Northwest Florida Primary Election Profile: Gene Valentino

NORTHWEST FLORIDA (WKRG) — Gene Valentino is a name familiar to many in Escambia County where he once served on the county commission.

"I want to serve the people again and right the ship," Valentino said in explaining why he wants to return to public office.

The 71-year-old Pensacolan is now running for Congress.

He listed his national priorities as securing the border and supporting President Donald Trump's call for a mass deportation of undocumented people.

He also promised to work to improve veteran's benefits.

"The veterans who've given their lives, their limbs, we need to step up and protect those veterans and gentrify them and bring them back into the mainstream of our nation, our economic system," Valentino said.

Valentino said in District 1, he will work to acquire Amtrak service, expand the Port of Pensacola, handle the homeowners' insurance crisis and promote economic development.

He said Northwest Florida should be benefitting from the ever expanding Airbus plant in Mobile.

"Escambia and the Panhandle here are next door," he said. "We become the perfect subcontractor network for such a leading industry as aviation."