Raised in south Florida, Annisa Karim is a member of the first graduating class of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Florida in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Karim works as a manager within the Lee County Department of Parks & Recreation, managing 35 staff and overseeing the operations and land management of 25 parks and preserves.
She chose a career in conservation to ensure our magnificent wildlife and their habitats are preserved for future generations. Furthermore, she understands that in Florida the environment is the economy. She has served extensively in the Democratic Party in Collier County; as the Chairwoman of the Party, President of the Democratic Club, and Vice President of the Democratic Women’s Club. She also served as the Vice President of the Muslim Democratic Caucus of Florida. Karim first ran for office in 2016 for the Collier County Commission.
Karim said at a fund-raising event this week, “If elected politicians do not represent their constituents—do not heed their voices—it is a betrayal of their office. We need to restore decency and civil discourse into our national political debate. In Congress, we need to work across partisan lines to implement the will of the people.”
Karim made these remarks as she launched her campaign. A progressive Democrat, she will not accept corporate or special interest money. Her campaign is first and foremost a grass root operation driven by donations from grass root donors and non-profit sources. She added, “Please go to my website to donate, to volunteer, to help in any way you can. This campaign is by and for the people.”
She is running on a platform where her primary issue is that of climate change, ecological concerns, conservation and acknowledgment of scientific data. Other platform issues include sensible gun reform, universal health care, ridding elections of corporate money and Super PACS, fair elections with no gerrymandering, and immigration reform with a path to citizenship for DACA.
A longtime Democratic official and colleague who has worked extensively with Karim and asked to remain anonymous, said of her candidacy, “Annisa is the perfect candidate to run for this position, in this District, in this election. Her smarts, work ethic, and commitment to the environment for all who live here will serve her well in Congress.”
In her speech, Karim shared further that her message is a steadfast commitment to being a voice for the people. She believes in government by and for the people. Once elected she will serve her constituents as their voice, and as their conduit to the corridors of power in Washington D.C. Her unshakeable belief that representatives are elected to serve the people who elect them was founded when in 2008 she volunteered in a campaign for Maria Jimenez for the Florida State House. Karim was inspired by Jimenez’s work ethic and political stand that “real people serve in this position” and that “politics is everybody’s issue.”
Karim is eager to meet as many of her constituents as possible and during this campaign will be a constant presence on the east and west coasts.
