Voters in Florida House District 90 have a choice between a known quantity in incumbent Democratic lawmaker Joe Casello and a credible Republican businessman seeking the seat. The Post recommends voters re-elect state Rep. Casello.
Casello, a 72 year-old former firefighter and Boynton Beach city commissioner, has a deep connection with this predominantly Democratic district, which includes Boynton Beach, Briny Breezes, Delray Beach, Golf and Gulfstream. He enjoys providing constituent service, and he has developed a working relationship with Republican lawmakers to pass legislation and win appropriations, although many of those faced vetoes by the governor. If re-elected, Casello would continue to seek out ways to address high housing and property insurance costs, and he’d continue to push bills to protect election workers and to use technology to better dispose of and reuse waste.
Republican Bill Reicherter, 55, is a small businessman and foundation CEO who has been involved in mental health and drug abuse programs in the county, and he shares many of Casello’s views on those issues. Reicherter believes the district would be better served by a Republican whose party affiliation would make it easier to bring home the bacon to the district. The problem is that would take time and fealty by voting for measures that many in the district would simply oppose before any awards would come from House leadership. We believe that predicament undermines Reicherter’s best argument and makes Casello the better choice.