LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Matt Caldwell is a 7th generation Florida native, whose family came to Micanopy in 1826. Matt was born in Gainesville but grew up in Lee County where he met his wife, Yvonne. They live there today, where Yvonne serves as an educator and they raise their beautiful daughter, Ava.
After attending local schools in Lee County, Matt received his Associates Degree from Edison College and his Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida Gulf Coast University. While in college he began his career as a real estate appraiser, ultimately joining the firm of Maxwell, Hendry, Simmons in 2004, where he remains of counsel. He has attained the highest state certification in his field and is qualified as an expert witness in multiple states and federal court. In 2019, Matt become a partner at TM Strategic Consulting, focused on candidate and political consulting.
Prior to running for public office, Matt volunteered for appointment to various governmental committees regarding financial oversight, audits, Everglades restoration, land use and transportation, as well as the constitutional review of the Lee County Charter in 2008.
Matt was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-2018, serving on and chairing several committees during his tenure, including tax policy, redistricting, insurance, and banking. He also chaired subcommittees and full committees related to agriculture, natural resources and public lands, transportation and infrastructure, local, federal, and military affairs, & oversight of government operations, such as pensions & elections. He is proud to have sponsored, and have the Governor sign into law, dozens of bills, including those related to agriculture, natural resources, public safety, medical care, criminal justice reform, pensions and term limits, among others.
As an avid sportsman with a deep family background in agriculture, Matt has always been a champion of issues that impact our environment and the agriculture community. He sponsored an expansion of the Everglades Forever Act, which will complete Everglades restoration in the area south of Lake Okeechobee and co-sponsored the Legacy Florida Act, which permanently funded restoration of the greater Everglades. Matt ran unsuccessfully for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2018, falling short by only 6,753 votes out of 8,059,155 cast, the second closest statewide margin in modern Florida history.
In 2020, Matt was elected to serve as the Lee County Property Appraiser, following the retirement of 40- year incumbent Ken Wilkinson. As the author of numerous Constitutional Amendments, including Save Our Homes, Working Waterfronts, and Portability, Ken set a standard of excellence for public service. Matt is proud to continue Ken’s legacy as an advocate for the taxpayer; using the platform as a Constitutional Officer to support good government at the local, state, and federal level.
Contact Information
Physical Address
2480 Thompson Street
4th Floor
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1546
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Main Line:(888) 721-0510
Main Fax:(239) 533-6160