Jacob Ogles
Fort Myers real estate broker Trae Zipperer announced Monday morning he’s exploring a run for Congress in Florida’s 19th Congressional District.
“As a devout Christian, 9th-generation Floridian, Navy veteran, and Harvard graduate, I am keenly aware of what’s required to move our country, state, and district forward,” Zipperer said.
Zipperer, a registered Republican, will run on a distinctly conservative agenda while also pushing environment issues important to the coastal Southwest Florida district.
“Restoring our water and marine ecosystems. Securing our Borders. Protecting our constitutional rights – most notably the Second Amendment. Fighting to preserve our Republic from an ill-informed and dangerous socialist agenda. These issues largely have gone ignored while politicians in the swamp waste our time and money on petty partisan politics. The time is long past due for good citizens to take a stand and solve these problems.”
He would join an already substantial field of candidates vying to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney. Other Republicans running include former Minnesota state Rep. Dan Severson, state Reps. Dane Eagle and Heather Fitzenhagen, Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson, Naples urologist William Figlesthaler and professional commentator Ford O’Connell.
A press release from Friends of Trae Zipperer announced he would “Test The Waters.” Notably, Zipperer operates a real estate firm specializing in waterfront properties.
An official biography stressed the prospective candidate’s military background. He served in the Navy for four years about the USS Nimitz. He later graduated from Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida before earning an MBA at Harvard Business School.
“The Navy taught me the importance of putting service over self. Just as I felt called to serve my country in the U.S. Navy, I now feel called to serve my community in Congress,” Zipperer said.
“Career politicians are interested in how to win the next election. I’m interested in resolving the problems Floridians face every day.”
Locally, Zipperer spearheaded an effort to put official veteran headstones on graves for ex-military buried outside National Cemeteries, as reported last month by NBC-2.
“Our American heroes deserve to be honored while they’re here and when they’ve passed on. I felt it was my duty to lead the effort to treat the final resting places of so many heroes with respect and honor. I have set a goal to clean every veteran headstone in America by Memorial Day.”
