Montavon qualifies for ballot to take on Steube in U.S. Congress District 17
Today, U.S. Congressional candidate Matthew Montavon announced that he has qualified for the ballot by gathering the required number of petition signatures. He is the first candidate in Florida’s District 17 to have met the threshold of 2,564 verified signatures to earn a place on the ballot in the primary on August 18. Only a handful of candidates across the state have qualified as of now.
Montavon’s qualification signatures were primarily collected from the District 17 counties of Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee. Other petitions came from Manatee County and across the state. Additional petitions were collected but not submitted after reaching the required number.. His campaign had 2,855 signatures verified, with the largest number (1,936) from Sarasota County.
Montavon said, “I’m proud of all the volunteers who circulated petitions for me and gratified that more than 3,000 registered voters signed to help get me on the ballot for the primary. I’m running for Congress because I believe the 17th District deserves a representative in Washington who will serve all the people, not just billionaires and giant corporations. Greg Steube [the incumbent] won’t even meet with constituents or answer the questions of Floridians who want affordability, fairness, and real democracy. Voters in this district need to have confidence that their representative works for them, not just to gratify the demands of President Trump and his billionaire cronies. As your Congressman, I will hold regular town halls and meet with constituents to listen to their concerns.”
A resident of Sarasota, Montavon has volunteered with the AARP’s tax assistance program, Habitat for Humanity, and hurricane relief. He was a founding member of the Immigration Justice Coalition of Southwest Florida, an alliance of humanitarian and faith-based groups advocating for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Montavon volunteered with the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, worked with local governments in several states, and served with the United Nations for 27 years helping to combat hunger through agricultural assistance programs.
Montavon was born outside the state but made Florida his home away from home when his parents retired there in 1985,and he has been a Florida resident since 1997. His parents, both veterans, are buried in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. He is a widower and has two adult children.
“I understand the worry and anxiety Floridians face, not knowing if grocery and gas prices will go back down, or if they can afford a home or insurance, or if medical bills will bankrupt them. We need people in Congress who will fight to make a difference in their constituents’ daily lives. I have been a fighter all my life and will take that fighting spirit to Washington for the people of this district.” Montavon said.
