leaving far too many important decisions to the Supreme Court to decide instead of doing the job of legislating because, not making the tough decisions, makes it easier for them to stay in office. If elected, I will fight to ensure that we have equal rights and control over our bodies and futures. I will:
Fight to pass legislation to codify a women’s right to choose under federal law.
Fight to repeal the Hyde Amendment (use of federal funds)
Fight to allow Medicaid to provide Abortion resources (for indigent and low-income women).
Describe the state of our education system and what steps need to be taken to improve it.
The State of our education system is that teachers and students need more resources. If elected, I will fight for public investment in universal Pre-K, a public education that goes from Pre-K-14 (this will allow for a free two-year after high school education at public colleges and vocational schools), and to ensure that resources, support, and expertise are provided to students with disabilities.
What is the cause of division in the United States, and how can we improve it?
The tribalism, destruction, and chaos has been caused by powerful and corrupt people exploiting everyday people's economic inequalities, racial divides, and fears. I believe that we will have less division in America when we improve people's lives by helping them meet their daily needs and guaranteeing them justice and equality.
What is your position on the United States’ involvement in Ukraine?
National Security must prioritize protecting this country and our interests. As a former naval intelligence officer, I understand how important it's to keep America safe and secure. We do that by utilizing a variety of tools: diplomacy, economic pressures, our intelligence agencies, science and technology, and, as a last resort, our military might. I support our government’s current plan to send aid to Ukraine, show solidarity with our NATO allies, and let the world know we are on Ukraine's side. But I also know we must be flexible because of the ever-evolving situation.
