Carlos Johary Sr., a newcomer to politics, wants to represent the residents of in Tallahassee.
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But to do that, the semi-retired Longwood dentist must defeat two-term incumbent Doug Bankson in the Aug. 18 Republican primary — a man he admits to knowing little about.
“I’ve never seen him except, you know, in a photograph,” said Johary, whose practice has grown over years to include numerous locations across Central Florida. “If the voters feel like they want to change, if they’re not happy with the way things are going, then I’m the person that could take over and maybe be their future.”
Bankson said he doesn’t know much about the man trying to oust him, either.
“We’ve never met. I’ve tried to look up things … online. I don’t know any of his positions,” the Apopka resident said. “Everyone has the right to run. I would rather that he said, ‘Well, here’s why, and I don’t believe you’ve done this well.’”
The winner in the Aug. 18 primary will face Democrat Jarod Fox, a physician from Winter Garden, in the November election.
District 39 encompasses a swath of northern Orange and part of southwest Seminole. It includes all of Plymouth, Wekiva Springs, Zellwood, most of Apopka and portions of Forest City, Ocoee and Winter Garden. Bankson won 52.6% of the vote in 2024 and 55.6% in 2022.
Johary said he has nothing against Bankson and hasn’t studied his legislative voting record or looked into his background in detail. He said he’ll never attack or try to smear him — or any candidate — and has no plans to debate him.
“Maybe he’s done a good job, I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything,” he said. “If I don’t get it this time, I’ll probably run again next time.”
When Johary talked last week with the Orlando Sentinel, he said he hadn’t yet launched a campaign website because he filed to run so close to the June 12 deadline. “I’m going to have to hurry and do one, even if it’s something very simplistic,” he said.
By Tuesday his website was live, including an overview of his stance on various issues: affordability and cost of living are “broadly the top priority”; surging premiums and deductibles for property and homeowners insurance are a dominant issue; “skyrocketing rent and home purchase prices” are severe concerns; property tax reforms “have gained major traction among voters”; conservation and protection of wetlands and green spaces are critical; responsible government spending; and solving the state’s homelessness and hunger crisis.
Although he considers himself a conservative — he voted for President Donald Trump more than once — he said he likes ideas on both sides of the aisle and believes in bipartisanship.
“I’m going to vote left or right … if the issue is proper and if I feel that it meets the needs of constituents,” Johary said. “I don’t think just because you belong to a political party that you have to be steadfast with that political party.”
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Bankson, who served on the Apopka City Council for six years, said he wants a third term to build on successes from his first two.
“We passed 20 bills and I’ve brought a lot of resources back home. I’m just able to be a voice for the people here,” he said. “I love the term ‘representative,’ because I can be their voice, and that appeals to me because I love serving.”
Bankson noted the signing into law this year of a provision in a bill he backed that establishes strict penalties for trafficking the drug xylazine, a nonopioid, veterinary tranquilizer approved exclusively for animal use.
“Xylazine is the next fentanyl, basically,” Bankson said. “It actually stops the ability of Narcan to revive fentanyl victims. So this stuff is pure evil.”
Bankson also sponsored HB 999, the legal tender bill, which went into effect July 1. It recognizes certain gold and silver coins as legal tender and exempts them from sales tax.
Looking ahead to a potential third term, he said one of his top priorities is affordability, specifically bringing down insurance rates and taxes.
“We really did some great things on the side of insurance, but it took a while for those effects to happen,” Bankson said, citing tort reform as an example.
In November voters will decide whether to approve a ballot amendment that would expand the current $50,000 homestead exemption on non-school property taxes residents have on primary residences. If approved by 60% of voters, the exemption would increase to the first $150,000 of their home’s assessed value starting Jan. 1. That exemption would increase to $250,000 in 2028.
He said he supports the referendum, but acknowledges legislators have much work to do on how it’s implemented if it passes.
“Some are not going to be near as affected as others,” Bankson said of local governments. “So there’s a lot of homework we have to do and I’m ready to do it.”
Bankson and his wife, Jeri, founded Victory Church World Outreach Center in Apopka, where they both pastors. He also founded Apopka Christian Academy.
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