Venice City Council Seat 5 · Nov 3, 2026
Rick Howard
Candidate for City Council Seat 5 (incumbent)
Rick Howard, the incumbent, is running for Venice City Council Seat 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against David Gress.
Voter registration deadline · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayRetired healthcare executive and former paramedic seeking a second term on the Venice City Council.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Nonpartisan
Christopher Derbak, Jenny Heussner and Sue Perry are running for Seat 2, which Ron Smith is vacating; Rick Howard and David Gress are running for Seat 5. The Daily Sun
Where Rick Howard stands: positions on the record
Property taxes and budget1 sourced position
Voted yes to set the FY27 preliminary operating millage rate at 3.8450 and the debt service rate at 0.3451 (passed 5-2, July 14, 2026).
Council voteVenice City Council meeting minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
Police staffing1 sourced position
Seconded the motion and voted yes to adopt the new police organizational chart and pursue hiring two traffic officers (passed 6-1, July 14, 2026).
Council voteVenice City Council meeting minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
Airport3 sourced positions
Moved to postpone the Advanced Air Mobility Task Force memorandum of understanding until Council has a fuller understanding of impacts to the airport and residents (passed 6-1, Aug. 25, 2026).
Council voteVenice City Council meeting minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
Moved to direct staff to review the airport lease, open talks with the FBO on ground operations and report back within 60 days (passed 7-0, May 12, 2026).
Council voteVenice City Council meeting minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
as reported by The Daily Sun; not a direct quote
Said he was struggling with the proposed T-hangar and tie-down rent increases because tenants are not at fault for rates going unchanged for 19 years; the Sun notes he rents a hangar.
Own statementThe Daily Sun
Data centers1 sourced position
Seconded the motion and voted yes to direct staff to bring back an ordinance for an 18-month data center moratorium, or a legally permissible time frame (passed 7-0, Aug. 25, 2026).
Council voteVenice City Council meeting minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
Growth and development2 sourced positions
Voted yes to approve the site and development plan for six multifamily units at 816 Ormond Street, on appeal of the Planning Commission's approval (passed 5-1, June 23, 2026).
Council voteVenice City Council meeting minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
Voted yes on the Future Land Use Map change for 490 Substation Road from High Density Residential to Industrial (Ordinance 2026-13; passed 5-2, April 28, 2026).
Council voteVenice City Council meeting minutes, April 28, 2026 · Apr 28, 2026
What Rick Howard said vs. how Rick Howard voted
Airport
In their words
Said he was struggling with the proposed T-hangar and tie-down rent increases because tenants are not at fault for rates going unchanged for 19 years; the Sun notes he rents a hangar.
as reported by The Daily Sun; not a direct quote ·The Daily Sun
On the record
Moved to direct staff to review the airport lease, open talks with the FBO on ground operations and report back within 60 days (passed 7-0, May 12, 2026).
May 12, 2026 ·Venice City Council meeting minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
Also running for City Council Seat 5
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