GOP Candidate Joe Strada Champions Trade Schools, Business Acumen for Congress

Republican congressional candidate Joe Strada aims to bring a business-minded approach to Washington, D.C., highlighting his rise from a handyman to the head of a multi-state HVAC, electrical, and plumbing company employing approximately 4,000 people. Strada, who is running in Florida's eleventh congressional district, believes his entrepreneurial success embodies the American Dream and wants to foster similar opportunities for others.

Strada's journey began with fixing equipment in a bowling alley, a start that instilled in him a drive for learning and building. He told Fox News Digital that while his wealth and business success are significant, they do not define him. "It was difficult, but not this challenging" Strada said, referring to the hurdles businesses face due to regulations from Washington.

He has launched a national effort to promote the value of skilled trades as a viable alternative to pursuing higher education that can result in substantial student loan debt. Strada advocates for trade schools, suggesting they deserve the same level of support and recognition as traditional universities. "We're funding our Ivy League colleges billions and billions of dollars and we're graduating unhirable people that, some of them, hate America," he stated. "I think the trade schools need more support from our government and treat them just like the universities."

Strada's business experienced a labor shortage, which prompted him to develop internal training programs. "The most difficult challenge was we had the opportunity to grow, and we didn't have enough labor," he explained. "So I had to develop a program to teach people the trade."

He also suggested that individuals receiving government assistance could find opportunities in the trades. "We have plenty of people sitting at home getting a government paycheck. Let's get them to work," he said. "Some of them are just lazy and don't want to work, others just need the opportunity and the push to say, 'this is easy, let's get into a trade, let's learn a business.'"

Strada emphasizes hard work and character as foundational principles. He shared that his motivation is also deeply personal, driven by the memory of his son, Joe Strada, who was killed by a stray bullet in 2018. "Every decision I make is to make him proud of me, and I do the best I can every single day," he said.

If elected, Strada intends to champion vocational training, proposing to support legislation like the SAVE Act and to elevate the status of trade schools. He will face Democrat James Pericola in the general election.