Florida House District 76: Q&A with Ray Rodrigues
Name: Ray Rodrigues
Age: 48
Family: Wife, Ruth, son, Rhett
Lived in the district since: 1994
Work background: Director of Community Relations – Florida Gulf Coast University
Public service: State representative since 2012
Political party: Republican
Q: Why should voters elect you?
A: I have represented District 76 since 2012. I governed as a fiscal and social conservative. As a result, today Florida is ranked No. 1 in freedom by the Cato Institute and No. 1 in fiscal health in the annual rankings by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Our unemployment rate is down to 3.5 percent. In my six years, we have cut taxes by $10 billion, paid down state debt by $10 billion and balanced the budget each year. If you think Florida is in good shape, then I humbly ask for your vote to continue seeking the conservative policies that have proven to work.
Q: What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?
A: 1. Seek immediate reduction in the volume of water released from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River by supporting emergency estuary protection wells.
2. Strengthen Florida’s government-in-sunshine statutes to protect individuals from being sued by government agencies merely for filing a public records request.
3. Oppose all efforts to open up Florida’s coast to offshore oil drilling.
Q: Is Florida doing enough to solve Southwest Florida's algae crisis? Why or why not?
A: The Legislature has made significant progress on Everglades restoration. In 2013 we established an $880 million Everglades Restoration Strategies Regional Water Plan. In 2016 we established a dedicated funding source of $200 million annually for Everglades restoration, and gave top priority to projects that will reduce discharges from Lake Okeechobee. In 2017 we passed and provided the state appropriation for the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir project to build another southern reservoir.
However, more needs to be done. Therefore, in the next session I will file an appropriations bill for the state of Florida to partner with the South Florida Water Management District to create emergency estuary protection wells.
Q: What role does the state have in regulating growth in Southwest Florida?
A: In the 2011 session, the state has turned over the regulation of growth management to local governments. I believe that is proper. Local governments already have the zoning regulatory authority and are on the front lines of dealing with growth and its challenges.
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