Wayne Richter, a Palm City attorney and 24-year Martin County resident, is running for Florida House District 85, which covers parts of Martin and St. Lucie counties. His campaign is built around four issues he says come up most at the door: the cost of insurance, affordable and workforce housing, overdevelopment, and the health of the Indian River Lagoon.
Richter, who is running as a Democrat, said he decided to run after growing frustrated watching political noise crowd out what he sees as nonpartisan, kitchen-table concerns. He described himself as someone who was comfortable in his own life before deciding to run, saying his motivation came from wanting to advocate for friends, family, and neighbors regardless of party.
The Cost of Living and Overdevelopment
Richter said the issue he hears about most while knocking on doors is cost, specifically health insurance, property insurance, property taxes, and affordable housing. As a sole practitioner without employer-provided health coverage, he said he understands that pressure directly, though he was careful to note he was not complaining about his own situation…