Fred Costello | |
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Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 25th district |
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Assumed office November 18, 2014 |
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Preceded by | Dave Hood, Jr. |
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 26th district |
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In office November 16, 2010 – November 20, 2012 |
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Preceded by | Pat Patterson |
Succeeded by | Dwayne L. Taylor |
Personal details | |
Born |
Orlando, Florida |
February 9, 1950
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Linda Gail Ditzig |
Children | Angela Fe Costello Cavanaugh, Lucas Jacob Costello, Eric David Costello |
Alma mater |
Graceland University (B.S.) University of Iowa (D.D.S.) |
Profession | Dentist |
Fredrick W. "Fred" Costello (born February 9, 1950) is a Republican politician who currently serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 25th District, which consists of eastern Volusia County, including Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, and New Smyrna Beach, since 2014. Previously, he represented the 26th District, which included southern Flagler County and northern Volusia County, stretching from Ormond Beach to Deltona, from 2010 to 2012.
Costello was born in Orlando, and attended Graceland University, from which he graduated in 1970. He then attended the University of Iowa, receiving his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1974. After graduation, Costello joined the United States Air Force, from 1974 to 1977, serving as a Captain, and then returned to Florida in 1977, settling in Ormond Beach and practicing dental medicine. He was elected to the Ormond Beach City Commission, where he served from 1999 to 2002, and then was elected Mayor, serving from 2002 to 2010.
In 2010, following the inability of State Representative Pat Patterson to seek re-election, Costello ran to succeed him in the 26th District, which included southern Flagler County and northern Volusia County, stretching from Ormond Beach to Deltona. He faced Nathan McDonnell and Vince Champion in the Republican primary, whom he was able to handily defeat, receiving 50% of the vote to McDonnell's 28% and Champion's 23%. Advancing to the general election, Costello campaigned on "creating jobs for Floridians in renewable-energy research development and manufacturing," and was opposed by Tim Huth, the Democratic nominee and the former Deputy Superintendent of Volusia County Schools. Costello dispatched Huth with ease to win his first term in the legislature, scoring 60% of the vote to Huth's 40%.