ORLANDO, Fla. (May 29, 2020) – International R&B and Dance artist Lillie Nicole McCloud is using her star power to rally her millions of followers to support and vote for Daisy Morales for State Representative of Florida House District 48. The outspoken singer, who resides in Orlando, has endorsed Supervisor Morales, highlighting her passion for advocacy and leadership in her role as Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor.
McCloud posted a portion of her endorsement on Facebook in response to Supervisor Morales’s announcement of her candidacy. “You are an amazing woman. We certainly need you on top,” she expressed. “We need strong, resourceful, brilliant, hard-working, fair-minded women parked in powerful places who care about the people.”
The international dance singer was also a contestant on FOX’s X Factor during its third season, wowing the world with her vocal performances, garnering over 47 million YouTube views. She’s performed alongside other superstars such as dance legend Donna Allen, three-time GRAMMY nominee Angie Stone, and veteran Hollywood starlet Robin Givens.
“You have my utmost respect for every achievement you have accomplished and for your passion and love for all people, remaining fearless and attacking without hesitation any task that is set before you, getting the jobs done,” she shared in her post.
McCloud, who is currently overseas in Slovakia, lives in District 48, near Orlando International Airport. She has encouraged her followers to volunteer, vote, or donate to Supervisor Morales’s campaign.
“I’m excited to receive Lillie’s endorsement,” said Supervisor Morales. “It’s an honor to have someone of her stature support my campaign.”
This isn’t the first time the famed music artist has supported Morales for public office. Then Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson played an important role in her swearing in ceremony in 2014. “She [McCloud] performed at the event, Demings led the Pledge Allegiance and Congressman Grayson administered the Oath of Office,” said Supervisor Morales.
“I’m honored to have McCloud all in for Team Daisy. I look forward to having her play an active role in my campaign to win the Democratic State Representative nomination in the primary election on August 18.”
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Release: Morales Campaign Announces Endorsement From State Representative John Cortes
“With a steadfast drive to serve her constituents and be as accessible to them as possible, Supervisor Daisy Morales is deeply rooted in the community,” said State Representative John Cortes. “She has no problem working with elected officials across county lines, and she’s no stranger to Tallahassee, having advocated for various issues such as housing, agriculture, the environment, and working wages.”
Cortes added, “She’s a strong advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves, which is exactly what we need in Tallahassee. She is someone that I know and trust, and I look forward to working with her to become the next State Representative of House District 48.”
“It is wonderful to have the backing and guidance of Representative Cortes,” said Supervisor Morales. “I’m honored to have the support of a remarkable public servant at the state level who works every day to keep Floridians safe and plan for smart growth. We share a strong dedication to public safety.”
Morales retired from the U.S. government after working 24 years for various agencies, including the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and State Department.
Release: Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Daisy Morales Files to Run for Florida House District 48
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 23, 2020) – Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Daisy Morales filed paperwork Thursday, May 21, 2020 with the Florida Division of Elections to run for State Representative Amy Mercado’s House District 48 seat. Representative Mercado recently filed to run for Orange County Property Appraiser.
The district includes Azalea Park and other south-central Orange County communities, such as Meadow Woods, Taft and Sky Lake. “Representative Mercado has done a great job representing the residents of House District 48 in Tallahassee,” said Morales. “I am running for State Representative to expand upon her work as we move the district and state beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.”
As State Representative for District 48, Morales will focus on:
· Advocating for small businesses and workers’ rights
· Affordable access to quality healthcare, including coverage for mental health and pre-existing conditions
· Protecting Florida’s natural resources and green spaces· Florida agriculture and helping farmers succeed
· Protecting Florida’s most vulnerable populations, especially seniors and the special needs community
For Morales, protecting seniors and the disabled is personal. Morales was caretaker and legal guardian for her sister Diana, who had Down Syndrome and was non-verbal. Diana’s parents were already deceased, she couldn’t work, and she had no spouse. Diana contracted a bedsore while in a nursing home and suffered further, eventually dying, after being transferred to the hospital. Supervisor Morales joined the race for State Representative to ensure what happened to her sister doesn’t happen to anyone else. “One of the bills I will file is to change the Wrongful Death law so it won’t discriminate against people with disabilities,” said Morales. “I want to make sure their siblings have rights to sue when the disabled person’s parents pass away, have no spouse, no children, and no job. I will fight for Diana’s Law to correct the Wrongful Death law.”
Morales was first elected Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor in 2014 against three opponents, including a current and former board chair (by 83,000 votes). Supervisor Morales was re-elected in 2018 to a second four-year term with 256,000 Orange County votes. As Soil & Water Supervisor, Morales made it a priority to forge strong working relationships with county commissioners and other elected officials, state and federal entities, to serve her constituents. She has worked in partnership with the USDA to secure grant funding for Orange County residents; and the Board partnered with the USDA on a $1 million program to help Apopka nurseries upgrade their water filtration systems with more energy- and water-efficient components to help conserve water being drawn from the aquifer.In partnership with Orange County Commissioners Maribel Gomez Cordero (District 4) and Emily Bonilla (District 5), Morales erected several Soil & Water Conservation District signs along the Orange-Osceola County border, raising environmental awareness for travelers as they pass through Orange County, including one on south Orange Avenue near Mary Louis Lane in District 48.
The 59-year-old Bronx, New York native is of Puerto Rican descent and later moved to Puerto Rico during her teen years. She moved to Orlando in 1989 and has been a resident of Orange County for over 30 years. She retired from the U.S. government after working 24 years for various agencies, including the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and State Department.