PUNTA GORDA — Vanessa Oliver took a big step toward being a second-generation state representative Tuesday.
Oliver is the Republican nominee for the open Florida House of Representatives District 76 seat, according to unofficial results released by the Florida Division of Elections. Oliver had a comfortable lead with 71.74% of the vote over fellow Republican Steven Ceracche, with nearly all ballots counted.
Oliver carried that percentage with voters in Charlotte, DeSoto and Lee counties, winning 13,340 to 5,254.
"I am so humbled by the overwhelming support for my campaign for House District 76 in the Republican Primary tonight," Oliver said in a text to The Daily Sun. "I appreciate the voters’ confidence in my vision and commitment to lowering property insurance rates, working to keep our waterways pristine, and ensuring Florida continues to be the best state to build a family, business or retire."
Oliver, 43, recently resigned her post on the Charlotte County Airport Authority.
She announced her intention to run for the state office shortly after State Rep. Spencer Roach announced his decision not to run for reelection in District 76.
Oliver will now face Democratic candidate Jim Blue in the Nov. 5 general election. Blue, a retired television journalist from Ohio, lives in Punta Gorda and has been active with Democratic politics in the last several years.
Oliver's father, Michael Grant, has represented Florida District 75 since 2016, encompassing portions of Charlotte and Sarasota counties. She and her father have worked together in the family business, Ambitrans Ambulance.
House District 76 includes Punta Gorda and Babcock Ranch in Charlotte County, DeSoto County and unincorporated areas of North Fort Myers and Cape Coral in Lee County.
Oliver is the legislative liaison for the Airport Authority, and has been to Tallahassee several times to advocate for local funding.
She was in Tallahassee in January to support the Airport Authority request to state legislators for $3.75 million for a combined hangar and classroom facility at the airport, and $2.75 million for Charlotte County students to study aviation.
Her Republican opponent, Ceracche, moved to Southwest Florida in 2016 and works with Green Life Farms in Punta Gorda. He oversees safety and quality control for its products.
Ceracche’s campaign centered around clean water, affordable health care and insurance reform.
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