For Democrats, Rep. Marie Woodson in House District 105

There’s a steady persistence about Rep. Marie Woodson, D-Hollywood.

It’s easy for a Democrat to get frustrated and disillusioned in an overwhelmingly Republican, hyper-partisan Florida House, but Woodson works hard on her bills and budget items, against all odds. She has an opponent in the Aug. 23 primary, but voters in House District 105 should re-nominate her for a second term in Tallahassee.

A retired career social services administrator, Woodson, 62, worked for Miami-Dade County for 35 years on housing, education and mental health issues. She has a master’s in public administration from St. Thomas University and has lived in Hollywood for 26 years.

In her first term, she showed a skill at bringing home money for local needs, such as $500,000 for a mobile breast cancer awareness unit for the city of West Park (Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it). If re-elected, she’ll push for it next year (more persistence).

Woodson’s Democratic primary opponent, Dr. Imran Uddin Siddiqui of Miramar, did not respond to our invitation to an interview, and did not submit a questionnaire to the newspaper. Siddiqui reports no campaign contributions — none — and has loaned his campaign $4,000. Rep. Woodson has raised $82,000.

The winner of the Aug. 23 primary faces Republican Vincent Parlatore in November in a heavily Democratic district. A two-year term in the Florida House pays $29,697 a year.

Woodson’s work ethic, and Siddiqui’s invisibility, make this an easy call. In Florida House District 105, the Sun Sentinel recommends Marie Woodson.

Woodson