With primary elections closed, candidates and voters in Manatee County turn toward the November General Election. Republican and Democrat candidates will face off in three Florida House District races 70, 71, and 72.
Members of the Florida House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are subject to term limits of no more than four consecutive terms. Unlike county commission electees, Florida legislators assume office immediately after winning the election on general election day.
The two largest House Districts in Manatee County are Districts 71 and 72—the first covering western and northwestern portions of the county and the latter covering eastern portions of the county.
Race for HD71
Republican Incumbent Will Robinson will face Democratic challenger Adriaan DeVilliers. Both Robinson and DeVilliers were unopposed in the primary election.
First elected to the District 71 seat in 2018, Rep. Will Robinson is seeking to serve a fourth term. Robinson is a Manatee County native, a resident of Bradenton, a real estate attorney, and a partner of the Blalock Walters law firm in Bradenton.
He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law.
During his previous three terms, Robinson served on multiple committees, including both the House Judiciary Committee and the Ways and Means Committee during his most recent term.
The representative has also sponsored and co-sponsored numerous bills and initiatives.
In 2023, Rep. Robinson surprised Anna Maria Island officials and voters when he introduced legislation that would allow Manatee County to approve its own building permits on county-owned land on Anna Maria Island’s Holmes Beach for the potential future construction of a controversial parking garage.
January 2023 legislative delegation meeting, Robinson also questioned the number of governments needed on the island and proposed a state study on the island’s governing structure for consideration at the 2024 Legislative Session. The proposed study was approved.
Robinson’s platform includes priorities of protecting water quality and the environment, fiscal conservativism, a supporter of the Second Amendment, and a pro-life Republican.
On the Democratic side, Adriaan DeVilliers hopes to unseat the Republican incumbent.
A first-time candidate, DeVilliers has been married to his wife, Patricia, since 1986. The couple has two sons. DeVilliers is a civil engineer and first-generation American immigrant.
According to his campaign website, DeVilliers was a Republican voter who “grew disillusioned with the party’s shift toward divisiveness and hostility.”
The candidate’s platform includes a focus on responsible development, protecting home rule and individual freedoms, and environmental stewardship.
Included in a statement shared on his campaign website, DeVilliers writes, “As responsible citizens, we all want a government that respects the will of the people, budgets responsibly, and administers competently…”
“To Save Florida Home Rule we must oppose the state's attempt to take over the Anna Maria Island cities. If they take over Anna Maria, who will be next?”
DeVilliers shares that he is also a strong supporter of reproductive rights and freedoms which “underscore the importance of preserving individual liberties and autonomy over personal health decisions.”
Running as a grassroots candidate, DeVilliers has so far only raised $2,097 for his campaign compared to Robinson’s more than $150,000.
Race for HD72
William “Bill” Conerly won the District 72 House of Representatives Republican primary in a crowded field, securing his party’s nomination. Conerly will face Democratic challenger, Lesa Miller during the general election.
Bill Conerly served in the U.S. Navy before pursuing a career in engineering, and his campaign website states his current role in the private sector is as "owner" and vice president of the engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates.
Though a first-time candidate for state office, Conerly previously had served as a member of the Manatee County Planning Commission for 12 years.
Conerly was one of only two local Republican primary candidates to be advanced by Manatee County voters after hiring the services of Anthony Pedecini's Tampa-based political strategy and consulting firm, SimWins. Campaign finance reports show that the bulk of Conerly's campaign expenditures were paid to SimWins—more than $160,000 as of the most recent reporting.
Conerly’s campaign platform leading up to the primary election was heavily focused on immigration policy, the economy, and lowering home insurance premiums.
In a message on his website, Conerly shares in part, “I am running to take quick action, just like President Trump. The politicians in Tallahassee should be on notice.”
Lesa Miller ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for State House District 72. According to her campaign website, Miller is a 30-year-plus Floridian, a wife, and the mother of four daughters.
Miller has lived in Manatee County since 1987 and is a graduate of the University of South Florida and Stetson College of Law. She is currently the COO of Scout Comics.
State issues highlighted on Miller’s campaign website include environmental conservation, Veterans’ healthcare, home insurance access and cost, and women’s healthcare, including support of Florida’s proposed Amendment 4 “Right to Abortion Initiative.”
In a statement shared on her website, Miller concludes her message by writing, “I don’t need to tell you, Florida is at a crossroads. We, the people, have a choice. We need to decide who will represent us and while that is incredibly important, that isn’t the only choice that this election is asking of us to make. We need to choose whether we can come together and care for our fellow Floridians the way we want them to care for and about us.”
Miller is heavily out-raised by her Republican opponent, reporting having raised only $6,715 for her campaign this far. Conerly has reported having raised over $176,000 in campaign contributions.
Race for HD70
The Florida House District 70 seat represents the smallest portion of Manatee County of the three Florida House of Representatives seats. Redrawn in 2022, district 70 incorporates areas of Terra Ciea, Palmetto, Parrish, and some of the surrounding rural areas.
Republican Mike Beltran, who was first elected to the seat in 2018, announced this summer that he would not be seeking reelection to a fourth term. Shortly after the announcement, Hillsborough County Commissioner Michael Owen, a Republican, announced his bid to fill the seat.
Owen secured the Republican nomination unopposed and will face Luther Keith Wilkins, the Democratic nominee in the race, who was also unopposed in the primary.
Former Hillsborough Commissioner Micheal Owen was first elected Hillsborough County commissioner in 2022. He resigned to run for House District 70 after serving only two years of his four-year term.
Owen’s campaign webpage states that he has lived in Hillsborough County for 40+ years and attended Bums Junior High and Bloomingdale High Schools.
According to his campaign site, Owen is also a “decades-long” small business owner, though there was no information regarding the type of business Owen owns.
His campaign webpage highlights issues of focus, including lower taxes, infrastructure investments, support for law enforcement, and more stringent requirements for development approvals.
Democratic challenger Luther Wilkins, a Manatee County resident, hopes that voters will consider him their next House District 70 Representative.
On his campaign website, Wilkins shares that he served 12 years in the military, is an executive member of the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce, a shop steward for the United Steelworkers, and is the current president of the Manatee County NAACP.
Wilkins’ platform includes a focus on funding education, supporting sustainable economic growth, creating workforce housing, protecting the environment and natural resources, and supporting Veterans, including affordable housing.
"I am running for the state representative seat in District 70 because I believe in the power of community and the importance of having a robust and compassionate voice in our state legislature,” Wilkins included in a message on his campaign website.
Republican candidate Michael Owen has reported having raised just over $33,000 in his bid for the seat, while Democratic candidate Luther Wilkins has reported campaign contributions of just under $3,500 as of last reporting.
The 2024 General election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. For more information about local races or where to vote, visit www.votemanatee.com.
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rayfusco68
Will Robinson needs to be "Lost in Space" he is a bought and paid for developer pawn, just like the other Pedicini candidates. Continue the message that the Developers don't own Manatee County anymore.
Sunday, September 1 Report this
mklimek
Conerly is more of the same. Lesa Miller is a breath of fresh air. We need some big changes at the state level to represent all of us. She has my vote.
Sunday, September 1 Report this