District 116 is about to have a new State Representative, and that makes this election important for Southwest Miami-Dade. This is a district filled with working families, small businesses, schools, healthcare professionals and residents who expect their elected officials to do more than show up for photographs and campaign events. They expect results. Ashley Perez-Biliskov has stepped forward with a background that is different from the typical Tallahassee politician. She is a Miami native, a wife and mother, and a medical speech-language pathologist who has spent her professional life working with people and families. She understands that government is not supposed to be an abstract exercise. It is supposed to be about people — and whether the decisions made in Tallahassee actually make life better for the people living here. Perez-Biliskov also has something that cannot be manufactured during an election campaign: deep Miami-Dade roots. She was raised here, attended Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and received her master’s degree from the University of South Florida. She lives in the community she wants to represent. That is important because District 116 is not just a line on a political map. It is Kendall. It is Tamiami. It is Sunset. It is Sweetwater. It includes major educational institutions and thousands of families dealing every day with the same problems confronting the rest of Miami-Dade — traffic, affordability, public safety, education, healthcare and the rising cost of simply living in South Florida. And Perez-Biliskov has shown she is willing to put in the work to compete for the seat. She qualified for the ballot by petition with 1,069 verified signatures, exceeding the required threshold. Her campaign has also demonstrated significant organizational and fundraising strength. Those things do not guarantee success, nor should they. They do, however, demonstrate that she has built a serious campaign and has convinced a substantial number of people to get involved. The next question is the one that matters most: What will she do with that support if she gets to Tallahassee? That is where the real test begins. District 116 does not need another representative who simply votes when the roll is called and sends out a press release afterward. Miami-Dade needs legislators who will fight for their communities when the big decisions are being made. Transportation funding. School funding. Healthcare. Public safety. Small-business opportunities. Property taxes. Economic development. Infrastructure. These are not political talking points to the people who live here. They are everyday issues that determine whether a family can afford to stay in the neighborhood where it has lived for years, whether a small business can survive another year and whether children have the opportunities they deserve. Perez-Biliskov has emphasized her experience as a healthcare professional, her perspective as a mother and her commitment to what she describes as accountable government. She has also attracted endorsements and support from established political and professional organizations. But endorsements are only the beginning. Once elected, the real responsibility is answering to the people of District 116. That means being accessible, listening when residents have a problem, standing up when Miami-Dade is being shortchanged and remembering that a seat in the Florida House is not a personal achievement. It is a public trust. There is no shortage of politicians in Florida. What we should always look for are people who understand that public office is an opportunity to serve, to listen and to make a difference. District 116 deserves a representative who knows this community, understands its families and businesses and is ready to bring that experience to Tallahassee. Ashley Perez-Biliskov has stepped forward with strong Miami roots, professional experience and a genuine commitment to serving others. She has the opportunity to bring a fresh voice and a strong sense of community to the Florida House. District 116 will be well served by a representative who understands where she comes from, knows the people she represents and is ready to work every day to make her community stronger.The post ASHLEY PEREZ-BILISKOV: A NEW VOICE FOR DISTRICT 116 first appeared on Miami's Community News. ...read more read less