Advocacy in Action

By Patrick Linn, MS, MSHAPI
Executive Director, Collier Mosquito Control District

Every year, the Florida legislature convenes in Tallahassee for its 60-day legislative session. This is an action-packed and exciting time in the state capitol building, and it creates the opportunity for community leaders to advocate on behalf of the residents they serve.

In January, the Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) hosted its annual “Tallahassee Days” event. Team members from the Collier Mosquito Control District (CMCD) met with dozens of state representatives and senators to discuss issues related to mosquito control and provide the members with information to help them make well-informed decisions while the legislature is in session.

As part of this event, the FMCA also hosted a press conference that was attended by several legislators. During this press conference, mosquito control experts discussed the changing landscape of the industry around the state and how we are adapting to best protect the health and wellness of Floridians. An example of this is the threat caused by the dengue virus. Florida has seen an increasing number of cases of dengue fever over the last several years, and it is suspected that the virus is now endemic to Florida.

This magnifies the need for responsible mosquito control in our community, and the time in Tallahassee allowed experts to educate statewide policymakers on what we are doing to fight the bite.

Decyo McDuffie, Dr. Kiera Lucas, Jonathon Little, Gabby Steele from Collier Mosquito Control District met with Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo during FMCA’s annual “Tallahassee Days”.

In addition to this advocacy work, CMCD is in the process of adjusting its district boundaries to match the population growth of our community. This effort requires legislative approval, and we were able to meet with key legislators to discuss the importance of district expansion and how it protects not only the health of our community, but also our economy that heavily relies on tourism.

More than 71% of voters in the proposed expanded boundaries voted in favor of receiving mosquito control services in the 2022 referendum. HB 509, the bill authorizing CMCD’s expansion, is quickly moving through the Florida legislature, and if it is signed by the governor, thousands of Collier County residents will start receiving mosquito control services on October 1st of this year.

I am proud of the great work our team at CMCD does, but effective mosquito control is a community-wide effort. Advocacy events like the one in Tallahassee highlight how community partners can come together to enhance the quality-of-life in Southwest Florida. I want to thank our Collier County legislative delegation and other local elected officials for their support of mosquito control over the years.

To learn more about the Florida Mosquito Control Association, visit their website at www.yourfmca.org.

To learn more about the District or to sign up to receive treatment notifications, visit our website at www.cmcd.org.

The Collier Mosquito Control District works to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents through the safest and most economical means available. If you would like more information about how we control mosquitoes, please visit our website at cmcd.org or call us 239-436-1000.