Melissa Rutland
Fourth-generation St. Petersburg businesswoman with nearly three decades in real estate development and investment, starting at Raymond James before founding her own firm. She served three terms as chair of St. Petersburg's Development Review Commission, the first woman to hold the post.
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-10-17. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Property taxes Leans agree· stated position
She pledges to deliver property-tax relief so no family is priced out of a home by a tax bill; she has not said how far cuts should go.
"Deliver real property-tax relief so no family gets priced out of a home over a tax bill."
Property insurance Leans agree· stated position
She wants to hold insurers accountable for excessive rate increases and crack down on fraud that drives up premiums.
"Hold insurance companies accountable for excessive rate increases and crack down on the fraud that drives up premiums."
Housing affordability Leans agree· stated position
Rutland said she would cut red tape and streamline permitting so builders can deliver more affordable homes and apartments.
Immigration Leans agree· stated position
Rutland said she supports Florida's enforcement laws and cooperation with federal authorities to remove violent criminals, with enforcement that is firm but lawful.
"I support Florida's enforcement laws and our cooperation with federal authorities to remove violent criminals who put our communities at risk."
Abortion Leans disagree· stated position
Rutland said she supports Florida's abortion law as it stands, with its existing exceptions, and is not running to reopen the issue.
"I support Florida law as it currently stands"
Health care Mixed / neutral· stated position
Asked whether Medicaid should be cut or expanded, Rutland did not take a position either way, saying Florida should protect health care access while being responsible with taxpayer dollars, add transparency, and eliminate waitlists for medically necessary services for children.
Environment & water Strongly agrees· stated position
Rutland said Florida's farmland and water are critical and should not be sold off to any industry, including hyperscale data-center developers, and she links lower grocery costs to preserving farmland.
"We should not be in the business of selling those assets off to any industries, including Big Tech and hyperscale data center developers."
Growth & development Strongly agrees· stated position
Rutland told the Times she supports a moratorium on data centers in Pinellas County and lists controlling responsible growth and redevelopment to preserve neighborhoods among her priorities.
"I support a moratorium on data centers in Pinellas County."
No public position found on 10 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Guns, Education & school choice, Marijuana, Elections & voting, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Energy & utilities, Trump administration, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Public schools — She calls for fully funding public schools with top teacher pay and training.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Associated Industries of Florida