Election 2024: Cape Coral veterans compete for Florida House District 79 seat

Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press
·4 min read

Two military veterans are competing to represent Cape Coral ― one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States ― in the Florida House of Representatives.

Incumbent Mike Giallombardo (a Republican) and newcomer Denise McCleary (a Democrat) both recently qualified to run for the House District 79 seat. They're unopposed in their respective political parties and will go head-to-head in Florida's Nov. 5 general election.

Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village will be located on the Seven Island site in northwest Cape Coral and feature condos, apartments, hotel, marina, commercial and retail, and more. It's another sign of the city's rapid growth.
Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village will be located on the Seven Island site in northwest Cape Coral and feature condos, apartments, hotel, marina, commercial and retail, and more. It's another sign of the city's rapid growth.

Cape Coral is Florida's second-biggest city in land mass, after Jacksonville, stretching across 120 square miles. Cape Coral has a population of more than 200,000 and is expected to hit more than 318,000 by 2050.

District 79 also includes Matlacha and other parts of Lee County.

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The House seat pays $18,000 per year, plus a per diem established by Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.

Here more about both candidates:

MIKE GIALLOMBARDO (REPUBLICAN)

Incumbent Mike Giallombardo of Cape Coral is competing for the District 79 seat in the Florida House of Representatives.
Incumbent Mike Giallombardo of Cape Coral is competing for the District 79 seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

Age

41

City of residence

Cape Coral

Why he's running again for District 79

"It has been an honor to represent residents of Cape Coral in Tallahassee," Giallombardo says. "Having grown up in Cape Coral, it will always be home to me.

"I look forward to continuing my service to District 79, passing meaningful legislation and bringing vital resources to the residents of Cape Coral."

His top three issues

Giallombardo says it's hard to pick his top three priorities, since the next regular legislative session doesn't start until March 2025. "We must remain flexible to address any emerging issues."

However, he says his top issues are always going to include:

  • Protecting small businesses from "burdensome regulations and excessive fees,"

  • Enhancing cyber-security for Florida's digital infrastructure,

  • And protecting individual liberties.

Giallombardo says he also wants to streamline Florida's permitting process, address "hurdles imposed by local governments" that hold back affordable housing and continue working on the state's insurance crisis.

"After implementing tort reform last year, we're seeing positive changes in the insurance market," he says. "As we approach the next session, I will also be focused on identifying additional measures to attract more carriers to Florida to increase competition and lower costs to homeowners."

His work and political background

Giallombardo was elected in November 2020 to District 77, which at the time included Cape Coral. He's a chief warrant officer for the Florida National Guard.

He's also a combat veteran who served in the Army and was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was part of the 4th Infantry Division and supported special operation missions, according to his website's official bio.

Learn more about Mike Giallombardo

For more information on Mike Giallombardo and his campaign, visit mikegforflorida.com.

DENISE MCCLEARY (DEMOCRAT)

Cape Coral resident Denise McCleary is competing for the District 79 seat in the Florida House of Representatives.
Cape Coral resident Denise McCleary is competing for the District 79 seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

Age

65

City of residence

Cape Coral

Why she's running for District 79

"I decided to get into politics because I just didn't like the way things were here in Florida..." McCleary says. "In the last four to five years, I've just seen so many laws and rules that have been put into place. I just got upset and said I need to help do something about this.

"And I needed to get Democrats back into the House, because I could see there was such a majority with the Republicans in the House and the Senate."

McCleary also wants to see more cooperation in the House.

"Let’s work together," she says. "We should not be so divided. Republicans and Democrats ― it's all about the mission and the people. It's not about being a Democrat or a Republican."

Her top three issues

McCleary says her top three issues are:

  • Passing Amendment 4, which would protect women's right to abortion in Florida,

  • Lowering insurance rates for "the people that need it,"

  • And helping protect Florida's water and wildlife.

Her work and political background

McCleary is a retired military officer and auditor who spent 34 years with the New Jersey and Iowa National Guard and the Army Reserves. She says she was deployed twice: During Operation Desert Storm and then later in Kuwait.

"I worked for the New Jersey Army and Air Guard as the chief of the audit department," she says. "So I know a lot about ethics and values, and I want to be able to help bring that back."

Learn more about Denise McCleary

For more information on McCleary and her campaign, visit denise4florida.com.

Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida election: House District 79 candidates (Cape Coral, Matlacha)