Herald endorsement: Our choice in Florida House District 118 election | Opinion
READ MORE
Editorial Board’s General Election Endorsements
In advance of the upcoming general elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, the Editorial Board interviewed and researched candidates to better understand their views on various issues and how their policies will affect their constituents. The goal is to give voters a better idea of who’s the best candidate for each race.
Expand All
In Florida House District 118, voters will choose between incumbent Republican Mike Redondo and Democrat Joel Vodola in the November elections.
Redondo has been in office for less than a year. He won a special election in December 2023 to fill the vacancy left when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Juan Fernandez-Barquin to be Miami-Dade’s clerk of courts and comptroller, following the death of the county’s longtime clerk, Harvey Ruvin.
Vodola has raised almost no money and appears to live in Orlando, according to state candidate reports. He did not respond to an interview request.
Redondo, a personal injury attorney and the son of Cuban exiles, told the Herald Editorial Board that serving in the Legislature has been the “highest honor of my life.” The district is majority-Hispanic, running from Southwest Eighth Street immediately west of Florida’s Turnpike to Cutler Bay.
Redondo grew up in the district, left after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and moved back last year. He faced controversy shortly after his election about whether he was living in the district. He says he has since purchased a house in the district, this year, but is not yet homesteaded there.
The district is strongly Republican, but almost a third of voters have no party affiliation and Democrats have a slightly smaller share of registered voters.
The biggest issue in District 118, Redondo said, is the same as it is in much of South Florida — affordability. He offered one potentially innovative idea to address that: Create a “home savings account” similar to a health savings account as a way to help homeowners cover hurricane deductibles and repairs.
He opposes constitutional Amendments 3 and 4, which would legalize recreational marijuana for adults and restore abortion rights in the state. On the condo crisis — many homeowners are facing skyrocketing special assessments brought on by new laws after the Surfside condo collapse in 2021 — he said “we are probably going to have to do something” to help homeowners but added that it’s too soon to know exactly what needs to be done.
He has had some successes in the Legislature, despite his short time there. Among his bills: one that expanded benefits for veterans and spouses to help them transition into training and careers, another that focuses on employment for individuals with disabilities and one that aimed to increase penalties for drivers who harm pedestrians and bicyclists.
If he’s reelected, he said he hopes to continue working to expand benefits and opportunities for veterans in the state, noting that Florida has the third largest veterans’ population in the country.
The Herald Editorial Board endorses MIKE REDONDO to represent Florida House District 118.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho decides the political endorsements?
In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Isadora Rangel and Mary Anna Mancuso. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
What does the endorsement process look like?
The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making an endorsement. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive an endorsement.
Is the Editorial Board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 2:27 PM.
.png)
.png)
.png)
