Incumbent Republican Lauren Melo and Democrat Arthur Oslund are the candidates seeking to represent Florida House District 82.
Thirty-five percent of Collier County voters live in District 82, which also includes Hendry County.
See the district map here. Find your Florida House district here.
For an introduction to the Florida Legislature, read my primer, The Legislative Branch of Florida’s Government.
In this Post
Below, you will find the following information to help you learn more about the candidates:
- Bios and key issues
- Endorsements
- In the news
- Websites and social media
- Campaign finances
More information and analysis may be added in the weeks ahead. Check back for updates before casting your vote.
Lauren Melo (Republican)
Lauren Melo, 58, was born and raised in Southwest Florida and lives in Naples. The career businesswoman established a small trucking company in 1991, eventually growing the fleet to one hundred trucks. She now owns her own brokerage firm, Florida’s Realty Specialists.
Her community service has included President, Naples Area Board of Realtors® (NABOR); Board of Directors, Florida Association of Realtors®; Board of Directors, National Association of Realtors®; Board of Directors, HELP, housing, education, lending, programs; Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer; President, Naples Seahorse Riding Club; Board of Directors, Southwest Florida Truckers Association; and Board of Directors, CareerSource Florida.
Melo was elected to the Florida House in 2020 as “a conservative Republican who supports our President and will fight to protect our second amendment rights, honor our veterans, cut bureaucratic red tape, and grow the economy.” She was unchallenged for reelection to a second term in 2022 and is now seeking a third term.
In the Florida House, she is Chair (2022-2024) of the Postsecondary Education & Workforce Subcommittee. She also serves on the Education & Employment Committee, the Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, and on the Health Care Appropriations and Transportation & Modals Subcommittees.
Key Issues
According to her website, “Lauren Melo is a conservative Republican who fights to protect our second amendment rights, honor our veterans, cut bureaucratic red tape, and grow the economy.”
Endorsements
Melo is endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Florida PAC, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), and Americans for Prosperity Action.
In the News
- Opinion: Florida must continue to oppose federal overreach, by Lauren Melo via Fort Myers News-Press, 10/6/24
- Lauren Melo faces one Democratic candidate for State District 82 in November election, Naples Daily News, 7/10/24
- Collier Mosquito Control District to expand district boundaries, Florida Weekly, 5/30/24
- Florida lawmakers aren’t ready to support a bill to incorporate Golden Gate Estates, Naples Daily News, 11/28/23
- NABOR installs 2020 board of directors and new president Lauren Melo, Southwest Florida Business Today, 1/18/20
Websites, Social Media, and Other Resources
- Website – State House
- Ballotpedia
- Wikipedia
- VoteSmart – Melo’s bio, votes, positions, ratings, speeches, and funding
Arthur Oslund (Democrat)
Arthur Oslund, 82, is originally from Ames, Iowa. After earning a B.S. degree in horticulture and turf management from Iowa State University in 1965, he spent ten years as a golf course superintendent (greens keeper), including at Olympia Fields Country Club, Point O’Woods Country Club, French Lick Sheraton Hotel, Warwick Hills Country Club.
From 1977 to 1997, Oslund worked with CSX Railroads, including 12 years as a COBOL Mainframe computer programmer. He retired from CSX with a full pension in 1997. He spent the next twenty years as an IT subcontractor for Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Booz Allen Hamilton, Maryland State Police, and others.
Oslund moved to Florida from Maryland in 1985, to Bonita Springs in 2021, and to Naples in 2022.
He was elected to the Village Walk of Naples Board of Directors in March 2023 but resigned from that position to work full-time on this campaign. He is currently a member of the Collier County Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida Board of Directors.
Key Issues
Oslund’s top three issues, according to his Sparker’s Soapbox questionnaire, are:
- Supporting wildlife conservation efforts and combatting pesticide pollution;
- Allowing local jurisdictions to regulate the use of fertilizers and pesticides, overturning legislative overreach; and
- Rejecting government interference in personal medical decisions.
According to his website, Oslund’s “Democratic Platform” is reproductive rights, homeowners’ insurance, democracy, clean water, minimum wage, and workers.
Endorsements
Oslund is endorsed by the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida.
In the News
- Opinion: Spraying neighborhoods with insecticide jeopardizes people, pets, wildlife, by Arthur Oslund via The News-Press, 9/1/24
- Lauren Melo faces one Democratic candidate for State District 82 in November election, Naples Daily News, 7/10/24
Websites, Social Media, and Other Resources
Campaign Finance
Here is a summary of the candidates’ filings to date:
I reviewed each candidate’s contributions and expenditures. Of note:
- Melo received contributions totaling $30,000 from 32 political action and political committees, $10,000 from 12 governmental consultants and government relations firms, $4,500 from the real estate industry, $4,250 from the agriculture industry, $3,450 from healthcare, and $2,000 from parimutuels.
- Melo transferred $20,000 in contributions from a previous campaign.
- Melo paid $10,864 to PAC Financial Management for treasurer services, $3,000 to the Collier County Republican Executive Committee for event sponsorship/tickets/advertising, and $15,550 to WebElect.net for software.
- Oslund’s most significant contribution, $960, was from Megan Hull, Washington, D.C., who listed her occupation as “activist.” He also received a total of $479 from himself and others named Oslund.
- Oslund’s expenditures were the campaign filing fee of $1,781.82 and a $40 subscription donation to the Daily Kos.
Next Steps
It’s time to review the available information and decide which candidate to vote for. I hope this research has been helpful. Thanks for wanting to be a more informed voter!