William Conerly seeks reelection to Florida House District 72

Republican state Rep. William Conerly of Lakewood Ranch is running for reelection to Florida House District 72 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democratic challenger Harvey Shifrin.

Conerly, a Navy veteran and engineer, has represented District 72 since 2024. He describes himself as a fifth-generation Floridian, according to his campaign Facebook page.

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Office sought: Florida House of Representatives, District 72
Residence: Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Born: Feb. 19, 1965, in Miami, Florida
Education: Bachelor's degree in agricultural and biological engineering, University of Florida (1997)
Family: Married to Melanie Conerly of Bradenton, Florida

Experience and public service

Conerly served in the United States Navy from 1984 to 1989, according to his Florida House biography. He received the Sea Service Deployment ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Surface Warfare Specialist designation during his service.

In his civilian career, Conerly worked as a senior project manager at several engineering firms, according to BallotReady. Those include Chastain Skillman Inc. (2008–2011), Jones Edmunds (2011–2012) and Waldrop Engineering P.A. (2012–2013). He has served as vice president and senior project manager at Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. since 2013, according to BallotReady.

In the Florida House, Conerly serves on seven committees, according to Florida House records:

Ways & Means Committee
Select Committee on Property Taxes
Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee
Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
Government Operations Subcommittee
Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
Joint Administrative Procedures Committee

On the issues

The following positions come from Conerly's responses on his campaign website, as compiled by BallotReady. Each reflects the candidate's own stated position.

Growth and local government: Conerly said he wants to grant local government more power to control runaway growth.

Insurance: Conerly said he would work to lower insurance rates. "I won't be making excuses or empty promises on insurance rates, I will be lowering them come hell or highwater," he said on his campaign website.

Taxes: Conerly's campaign website lists "billions in tax cuts" among his stated positions.

Infrastructure: Conerly said he supports continued record investments in traffic reduction infrastructure projects.

Immigration: Conerly said he wants to give local sheriffs the power to enforce immigration laws.

Education: Conerly said he wants to stop what he called "WOKE indoctrination" in public schools.