Age
44
Education
University of Florida, Dual Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminology
Hometown
Sarasota
County
Sarasota County
Instagram
www.instagram.com/sydneygrutersforcongress/
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-gruters-for-congress
Campaign Phone
(240)762-9110
As a mom and lifelong Floridian, keeping our communities and children safe is my top priority. I support President Trump’s efforts to secure our borders and enforce the rule of law, because every family deserves to feel safe at home. I also believe we must improve and streamline our legal immigration system so that those following the law are not buried in red tape, making it nearly impossible to navigate for business owners and individuals alike. We can have both strong border security and a legal system that works. I am committed to practical solutions that protect our neighborhoods, uphold our laws, and give families and employers the certainty they need.
In Florida, we live with the reality of hurricanes, flooding, and rising insurance costs every day. As someone who has answered calls firsthand after natural disasters, helping families access relief and navigate federal agencies, I have seen firsthand how these challenges affect family budgets and small businesses. We need to invest in strong infrastructure, expand access to resources that work for our families, and ensure coverage stays affordable. I believe we can protect our environment while keeping our economy strong. My focus is on practical, commonsense steps that keep Florida families safe and help our local economy thrive.
My top priority is making life more affordable for working families in Southwest Florida. That means cutting taxes, reducing red tape that drives up prices, lowering the cost of housing and insurance, and making sure families can afford everyday essentials. My second priority is delivering first-class constituent service and serving as the true liaison between the people of Florida’s 16th Congressional District and their federal government. For over 20 years, I have worked side by side with families as they navigate federal agencies, helping them solve problems and deliver real results. In Congress, I will bring that same dedication every day to serve our district.
Freedom of speech is at the heart of what makes America the land of the free and home of the brave. It means every person has the right to speak up, share their beliefs, practice their faith, and take part in our Constitutional Republic without fear. I believe our universities should welcome open discussion and civil discourse, parents should have a voice in their children’s education, and journalists should be able to do their jobs freely. I have seen how important it is to protect these rights for everyone, and in Congress I will never waver in defending the First Amendment.
Congress and the President both play important roles in ensuring that federal agencies serve the American people. Congress is responsible for oversight and making sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, and I take that duty seriously. I support President Trump’s efforts to hold agencies accountable and make government work for families, not for bureaucracy. Our system of checks and balances is there to protect our freedoms. In Congress, I will work hard to ensure every agency is transparent, efficient, and focused on serving the American people.
Every eligible American should have the opportunity to vote and trust that their vote counts. Requiring proof of citizenship to register is a commonsense way to protect our elections. American women are more than capable of navigating this process. We run households, build careers, care for families, and handle more before 9 AM than most people do all day. Our state agencies exist to help all citizens access the records they need. I will work to ensure these processes are accessible to everyone. We can have secure elections and make it easy for eligible citizens to register, and I stand committed to both.
I believe parents and local communities know best when it comes to education. For preschool and K-12 education, the federal government should leave curriculum decisions to parents, teachers, and local school boards. I also support accountability and transparency for colleges that receive federal dollars. My experience leading the New College Foundation showed me what happens when a public university loses its way and stops serving students. The transformation of New College, returning it to academic excellence and its core educational mission, showed me what is possible when leaders dare to demand better. That is the model I will carry to Congress: hold institutions accountable, protect students, and always put families first.
Age
57
Education
Doctorate in Criminal Justice (Executive Leadership & Social Behavior); Master of Science in Criminal Justice Executive Leadership; Master of Science in Criminal Justice (Critical Incident Management & Counter-Terrorism); Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice; Associate of Arts.
Hometown
Parrish, Florida
County
Manatee
Campaign Phone
941-626-6173
The United States has always been a nation of immigrants, but it is also a nation of laws. I support comprehensive immigration reforms that first restore control of our borders while creating a fair, efficient, and lawful immigration system that serves America's interests.
The first priority must be securing the border. A nation cannot maintain sovereignty without knowing who is entering, why they are entering, and whether they pose a threat to public safety or national security. I support increased border security resources, modern technology, stronger enforcement of existing laws, and policies that deter illegal entry.
