Dear Editor:
My name is Peter Kellogg and my mom is Jacqueline Gross Kellogg, the current Democratic candidate for Florida House District 113. It has been a long year since my mom has announced her candidacy for this position.
I remember in the beginning of this year when she decided to run, so much excitement and pride radiating from our family because, finally, she decided to run for local politics. Since then, our family and friends have been undeterred in commitment to help my mom run her campaign. The journey has certainly been worthwhile, and it has even brought our family closer together.
Personally, it has solidified that my mom is truly one of my heroes. Her career spans into many different disciplines, but through it all the common thread is that she leads with her heart and follows her passions. From building gardens across Miami-Dade County’s Title 1 middle schools to building up a youth soccer club in Key Biscayne, my mom has been a warrior for the betterment of society in this part of Florida.
That’s why I can’t imagine anyone better to represent House District 113 (which includes a portion of Coconut Grove east of SW 27th Avenue. Click here to see a district map).
Over 40 years ago, my mom moved to Miami as a little girl. Her parents settled in Key Biscayne after a decade prior living in different parts of the world due to work in the travel industry. But once they came to Miami, they settled for good.
My mom grew up here her entire life, and now I get to walk in her footsteps. We both went to Key Biscayne K-8 center, we both went to Coral Gables Senior High, and now we both share a career interest in conserving Miami’s marine and ecological environments.
Let’s focus on the facts here, my mom is a good person. As the representative for House District 113 my mom will continue to be a warrior for the social fabric of this area. It’s simply who she is and it is already what she has spent the majority of her career doing. This is a message I believe needs to be shared because it would be a shame for people not to know about the true Jackie Kellogg.
Right now, the incumbent candidate, Vicki Lopez, is awkwardly pushing out negative media on my mom, predictable behavior from a seasoned politician. With all this false information circulating, it would be a shame if it actually stuck with voters.
The only hope right now is that people can see through all of this nonsense. They deserve a right to know who my mom really is.
Peter J. Kellogg
Key Biscayne
I was glad to see your note. I was a life-long ‘Reagan Republican’ but switched to Independent over a decade ago and now am a registered Democrat. I don’t recognize my former party, now the ‘MAGA Party of Trump’ that rejects science, bans books, denies climate change, gets between a woman and her doctor and gets elected by shouting ‘Communist’ whenever challenged.
My wife and I reached out to Senator Lopez last week when we saw a vicious attack add painting your mother as a radical leftist socialist, and a few other things. This is the standard Florida Republican party MAGA set of ‘dog whistles’ designed to smear and deflect from other issues. It is disgusting.
We have urged Senator Lopez to pull that add, which she says originates with a PAC at the State or National level, and to run on her merits without resorting to a smear campaign. I guess we’ll have to see if she manages to do that, or even really wants to.
On November 5, we all have a chance to get rid of MAGA Republicans and try to rebuild a more representative government here in Florida. Character counts. I hope Vicki Lopez will rise to the challenge and run a respectful campaign based on accomplishments and clarity of issues and solutions.
Time will tell, but it is running short.
John and Debbie Dolson, Coconut Grove, Fla.
What a beautifully written letter by my brother, Peter! Thank you, Coconut Grove Spotlight, for amplifying it. It truly captures the heart of why our mom, Jacqueline Gross-Kellogg, is the best choice for House District 113. His words reflect the passion and dedication she’s shown not only to our family but to the entire community over the years. I stand with Peter in supporting her, and I want to amplify this message to remind everyone how deeply committed she is to making positive changes for Miami. Her work in our schools, local youth programs, and environmental conservation speaks volumes about her character. House District 113 deserves someone who is genuinely invested in its future, and that person is Jackie! Let’s rise above the negativity and support someone who leads with love, vision, and a lifetime of community service.