Bill Poteet and Liesa Priddy are seeking the open seat for Florida House District 82 in the Aug. 18, 2026, Republican primary. Only registered Republicans may vote. The seat opened when incumbent Rep. Lauren Melo chose to run for an open Florida Senate seat rather than seek re-election. The winner will face Democrat Arthur Boyer of Immokalee in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
District 82 covers parts of Collier and Hendry counties. You can find your district using the Florida Legislature’s district finder.
In this post, I summarize the backgrounds and stated priorities of the two Republicans seeking this seat, highlighting information that voters may find useful as they prepare to cast their ballots. I also include links where you can research each candidate further.
What Does a State Representative Do?
The Legislative Branch of Florida’s government is authorized by Article III of the Florida Constitution to create and amend the laws of the state of Florida, subject to the governor’s veto. The Legislature also has the power to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution.
The only thing the Florida Legislature is required to do each year is pass a balanced state budget.
In addition, every ten years, in the second year following the census, the Legislature is required to divide the state into 30 to 40 contiguous senatorial districts and 80 to 120 contiguous house districts.
Continue reading at The Legislative Branch: A Soapbox Primer on Sparker’s Soapbox.
Bill Poteet
Bill Poteet has been a Collier County resident for more than 50 years, having moved to Southwest Florida from Missouri in 1973. He attended the University of Missouri and holds an Arts & Science degree in General Studies, along with the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS) designations from the International Council of Shopping Centers. In 1996, he founded a real estate brokerage in Collier County.
Poteet has been active in professional and civic organizations throughout his career. He served as President of the Naples Area Board of Realtors and the Golden Gate Civic Association, chaired the Florida Realtors Political Action Committee, and has served on the board of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, among other roles. In addition, Poteet has been recognized as the 2008 Golden Gate Citizen of the Year, Realtor of the Year by the Naples Area Board of Realtors, and Silver Beaver by the Southwest Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America.
He is married to Cheryl, his wife of 30 years, and is the father of three adult children. He and Cheryl attend St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Naples.
Platform
According to his campaign website, Poteet’s priorities include supporting the immigration policies of President Trump and Governor DeSantis, reducing government waste and unnecessary regulations, lowering taxes, protecting private property rights, fighting for lower insurance costs, and ensuring neighborhood safety.
Poteet has also signed the U.S. Term Limits convention pledge.
Endorsements
- Florida Realtors PAC (Florida Politics, 12/16/25)
Further Research
- Campaign website
- Florida Realtors PAC throws its weight behind Bill Poteet in HD 82 GOP Primary. (Florida Politics, 12/16/25)
Liesa Priddy
Liesa Priddy is a third-generation Florida rancher based in Immokalee who, with her husband, Russell, operates JB Ranch in Collier County. She holds a business degree and a graduate diploma in banking and began her career in banking and law firm administration before returning to ranch work full-time, which led to an environmental studies degree and a deepened focus on conservation.
Priddy served three years as Region 5 Representative for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Under her stewardship, JB Ranch has received the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Environmental Stewardship Award, the Florida Wildlife Federation’s Land Conservationist of the Year award, and the 2023 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Region II Environmental Stewardship Award.
Platform
According to her campaign website, Priddy’s priorities include protecting Second Amendment rights, lowering homeowner’s insurance rates, reducing taxes on working Floridians, and preserving private property rights.
Endorsements
From her campaign website:
- Wilton Simpson, Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services
- Lauren Melo, State Representative
- Kevin Rambosk, Collier County Sheriff
- Steve Whidden, Hendry County Sheriff
- Florida Cattlemen’s Association
- Florida Dairy Farmers
- Florida Farm Bureau
- Associated Industries of Florida
- Americans For Prosperity
Priddy was also endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce (Florida Politics, 7/13/26).
Further Research
- Campaign website
- Rancher Liesa Priddy rides into race to succeed Lauren Melo. (Florida Politics, 08/19/25)
- Liesa Priddy collects $151K for HD 82 run, earns endorsement from Drew Montez-Clark. (Florida Politics, 10/13/25)
- Wilton Simpson backs ‘principled conservative’ Liesa Priddy in HD 82. (Florida Politics, 6/4/26)
Campaign Finances
Poteet’s Contributions
Poteet raised $42,612 from 129 donors, 94 percent of whom were from Florida and 6 percent from out of state. Real estate and construction sources accounted for 37 percent of his contributions; retired donors provided 13 percent.
He received $4,000 from four political committees: Florida Prosperity, a political committee connected with the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), and three Florida Realtors-affiliated committees (Realtors Political Advocacy Committee, Realtors Political Action Committee, and Realtors Political Activity Committee).
Priddy’s Contributions
Priddy’s $237,706 total came from 269 donors, 5 percent of whom were from out of state, and a $48,000 personal loan. Sixty-nine percent of her contributions came from donors with unspecified or undisclosed occupations; retired donors accounted for 15 percent, and real estate and construction sources for nine percent.
She received $8,000 from eight political committees: Florida Cow PAC, Florida Farm PAC, Florida Milk PAC, and five candidate campaign committees (Friends of Lauren Melo, Friends of Tom Leek, Friends of Yvette Benarroch, Friends of Mike Giallombardo, and Friends of Vanessa Oliver). Priddy also received $1,000 from Heller Bros Packing Corp., a Winter Park agricultural packing company.
Sources
Campaign finance data was compiled from the Florida Department of State/Division of Elections filings using Claude Cowork and cross-checked against source records by the author. Data through June 12, 2026.
For complete campaign finance data, see the Florida Department of State/Division of Elections Candidate Tracking System website.
Summary
Republicans in State House District 82 will choose their candidate for the House from between Bill Poteet and Liesa Priddy in a closed primary on Aug. 18. The winner will face Democrat Arthur Boyer in the Nov. 3 general election.