At the same time, our legal immigration system should be streamlined and modernized. Individuals who follow the law, contribute to society, and seek to become part of the American dream should not face unnecessary bureaucratic delays. We should reduce processing backlogs, improve efficiency, and prioritize applicants who bring valuable skills to the United States.
Yes, I believe that changes in climate patterns, severe weather events, and environmental challenges can present financial risks to our economy. Those risks are particularly evident in areas such as insurance costs, infrastructure resilience, agriculture, energy reliability, disaster recovery, and coastal communities.
As a Floridian, I have seen firsthand how hurricanes, flooding, and severe weather can impact families, businesses, and local governments. Regardless of where one stands in the broader climate debate, it is clear that repeated natural disasters carry significant economic consequences that must be addressed through responsible planning and preparation.
At the same time, I believe we must approach these challenges with practical, data-driven solutions rather than partisan ideology. Protecting our environment and strengthening our infrastructure should not come at the expense of economic growth, energy reliability, or American competitiveness.
1. The federal government's first responsibility is to protect the American people. I will support legislation that secures our southern border, strengthens immigration enforcement, combats drug trafficking and human trafficking, and provides law enforcement and border security personnel with the resources they need to protect our nation. A secure border is essential to public safety, national security, and maintaining the integrity of our immigration system.
2. America's national debt, government spending, and inflation continue to place tremendous pressure on families, seniors, and small businesses. I will support legislation that reduces wasteful spending, promotes energy independence, encourages economic growth, and creates an environment where businesses can thrive and create jobs. Washington must learn to live within its means just as American families do. Fiscal responsibility is critical to protecting future generations and preserving programs
To me, freedom of speech is one of the most important protections guaranteed by the Constitution because it safeguards every other liberty we enjoy as Americans. Freedom of speech means that individuals have the right to express their opinions, beliefs, ideas, and criticisms of government without fear of censorship, retaliation, or punishment by the government.
The true test of freedom of speech is not whether we protect speech we agree with it is whether we protect speech we disagree with. A free society depends on the open exchange of ideas, vigorous debate, and the ability of citizens to challenge those in positions of power. Throughout our nation's history, progress has often begun with individuals who were willing to speak unpopular truths and challenge conventional thinking.
That freedom, however, comes with responsibility. While citizens have the right to express their views, they must also be prepared for others to exercise that same right.
The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances in which both Congress and the President have important but distinct oversight responsibilities regarding federal agencies.The President, through Article II of the Constitution, is responsible for executing the laws enacted by Congress and overseeing the Executive Branch agencies that carry out those laws. Federal agencies ultimately report to the Executive Branch and are responsible for implementing policies and programs authorized by law.
Congress, however, has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight of those same agencies. Congress creates agencies through legislation, appropriates funding, confirms many senior officials, and has the responsibility to ensure agencies are operating within the authority granted to them by law. Congressional oversight is essential to accountability, transparency, and preventing abuse of power.
I support measures that verify voter eligibility and strengthen confidence in our elections. However, if proof of citizenship is required, government has a responsibility to make the process of obtaining necessary documents affordable, accessible, and efficient. No eligible citizen should be prevented from registering to vote because of excessive costs or bureaucratic obstacles. We can protect election integrity while ensuring every eligible American has a fair opportunity to participate in our democracy.
I believe the federal government's role in education should be limited and supportive, while states, local communities, parents, and educators maintain primary responsibility. At the preschool level, federal support should be flexible and targeted. In K-12 education, Washington should focus on protecting rights and supporting opportunity while empowering parents and local decision-makers. In higher education, the focus should be on affordability, accountability, workforce development, and expanding pathways through colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeships. Education works best when decisions are made closest to the students being served.
Age
57
Education
BS Business Administration Emphasis in Computer Information Systems
Hometown
Bradenton
County
Florida
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/eddie.speirforcongress
Campaign Phone
941-779-8991
America is a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Those two things are not in conflict unless we allow them to be.
I support finishing the border barrier, restoring remain in Mexico, and ending catch and release. I support ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.
