Rodrigues secures second term
Republican incumbent Ray Rodrigues will return for another term in the Florida House of Representatives.
With all precincts reporting in, Rodrigues earned 73 percent against opponent St. James City resident Charles Messina, NPA candidate for the District 76 seat.
“I feel great,” Rodrigues said. “I’m thankful they’re sending me back to Tallahassee.”
The Georgia native, now Estero resident, labels himself as conservative, and has served in Lee County on the Lee County Housing Authority from 2005-2008 after being appointed by then-governor Jeb Bush. He’s also the vice chair of the finance and tax committee for the state. He was elected to the house in 2012.
Now in his second term, Rodrigues said he plans to focus on his campaign platform. Rodrigues backed Amendment 4 passed during the primary, the amendment removing tax barriers for solar power in residential, industrial and commercial property values and says he will continue to work to implement than amendment.
Within Lee County, Rodrigues wants to help the county acquire the necessary funding to preserve Edison Farms, almost 4,000 acres of environmentally-sensitive land that lies between Estero and Bonita Springs.
“That land is critical for water quality,” he said.