Tony Claude

Tony Claude served in the U.S. Air Force from 1991 to 1994. Claude's career experience includes working as an account executive.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

’m Tony Claude, a six year Spring Hill resident, Air Force veteran, husband, father, and grandfather, and I’m running for Florida House District 53. I’ve been married for 38 years, raised two daughters, and I’m the proud grandfather of two grandsons, and a granddaughter. I served four years in the U.S. Air Force and spent more than 40 years negotiating in the wholesale food industry, including 20 years at Nestlé, where I held leadership and analytical roles. I’m running to bring experience, accountability, and common sense leadership to Tallahassee.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will fight reckless tariffs and failed policies that pushed Tampa Bay grocery prices to #2 in the nation, spiked gas 44%, and drove Florida home insurance to nearly double the national average — while 1 in 5 Florida children go hungry and 60% of middle-income families can't afford groceries. I will fight for tax-free holidays on food, gas, and general goods.With 5.1M Floridians on Medicare and 4.3M on Medicaid, I will never cut these programs — and will fight to expand Medicaid using the $4 billion of our tax dollars Florida turns away every year to close the coverage gap trapping 388,000 Floridians without health care.Weeki Wachee — one of District 53's crown jewels — is choking on nitrates and algae from fertilizer runoff and water overuse, threatening the Nature Coast we love. I will fight for incentives for native ground covers that use 60% less water and cut nitrogen runoff by 85% — helping to recover Weeki Wachee and protect the springs our community depends on.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordability, Medicare and Medicaid Security, Nature Coast Sustainability, and Freedom and Dignity from Government Over Reach