New State Rep. Deborah Tendridge introduces herself to Greenacres, outlines committee assignments and priorities

State Rep. Deborah Tendridge told the Greenacres City Council on Feb. 2025 that she will serve as a local point of contact for District 89 and urged residents to engage on issues including affordable housing, education and access to health care.

Tendridge, newly elected to represent District 89, said she had no legislative update because the state legislative session had not yet started but presented herself as “your bridge to Tallahassee.” She listed committee assignments and urged residents to contact her office with concerns. “I am basically here because session hasn't started yet. ... I am truly going to be your bridge to Tallahassee,” she said.

Why it matters: the representative’s committee assignments shape which budget and policy areas she can influence for local appropriations and state-level programs affecting Greenacres.

Tendridge said she will serve on multiple committees and subcommittees, including academic success, the health care budget subcommittee, information technology and policy budget committee, and the natural resources and disasters subcommittee. She named two staff members present: legislative aide Joey Ipoli and district aide Audrey Pietra, and said her district office is located “on Forest Hill in Florida Mango” and that she will host an open house on Feb. 25.

Tendridge identified affordable housing, education and health care as priorities she plans to champion in Tallahassee and asked the community to join advocacy efforts. “To do this, we have to amplify our voice to make sure that we're actually heard effectively,” she said.

The council did not take action on legislative matters at the meeting. Tendridge invited council members and residents to use her office and staff for constituency help and for potential appropriation or budget requests tied to city priorities.

Looking ahead: Tendridge said she will return after the legislative session with updates and asked residents to share priorities for appropriation requests and other state-level assistance.