Roberts Dameus used to work for the government of Haiti. Now, he wants to represent his new home community in the Florida Legislature. The Democrat qualified last week to challenger Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, for a seat in the Florida House representing the newly reconfigured state House District 72.

As for Gregory, he said he will continue to run with a focus of improving transportation infrastructure in the region while promoting conservative government policies on the statewide level.

Dameus aid his issue was not with any particular actions by the incumbent. Rather, he wants to represent the needs of a community he feels lacks a voice in Tallahassee.

“I see a lot of problems and believe I can help,” he said.

Dameus has been active for years in the Stand Up For Haiti organization since moving to Manatee County in 2015. When he lived in Haiti, he served as a secretary for the Global Initiative for Health and Development in the country. Today, he operates a handyman compact based in the Parrish area, providing among other things air conditioning and installation services. 

Gregory, who before his election did missionary work in the Dominican Republican, said he holds an interest in the plight facing the Haitian people now. He looks forward to meeting Dameus in upcoming debates.

He said his focus in Tallahassee remains on improving roadways, particularly east-west corridors, in the greater Bradenton-Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch region.

“I’m supporting and defending our constitutional rights and doing what I can to make sure Florida remains free and prosperous,” Gregory said. “At home, I am focused on transportation infrastructure, road building, and doing whatever we can to keep up and make sure our roadways remain safe and so people can get to work, school and other activities, the beach and anywhere they want to go.”

Asked his greatest accomplishments in his first two terms, Gregory leans heavily on appropriations projects like improvements to State Road 70 and Moccasin Wallow Road and Fruitville Road, as well as Clark Road improvements to the south of his district.