A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Meet
ssg.
wilkins
Staff Sergeant Luther Wilkins is a U.S. Army veteran and community leader running for Florida State House District 70. After serving 12 years in the Army and Army National Guard—including work supporting the nation’s nuclear defense program—he built a career in business leadership and real estate development while remaining active in community advocacy. Wilkins has served with the Manatee County NAACP, the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce, and Great Kids of Sarasota.
Why Wilkins?
Putting
Experience
to Work
For Staff Sergeant Luther Wilkins, public service has never been a slogan — it has been a lifelong commitment.
From serving in the United States Army to building a career in business leadership and community advocacy, Wilkins has spent decades solving problems, leading teams, and bringing people together to strengthen the communities he calls home.
Now he is ready to put that experience to work for the people of Florida House District 70. As a veteran, business professional, and community leader, Wilkins understands that the challenges facing Florida families are real — rising housing costs, strained public schools, and a growing population of veterans who deserve better access to care. His campaign is focused on practical solutions that strengthen opportunity and improve quality of life for the people who live and work in Manatee and Hillsborough County.
what Wilkins stands for:
fix our schools.
Strong public schools are the foundation of strong communities. Our schools educate the next generation, prepare young people for careers, and help families build better futures. But today, Florida’s public school system is under increasing strain. Over the past several years, tens of thousands of students have moved from traditional public schools to for profit charter and private schools via voucher programs, taking billions of dollars in taxpayer funding with them- all of which being used to turn a profit off the backs of our children.
When funding leaves neighborhood schools, the impact is felt immediately. Class sizes grow, experienced teachers leave the profession, and critical programs like arts education and special education support become harder to sustain.
Wilkins believes Florida must recommit to investing in strong public schools that serve every child. That means supporting teachers, strengthening neighborhood schools, and ensuring that every student—no matter their zip code—has access to a quality education.
Staff Sergeant Wilkins believes Florida must recommit to investing in strong public schools. That means raising teacher pay, supporting the educators who dedicate their lives to our children, and ensuring that every classroom has the resources it needs to succeed.
When we invest in our teachers, we invest in the future of our state.
end the housing crisis
Across Manatee County, the cost of housing continues to rise faster than wages. Today our community faces a shortage of thousands of affordable homes for working families, and many residents are forced to spend a significant portion of their income just to keep a roof over their heads.
This isn’t just a housing problem — it’s an economic one. Teachers, nurses, service workers, and young professionals are increasingly being priced out of the communities they help sustain. When the people who keep our hospitals running, teach in our schools, and support our local businesses can’t afford to live here, the entire community feels the impact.
Staff Sergeant Wilkins believes Florida must take a smarter approach to housing policy. That means encouraging the development of workforce housing, protecting existing affordable homes, and making sure that responsible growth benefits the communities that already live here.
do better for vets.
Florida is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the United States, yet many veterans still face barriers when it comes to accessing the care they earned risking their lives for our freedom. Across the state, veterans often travel long distances just to face extended wait times while simply trying to receive routine medical care. With a rapidly growing veteran population and limited major VA facilities, the system is under increasing pressure.
As a veteran himself, Staff Sergeant Wilkins understands these challenges firsthand. He believes Florida must work with federal partners to expand access to VA facilities and ensure that veterans can receive timely, high-quality care closer to home. No American hero should spend more time waiting at the V.A. Clinic for the quality healthcare they earned through service than they would if they payed out of pocket. Our veterans served our country with honor. We must ensure they receive the support, care, and respect they earned.
community first,
Tallahassee last.
Staff Sergeant Wilkins believes government should exist for one simple reason: to improve people’s lives.
Local governments are at the heart of the services that make our communities work every day; from maintaining water and sewer systems to supporting our schools, public safety, and neighborhood infrastructure. These are the programs that keep communities healthy, safe, and strong.
But every year, Tallahassee Republicans strip away more of the ability for local communities to make decisions for themselves. Instead of trusting local leaders and residents to know what is best for their own neighborhoods, state leaders too often override local solutions with one-size-fits-all policies.
Staff Sergeant Wilkins believes that needs to stop.
As a state representative, he will stand up for the principle of home rule and defend the ability of local communities to govern themselves. He believes Tallahassee should work with local leaders, not against them, and that decisions affecting our communities should be guided by the people who actually live and work in them: Because strong communities and thriving nations are built from the ground up, not dictated from the top down.