Legal immigration should prioritize merit and skills, not chain migration. The diversity visa lottery should be eliminated.
H1B reform is overdue. Employers must pay above median market rates, prove they tried to hire Americans first, and face a hard cap reduction on total visas issued.
Criminal aliens go first. No amnesty.
Climate change policy as currently practiced is absolutely a financial threat to the economy. Regulatory overreach, energy restrictions, and ESG mandates driven by climate ideology have raised energy costs, driven manufacturing overseas, and cost American workers jobs and wages.
I believe in responsible stewardship of our natural resources and environment. I've made that a cornerstone of this campaign fighting against overdevelopment and the destruction of Old Florida's wetlands and water supply.
What I reject is the weaponization of climate policy to transfer wealth, expand government control, and punish American energy production while China and India face no equivalent restrictions.
Energy independence is national security. Affordable energy is economic security. Protecting our land and water from corporate exploitation is genuine environmentalism. Handing our economy to green energy mandates that don't work is not.
First, campaign finance reform forcing full transparency on every dollar from special interests and developers. Anonymous money buying politicians is the root of overdevelopment and corruption.
Second, ban omnibus spending bills entirely. One subject per bill. Every dollar justifies itself in a public vote. No more hiding waste inside must pass legislation.
Third, break up Big Tech monopolies through antitrust enforcement and interoperability standards modeled on the 1982 Bell breakup. That breakup unleashed innovation and competition. The same thing happens today when we force these platforms open.
All three serve the same principle. Power back to We the People.
Freedom of speech means the government cannot silence you for what you believe or what you say. It is the first freedom listed because every other freedom depends on it. You cannot defend your rights if you cannot speak about them.
To me it also means resisting the modern mechanisms of censorship that don't wear a government badge. When Big Tech platforms collude with federal agencies to suppress lawful speech, that is a First Amendment violation in everything but name. The Twitter Files proved it happened. It must never happen again.
Section 230 reform is part of this fight. Platforms that act as publishers by censoring viewpoints should be treated as publishers under the law, not neutral utilities protected from liability.
Free speech is not comfortable speech. It protects the voice you disagree with as much as your own. That's the whole point and I'll defend it without exception.
Congress.
Federal agencies derive their authority from legislation passed by Congress. The Constitution vests legislative power in the House and Senate, not the executive branch. When agencies write rules that carry the force of law they are exercising power that belongs to the people's elected representatives, not unelected bureaucrats answering to a president.
The Supreme Court's Chevron doctrine, now overturned, allowed agencies to interpret their own authority for decades. That was a mistake that handed the executive branch power it was never supposed to have.
Congress created these agencies, Congress funds them, and Congress must reassert real oversight over them. That means sunset clauses on agency rules, congressional approval of major regulations, and the ability to defund agencies that operate outside their statutory authority.
The presidency executes the law. Congress writes it. That line matters and I will fight to restore it.
I support proof of citizenship to vote. I also support making sure every eligible American citizen can actually access that proof without it becoming a barrier that disenfranchises legitimate voters.
Birth certificates typically cost between $10 and $30. Marriage certificates are similar. These are not prohibitive costs for most people, and states already have fee waiver programs for low income applicants that can be expanded without federal involvement.
What matters most is simplifying the name reconciliation process that creates unnecessary barriers specifically for women whose legal name changed through marriage or divorce. That's a state level administrative fix, not a funding problem.
Every eligible citizen should be able to vote. Every non-citizen should not. Those two things are not in conflict if we build the system right.
Election integrity and voter access are both requirements of a functioning republic.
None, none, and less than it does now.
Education is a local and family function. The Department of Education has spent fifty years spending more money and producing worse results. It should be eliminated.
Preschool is a family decision. Federal programs have repeatedly failed while expanding government influence over the youngest children.
K-12 belongs to parents, local school boards, and states. Federal dollars come with federal strings. Cut the strings by cutting the dollars.
Higher education needs federal student loan reform, not more spending. Easy federal money has inflated tuition for decades and saddled a generation with debt.
The best education decisions are made by the most local and most informed authority. That's the parent, then teacher, the local community and then state.
