Caldwell says he won’t run for office
To The Editor,
State Sen. DaveAronberg’s recent announcement to run for Florida attorney general has opened the possibility of filling the remainder of his state senate term. Knowing that he intended to run for AG since before the 2008 election, I have been preparing for this possibility for some time, however, a number of dramatic changes have occurred in my life since my decision to pursue the Florida Senate seat in 2008 which I must consider.
First, and foremost, my wife and I were blessed with our first child a year ago this week. The experience of raising a child is unparalleled, and it cannot be truly appreciated until you are deep in the thick of it. I am unsettled by the prospect of campaigning in a cross state race and, if successful, spending significant periods of time away from home during her most formative years.
Second, with the continuing economic adversities, I believe it would be a disservice to my firm to be absent once again for a prolonged campaign season and, possibly, every spring for the remainder of the term. We are now more than ever focusing on the fundamentals of a successful business and I am reticent to diminish the progress we are making during these trying times.
Third, there are several important issues within Lee County that I want to pursue. I am convinced more than ever that the Lee County Charter needs to be amended in two ways: single member commission districts and an elected executive. I will be spending my time over the next two years advocating on behalf of these issues, and if necessary, pursuing the option of placing these issues on the 2010 ballot via the petition process.
Therefore, it is my intention not to run for the State Senate District 27 seat during the 2010 election cycle.
As a corollary, a number of individuals have announced their intention to seek this open seat. I have particularly had the honor to come to know Lizbeth Benacquisto over the past few weeks. Ms. Benacquisto is currently serving in her eighth year on the council for the Village of Wellington and has been actively involved in community efforts for over 15 years.
As the mother of two, a real estate agent, and a 31-year resident of Florida, I believe Lizbeth has the experience necessary to advance solutions to theproblems of District 27. Wellington, located in western Palm Beach County, faces many of the same issues which we face in my hometown of Lehigh Acres and I have been impressed with the depth and breadth of her knowledge on the issues which are most important to Southwest Florida.
Of particular interest is the prospect of creating a majority Lee County State Senate seat during redistricting in 2011 and I am proud to announce that Lizbeth has agreed to advocate for this change once in office. If you would like to get involved with her campaign, I encourage you to contact Cathy Brandenburg at 561-844-7350 or ctbran@msn.com.
Again, my family and I were deeply honored by the support of our community in the previous election and I strongly encourage you to show that same level of support to Ms. Benacquisto in her bid to serve as the next State Senator for District 27.
Matthew Caldwell
Lehigh Acres