From handyman to House history: HVAC mogul Joe Strada pushes trade schools, business mindset in Florida race

Joe Strada, a Republican running in Florida's eleventh congressional district, would probably become the richest person ever to serve in the U.S. House if voters elect him in three weeks. Fox News Digital reports that he built a company doing HVAC, electrical and plumbing work, with roughly 4,000 employees in 13 states, after starting out as a handyman at a bowling alley.

Strada says Washington regulations made running his business harder than necessary, and he contends the capital has enough lobbyists, politicians and attorneys. He wants a problem-solver from the business world instead. He is also urging young people nationwide to consider skilled trades, working with high schools and trade schools. In his account, recruits earn pay on day one and avoid $250,000 in student debt.

He says a labor shortage forced him to build his own training program rather than wait for the government, which made his expansion possible. He also contends Americans on government assistance should consider the trades, saying some are unwilling to work while others simply need an opportunity. Strada recalls modest beginnings and says character matters more than money.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →