Lizbeth Benacquisto ready for congressional run in special election

Feb. 08--FORT MYERS -- Lizbeth Benacquisto is crossing days off the calendar, counting down to April 22.

"I mark them because each day is so important, not just for the election or my service in the (state) Senate, but for the folks in our community and the issues that are important," she said Friday during an interview with the Daily News about her decision to run for Congress. "Every day is another day where we should be doing something to help them."

The 46-year-old Fort Myers Republican announced Monday she would run in the special election to fill the District 19 congressional seat left vacant when former Rep. Trey Radel resigned. He quit Jan. 27, two months after he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine.

First elected to the state Senate in 2010, Benacquisto was re-elected in 2012 and named the state Senate majority leader in 2013. Before she was elected to the state Senate, Benacquisto served on the Wellington City Council for eight years. She is married with three children. She also has a granddaughter.

Benacquisto has long been considered a potential candidate for the District 19 seat, even before Radel resigned earlier this month. While she wouldn't say whether she had considered running for Congress in the past, she said this vacancy is an opportunity to serve Southwest Florida in a larger capacity.

"I never thought I'd be a state senator, honestly, but I enjoy so much the opportunity to serve," she said. "Knowing that there was no voice left in Washington, and we have so many challenging issues -- like flood insurance and the environmental concerns in regard to the Caloosahatchee -- and to have no one there that could represent our community on those issues, and all of the issues we have, it just felt like the right time."

If elected, Benacquisto said tops on her congressional to-do list would be to repeal the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare. Benacquisto said everywhere she goes she hears people tell her how the system isn't working.

Still, the next 73 days won't be easy.

The special election cycle coincides with the annual 60-day legislative session and the April 22 primary comes just about 10 days before the end of the session.

"I have a strong desire to serve and I will honor my obligation to be the senator from District 30. There's a lot of weighty issues we'll deal with that will affect the area," she said. "It's not a format we don't know. We serve and we come home. We'll just be in the district as much as we can, but first and foremost (I'll be) honoring my service in the Senate."

That means a lot of juggling for Benacquisto. The state Legislature is often not in session on Fridays, which means Benacquisto will likely be spending weekends pounding the pavement and getting to know voters.

"I want to challenge myself to meet as many voters as I can and ask them for their support," she said.

Benacquisto hasn't filed to run in the general election yet, saying instead her focus right now is on the special election.

"I'm going to focus on getting myself elected to Congress and I'm very hopeful we can run a great race, run a positive campaign and focus on the issues and do our best to be there," she said. "If I'm successful in this special election, we will continue to ask the voters to put their trust in me to serve because it is all about service. I have been so fortunate that folks have trusted me to be their voice."

Posted earlier

Lizbeth Benacquisto is counting the days until Election Day.

"Election Day is 74 days from today. I mark them because each day is so important, not just for the campaign or my service in the (state) Senate, but for the folks in our community and the issues that are important," the 46-year-old Fort Myers Republican said Friday during an interview with the Daily News. "Every day is another day where we should be doing something to help them."

Benacquisto, a state senator who represents Fort Myers and much of Lee County, announced Monday she was running in the special election to fill the District 19 congressional seat. The seat was vacated last week by former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, whose resignation came two months after he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine.

"I really do believe that it is an extraordinary time to be in service, not just on the local level, but for our country," she said. "There so much dysfunction in Washington, so much that needs to be done and I consider myself a problem solver, someone who has a strong voice, and now is the time for someone like me to run their name in that."

Gov. Rick Scott set the special election dates last week. A special primary will be held on April 22, while the special general election is scheduled for June 24.

Return to naplesnews.com later today for more on this developing story

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