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.
He also pointed to overdevelopment as a recurring concern among longtime Treasure Coast residents, saying growth itself is not the issue but the pace and lack of coordination behind it. He said many residents feel the area is losing the character that drew them here in the first place.
Insurance & Health Care Policy
On property insurance, Richter said the state’s catastrophic wind-damage system creates some confusion about what residents are actually paying for, and he criticized insurers who require costly roof replacements before agreeing to underwrite a policy. He said increasing market competition and expanding the state’s reinsurance program could help bring costs down.
On health care, Richter said expanding Medicaid would reduce costs passed on to consumers by covering emergency room visits that currently go uncompensated. He also raised concerns about hospital consolidation on the Treasure Coast, arguing that when a small number of large hospital systems dominate a region, insurers lose leverage to negotiate lower rates. He suggested more price transparency, similar to shopping for a car, could let patients compare costs for procedures across providers and create more competitive pricing.
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Growth, Housing, and the Live Local Act
Richter was critical of the Live Local Act, arguing it removed local governments’ authority over development decisions despite its name suggesting the opposite. He said the goal of encouraging more building to increase affordability has not matched what he has observed on the Treasure Coast, where continued construction has not brought prices down.
He proposed several alternatives, including:
- Requiring developers to fund infrastructure improvements tied to new construction
- Exploring public-private partnerships where waived impact fees are exchanged for dedicated workforce housing units
- Creating local task forces, similar to one he cited in Jacksonville, that bring residents and government together to shape redevelopment plans
Richter distinguished workforce housing from low-income housing, saying the goal is making it possible for nurses, teachers, and firefighters to live in the communities where they work. He said he learned through conversations with the Martin County School District that many teachers employed locally cannot afford to live in the county.
Education & Teacher Pay
Richter said Florida’s teacher pay ranks among the lowest in the country and argued that raising salaries is necessary to attract and retain teachers. He also raised concerns about oversight, saying public schools face more accountability requirements than charter schools or homeschooling programs, despite both receiving public funding tied to enrollment.
He said school choice, as currently structured, does not always function as true choice, since public schools cannot accommodate unlimited enrollment shifts between local high schools. His broader point was that education policy should focus on preparing students for a range of paths after graduation, including trade careers, rather than solely college readiness or standardized testing.
Listeners interested in how community organizations support Treasure Coast families may also want to hear TreasureCoast.com’s conversation with United Way of Martin County.
Protecting the Indian River Lagoon
Richter spoke at length about the Indian River Lagoon, describing it as central to both the region’s ecosystem and its economy. He said he has met with the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast to better understand how many local businesses, from restaurants to bait and tackle shops, depend on clean water.
He was critical of what he described as election-cycle attention to the lagoon that fades once campaigns end, and he called for renewed focus on completing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Residents who want more background on regional water quality efforts can find related coverage in TreasureCoast.com’s conversations on statewide water policy and the Florida Oceanographic Society’s ecosystem work.
Traffic & Infrastructure
On infrastructure, Richter said jurisdictional overlap between city, county, and state roads often leads to finger-pointing rather than solutions. He said a coordinated study and better partnership between local, county, and state agencies would help address congestion, and he pointed to real-time traffic monitoring technology as one possible tool. He also noted the Treasure Coast’s lack of mass transit options compared to larger cities.
Where Richter Stands Heading Into the Election
Richter said the four issues discussed, affordability, housing, overdevelopment, and the lagoon, along with public education, represent his core priorities for Florida House District 85, though he added he is prepared to engage on other issues as they arise. He encouraged voters in Palm City and across Martin County to look past party affiliation and evaluate candidates based on who will advocate for their communities in Tallahassee.
