Bradenton-area Florida House election features Republican lawmaker vs political newcomer
In the District 71 Florida House of Representatives race, a first-time candidate is challenging an incumbent seeking to serve his fourth term.
Incumbent state Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, will face Democratic challenger Adriaan DeVilliers after both were unopposed in the primary election. The candidates have differing backgrounds and competing visions for District 71, which includes parts of Palmetto, Bradenton, the barrier islands and Sarasota.
Robinson, a third-generation Bradenton resident and Manatee County native, said he is running for re-election because he loves his home and wants to see it continue thriving under his leadership.
“My father was born in Bradenton. I was born in Bradenton and I care very deeply for my community. My family’s history of preservation with Robinson Preserve is incredibly important to me. One of my top issues is the preservation of our most sensitive areas, not only in Manatee County, but across the state because we have to maintain these areas for future generations,” Robinson said.
DeVilliers, a former conservative turned Democrat and first-generation immigrant from South Africa, said he’s running because he doesn’t want to see Florida make the same mistakes his home country did.
“After Obama, things got ugly and very divisive and for me, that has reached a point where I recognize that things have happened in the country I was born in, South Africa, and that regime. That regime controlled absolutely all of the information, and that realization became obvious when DeSantis started implementing book bans and attempted to re-write history in the image of whoever is in power,” DeVilliers said.
What is Will Robinson’s platform?
Robinson is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. In addition to being a state representative and Bradenton native, Robinson works as a real estate attorney and is a partner of the Blalock Walters law firm in Bradenton.
First elected to the District 71 seat in 2018 on a conservative platform, Robinson says he is seeking a fourth term while campaigning on Republican values such as being pro-life and supporting the Second Amendment, while also putting a major focus on lowering taxes, property insurance reforms and prioritizing recovery from the recent storms.
“I’m running to keep Florida moving forward. We’ve had great success over the past several years in a lot of areas, but there are some areas we need to improve upon, mainly insurance and the cost of property taxes. So I’m running not only to keep Florida moving in the right direction but also to work on those pocketbook issues many members of my district have talked to me about,” Robinson said.
What is Adriaan DeVilliers’ platform?
On the Democratic side of the aisle, DeVilliers is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. He and his wife Patricia became U.S. citizens in 2001. Since then, DeVilliers said they’ve been active participants in the political process and were initially Republican voters before he growing disillusioned with the party’s shift “toward divisiveness and hostility.”
DeVilliers hopes to unseat the Republican incumbent on a campaign focused on responsible development, health and reproductive rights, protecting home rule and individual freedoms, creating a less divisive political climate and ensuring schools are properly funded.
DeVilliers said the difference between him and Robinson is the money. The Democrat raised just under $5,000 while Robinson hauled in about $150,000, according to campaign finance records.
“Nobody buys me. I’m not bought. This is what I call a Davis vs. Goliath. My opponent, Will Robinson, a lot of his money comes from developers, insurance companies, banking. I’m not bought. I’m highly schooled. I know what I’m talking about and I consider myself a decent person and I have good morals. I don’t have any baggage that I carry. And I really just want to give something back to the people,” DeVilliers said.
While the candidates disagree on many topics, both Robinson and DeVilliers discussed the need for the preservation of natural resources, with Robinson pointing to his family’s contributions with Robinson Preserve and saying there’s a need for more preservation throughout the state, while DeVilliers said one of his major focuses would be environmental stewardship.
Robinson and DeVilliers face off in the Nov. 5 general election. The winner will serve a two-year term in the Florida House of Representatives.
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 5:50 AM.
