Civic Positions/Experience
Governing Board St. John’s River Water Management District 2011-2026; national President American Institute of Professional Geologists
Campaign Phone
4072567715
I am a licensed professional geologist specializing in groundwater and wares supply issues across Florida. I have developed water supply plans, including water conservation for utilities across Florida and assisted whom in obtaining water use permits. I have been qualified as an expert witness in geology
, hydrogeology, groundwater modeling, aquifer testing and well construction. I was on the SJRWMD Governing Board 2011-2019.
I’ve assisted ag interests in obtaining water use permits for crop irrigation and working with ag at the SJRWMD.
Water supply/ conservation and surface water quality.
Work and work with the SJRWMD, SFWMD and SWFWMD to bring our voice to support legislative which affects us at the local level. Participate in the Central Florida Water Initiative sub-committee meetings.
Ensure that the message that over fertilization impacts water quality and that septic to sewer conversions are necessary to prevent algal blooms and reduce nutrient loads. Pay for public advertising and add our voice to local organizations.
Civic Positions/Experience
Associate Supervisor & Committee Chair, Orange Soil and Water Conservation District; Union Steward, City of Orlando; Former Vice-Chair & Member, Board of Adjustment, Former Member of Code Enforcement, Primary Water, and other City/County Boards; Former Member of Professional Committees
Campaign Phone
407-451-4566
I am running to improve Public Education, Communication, and Coordination through creative and novel programs to engage county residents and enhance neighborhoods using soil and water conservation, preservation, and regeneration. I am a registered professional engineer with more than 40 years of experience in the environmental and agricultural fields, specializing in water reuse/recycling, process/system design, compliance, permitting, program development/implementation, and pollution prevention/waste minimization through re-purposing and creative alternatives. I served on various City/County advisory boards and worked alongside numerous elected officials, community leaders, and various regulatory agencies.
Yes. My family has been involved in dairy farming since the early 1940's in South and Central Florida with several dairy farms still operating near Avon Park using water and nutrient recycling to grow forage. Since 2009, I developed nutrient management plans and biosolids recycling programs for multiple ranches, including permitting, monitoring, and compliance reporting to support beneficial reuse for nutrient substitution of commercial sources. I designed and built a post-harvest water treatment and reuse system for packinghouses to promote water conservation, achieve waste minimization, and improve energy efficiency. Agriculture is essential to provide food, open spaces, and economic opportunities for citizens to prosper.
First, public education is critical to helping shape positive behavior to promote, preserve, and conserve soil and water resources. As part of this effort, an internship program would be developed for various grade levels (K-12 and college). Communication and reaching out to communities is essential for public education and related activities. Second issue would be urban agricultural and natural regeneration for soils, nature, and water. These elements are inter-related with regeneration of one aspect improving the ecosystem and another element. The Groundswell Program will be introduced to promote and teach urban regenerative techniques. An integral part of the program will be the "D3 R3" Initiative: Do 3 Regenerate 3 Ways!
Communication and Coordination are key to assure local concerns are heard in Tallahassee and by related state agencies. Decisions are intertwined among several layers of local and state government as was exemplified by the roadway concerns with Split Oak. Communication is imperative with elected officials, regulatory agencies, neighborhood/interest groups, and professional associations. OSWCD could serve as the ombudsmen for the various parties and coordinate well documented position papers and testimony at public meetings, social media, and websites. OSWCD also could serve as the nexus to solicit public support and community involvement.
Several solutions are available to help resolve and mitigate water quality issues in waterways, including public education, septic to sewer projects, onsite stormwater retention and treatment, tree and shrub plantings, sale of only organic fertilizers, better enforcement of fertilizer rules, expanded street cleaning, encourage use of "billy goat leaf/litter vacuums" so the material could be re-purposed on site as a mulch alternative, and creating an ecosystem around perimeters of stormwater retention ponds. Better enforcement of BMPs and ordinances would strengthen compliance by property owners. Response/education teams going into neighborhoods to promote enforcement and compliance, and offer assistance.
Civic Positions/Experience
Candidate, Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District, District 3 • Environmental advocate and community volunteer • Greenpeace member and conservation supporter • Best Buddies volunteer and mentor • Former volunteer with The Center Orlando (LGBTQ+ community) • Former volunteer Café Latino
Campaign Phone
407-721-2267
I Jose Antonio Rodriguez am running for Orange County Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor because I believe protecting our water, soil, wildlife, and natural resources is essential to the health and future of our community. As an environmental advocate and lifelong gardener, I understand the value of conservation and responsible stewardship. I hold a Master’s degree in Psychology and have more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and mental health, where I developed strong skills in public service, communication, problem-solving, and education. I will bring integrity, transparency, and a collaborative approach, working with residents, farmers, scientists, educators, and local governments to promote science-based conservation.
Although I Jose Antonio am not a commercial farmer, agriculture has been part of my life since childhood. After my father passed away, my mother raised me as a single parent and worked in Central Florida’s citrus groves picking oranges. After school, I often stayed with her in the groves, where I developed a deep appreciation for nature, agriculture, and the people whose hard work feeds our communities. Those experiences shaped my lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. I have also seen how Orange County has changed over the decades, with many citrus groves disappearing because of development, disease, and other challenges facing agriculture. I believe agriculture remains an important part of our local economy and heritage.
For me, Jose Antonio Rodriguez the first issue is protecting Orange County’s water resources. Clean lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater are essential for public health, wildlife, agriculture, and our quality of life. I will support science-based conservation practices, responsible land stewardship, and partnerships that improve water quality for future generations. The second is increasing public awareness and participation in conservation. I want to strengthen environmental education, encourage residents to adopt water-saving and native landscaping practices, and build partnerships with schools, farmers, businesses, and community organizations so conservation becomes a shared responsibility.
Even as more authority shifts to the state, the Soil and Water Conservation District should remain a strong advocate for Orange County’s unique environmental needs. The district should work closely with local governments, farmers, scientists, environmental organizations, and residents to gather local input and communicate science-based recommendations to state leaders. I believe collaboration, transparency, and public engagement are essential to ensuring local concerns about water quality, wetlands, and conservation are heard in Tallahassee. Local knowledge should continue to help guide decisions that affect our communities and future generations.
Reducing nutrient pollution requires a combination of education, science, and accountability. I support expanding public education and technical assistance so property owners understand how fertilizer use, stormwater runoff, and landscaping practices affect our waterways. I also support incentives that make it easier to adopt Best Management Practices. Where state-approved BMPs are necessary to protect public water resources and are supported by sound science, I believe consistent compliance is important. Protecting our lakes, rivers, wetlands, and springs is a shared responsibility that benefits our environment, economy, and our Orange County future generations.
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