Florida → House → District 61
The Florida House directory lists Linda Chaney (R) for the 2024–26 term and gives the county coverage as Parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas.
District map · 2022 House plan
¶ Geography and communities
Enacted in the 2022 legislative redistricting plan, Florida House District 61 spans the southwestern Gulf coastal barrier islands and inland residential communities of Pinellas County, bordering Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, with water and maritime jurisdiction extending across the shipping entrance of Lower Tampa Bay into Hillsborough County.
- Municipalities Included (Full or Partial):
- City of St. Pete Beach: Barrier island resort municipality and home city of the incumbent.
- City of Gulfport: Coastal arts, dining, and historic waterfront municipality on Boca Ciega Bay.
- City of Treasure Island & City of Madeira Beach: Barrier island residential and tourism beach communities.
- City of South Pasadena: Waterfront municipal enclave connecting southern barrier islands to the mainland.
- City of Seminole (Southern Portions): Mainland suburban residential and commercial neighborhoods.
- City of St. Petersburg (Southwestern Fringes): Neighborhoods buffering Boca Ciega Bay and Tyrone.
- Census-Designated Places (CDPs), Parks & Maritime Enclaves:
- Tierra Verde: Affluent master-planned island community situated at the entrance to Tampa Bay.
- Fort De Soto Park (Pinellas County): Expansive 1,100+ acre county park and barrier island ecosystem spanning five interconnected islands (keys).
- Egmont Key State Park & National Wildlife Refuge: Historic island located at the mouth of Tampa Bay (historically and jurisdictionally tied across the shipping lanes into Hillsborough County).
- Key Transportation & Maritime Corridors:
- State Road 699 (Gulf Boulevard): Primary north-south scenic and commercial arterial traversing the barrier islands from St. Pete Beach northward through Madeira Beach.
- State Road 682 (Pinellas Bayway): Critical toll causeway network connecting St. Petersburg, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, and Tierra Verde toward Fort De Soto.
- State Road 693 (66th Street North / South Pasadena Avenue): Key mainland north-south commuter artery connecting the beaches to central Pinellas commercial hubs.
- Intracoastal Waterway & Boca Ciega Bay: High-volume recreational boating, marine shipping, and commercial fishing corridors.
¶ Population and electorate
(District-specific metrics based on enacted redistricting parameters; strictly excluding broader countywide aggregates.)
- Target Population: Standard single-member baseline of ~179,754 residents post-2020 reapportionment.
- Demographic Composition:
- Racial / Ethnic Composition: Predominantly non-Hispanic White population anchored across waterfront single-family neighborhoods, condominium developments, and active-adult retirement enclaves, accompanied by an expanding Hispanic/Latino population (concentrated along commercial strips and mainland rental corridors) and established African American and LGBTQ+ civic communities centered in Gulfport and adjacent southwestern enclaves.
- Age & Retiree Distribution: Distinctly elevated median age compared to state averages, driven by extensive concentrations of 55+ mobile home communities, beachfront condominium towers, and retired professionals.
- Socioeconomic Character:
- Coastal tourism and hospitality economy balanced by professional services, healthcare, marine trades, and retail commerce.
- Extreme hurricane and flood exposure: the entirety of the barrier island chain and low-lying Boca Ciega Bay shoreline is designated within Coastal High Hazard Areas (CHHA) and FEMA V/A flood zones, subject to repetitive storm surge from Gulf hurricanes.
- Primary constituent policy concerns center on property and flood insurance affordability, coastal stormwater hardening, beach renourishment, seawall elevation standards, and tourism infrastructure resilience.
¶ Elections and political context
District 61 is a competitive Republican-performing coastal suburban district, characterized by high voter turnout in barrier island precincts and active civic engagement across coastal Pinellas.
- Partisan Index: Lean-to-Moderate Republican (typically R+6 to R+12 baseline performance).
- Historical Election Results (Post-2022 Redistricting Lines):
- 2024 General Election (November 5, 2024):
- Linda Chaney (R - Incumbent): 56.2% (53,602 votes)
- Nathan Bruemmer (D - Challenger): 43.8% (41,722 votes)
- Margin: +12.4% (11,880 votes) R hold
- 2022 General Election (November 8, 2022):
- Linda Chaney (R): 56.0% (46,034 votes)
- Janet Varnell Warwick (D): 44.0% (36,222 votes)
- Margin: +12.0% (9,812 votes) R victory
- Pre-Redistricting Baseline Performance (Former District 69):
- In the 2020 General Election, Chaney flipped former House District 69 from Democratic control, defeating incumbent Jennifer Webb 52.5% to 47.5%.
- Voter Resources & Official Information:
¶ Economic and civic anchors
- Tourism, Hospitality & Lodging Hubs:
- Gulf Boulevard Beach Resort Corridor: High-density concentration of international hotels, historic resorts (e.g., The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach), beachfront motels, and dining destinations driving regional Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenues.
- John's Pass Village & Boardwalk (Madeira Beach): Premier maritime shopping and dining complex housing fishing charters, dolphin-watching tours, and waterfront commercial retail.
- Healthcare Infrastructure:
- HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital: Comprehensive acute-care medical and surgical facility serving the barrier island communities and western St. Petersburg.
- St. Anthony’s Hospital & BayCare Ambulatory Networks (Adjacent mainland draw): Major regional healthcare systems providing outpatient clinics, diagnostic imaging, and specialty oncology networks to coastal residents.
- Environmental & Park Infrastructure:
- Fort De Soto Park & Pinellas Bayway Recreation Area: Renowned county-managed ecological preserve driving regional eco-tourism, camping, and boat launches.
- Tampa Bay Harbor Pilots & Shipping Channel Logistics: Egmont Key navigation passage directing international cargo, tanker, and cruise vessel traffic into Port Tampa Bay.
¶ People and organizations to map
- Civic Coalitions & Business Associations:
- Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce: Core commercial advocacy federation representing hotel operators, restaurant owners, and small businesses from St. Pete Beach to Clearwater Beach.
- Gulfport Merchants Chamber & Madeira Beach Marina Alliances: Local merchant associations steering historic downtown revitalization, waterfront zoning, and public dock maintenance.
- Barrier Islands Governmental Council ("BIG-C"): Influential cooperative council composed of coastal mayors coordinating on beach renourishment, hurricane evacuation routes, and coastal legislation.
- Municipal Governance & Industry Networks:
- St. Pete Beach City Commission Alumni: Chaney’s previous service as a St. Pete Beach City Commissioner (2007–2009) connects her directly to coastal municipal leaders.
- Florida Realtors PAC & Associated Industries of Florida (AIF): Active campaign committee backers championing property insurance mitigation, coastal development rights, and tax relief.
- Research Leads (Speculative Network Connections):
- Research Lead: Independent hotel, motel, and short-term vacation rental operators along Gulf Boulevard may maintain active lobbying relationships regarding state preemption over municipal short-term rental regulations.
- Research Lead: Marine dredging contractors and civil engineering firms specializing in coastal seawall elevation likely interface closely with the delegation for state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) resiliency and beach renourishment grants.
¶ Representation and legislative work
- Incumbent Member: Linda Chaney
- Biographical Background: Born in New York; relocated to Florida in 1982; resident of St. Pete Beach.
- Academic Background: B.S. in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida.
- Professional Background: Marketing and business development executive; co-founder of an independent mobile mammography venture (subsequently acquired by AdventHealth).
- Public Service History: State Representative (2020–present); St. Pete Beach City Commissioner (2007–2009).
- House Committee Assignments & Leadership (2024–2026 Term):
- Chair, Government Operations Subcommittee: Direct legislative gatekeeping over executive branch operational management, state agency procurement protocols, public records exemptions, and governmental transparency.
- Vice Chair, State Administration Budget Subcommittee: Commands direct budgetary authority over general executive branch spending, public buildings, and agency IT operations.
- Health & Human Services Committee: Full standing committee directing Florida’s healthcare frameworks, provider regulations, and Medicaid policy.
- State Affairs Committee: Full standing committee responsible for sovereign state authority, constitutional matters, and administrative procedures.
- Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee: Focuses on transit funding, utility grid hardening, coastal port logistics, and public works development.
- Signature Policy Priorities: Securing state funding for coastal storm-hardening and barrier island wastewater/stormwater infrastructure; stabilizing residential property and flood insurance markets; mobile mammography and women's health screening accessibility; and regulatory reform for small businesses and coastal tourism operators.
Research text: Gemini browser session, 2026-10-04. Officeholder and county coverage: Florida House directory. The graph keeps these leads separate from the reference office record.