From Surgeon to Lawmaker? Republican Eric Stelnicki Looks to Upend HD 100 Race

FORT LAUDERDALE—Dr. Eric Stelnicki, a pediatric plastic surgeon, is looking to take his expertise from his medical profession into the political world in a bid for House District 100 in Broward County next November. A Republican, Stelnicki believes that knowledge could translate into a win at the ballot box to replace Rep. Chip LaMarca, who is term-limited.

"I'm going to be running as the only physician in the state of Florida; there's no candidate who's going to understand no health care better than me," Stelnick told The Floridian.

Stelnicki has been a plastic surgeon in South Florida since 1998. His resume includes time as a board-certified Plastic, Pediatric Plastic, and Craniofacial Surgeon, as well as starting the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Cleft and Craniofacial Center.

"I know it inside and out, not only as a physician, but as a physician, business owner, someone who's open surgical centers, someone who understands insurance as both Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, HMOs, and someone who's been a patient having gone through multiple medical treatments myself or some of my own healthcare needs that I've been through," said Stelnicki.

Stelnicki currently works at the Children’s Plastic Surgery Institute of Florida in East Fort Lauderdale and is now looking to take his more than 25 years of experience to Tallahassee to offer a different perspective for Floridians.

But aside from his medical experience, Stelnicki also knows what is to endure extensive medical procedures himself.

Just two years ago, Stelnicki almost died from the serious injuries he sustained after being thrown from a horse he was riding during a family vacation in Wyoming.

According to Stelnicki, while horseback riding with his wife in the Wyoming wilderness, a mountain lion appeared and spooked his horse, which naturally bucked and threw him off the saddle. Stelnicki had to ride injured for two hours before getting medical treatment, before eventually being airlifted to Colorado.

Stelnicki's wife, who is a registered nurse, administered first aid after the fall.

"I see healthcare from all sides. I see it from the doctor side, the patient side, the insurance side, and the business side," Stelnicki continued. "If I get up to Tallahassee, I'm going to be able to look at the global needs of health care for our state and help make sure that Florida is the healthiest place for all of us to receive health care and to be a patient."

HD 100 covers part of Broward County. Rep. LaMarca has represented the area since 2018, won reelection by 15 points in 2024. Despite being in deep blue Broward, the Republican Party is looking to hold steady in the district next fall.

"Some of the things that need to be immediately addressed in terms of healthcare are the ability of physicians to continue to see their patients regardless of who they are employed by," Stelnicki added. "A lot of doctors will change their employer or change where they work, and all of a sudden, patients can't see their doctor."

He also added more flexibility that HD 100 residents could expect if elected to the seat. So is Stelnicki's background the right prescription for the GOP?

"The ability for patients to be able to continue to see their doctor, if their doctor changes their insurance, patients lose their ability to see their primary care doctor, just because a healthcare network all of a sudden is out of network with somebody else, and they're controlled by the insurance companies," Stelnick continued. "I want to see patients have the choice to go to their doctors, and see the cost of health care to our patients decrease, which is important for business and important for our patients."

Real Estate investor Jim Brenner is running on the Democratic side.

"Certainly, property tax is hot on everybody's agenda right now, and as a business owner who owns his own buildings and a homeowner who owns his own home, certainly being able to help reduce our property tax burden for certainly our primary residences, I think, is an important thing to focus on," Stelnicki said.

While the House released several property tax initiatives earlier this month, Gov. Ron DeSantis has been critical of the moves, instead advocating for a single proposal.

"I know the governor is working at it hard this legislative session, but if that doesn't get passed, I'm certainly going to help to be there to fight that fight," Stelnicki continued.

Stelnicki also vowed to address rising insurance costs.

"Working on our insurance issues, for our businesses and our homes, in terms of the cost of windstorm," Stelnicki said. "I've seen my windstorm insurance go up from $8,000 a year to $38,000 a year, which makes it harder for business owners to meet those demands, and doing what we can to stabilize the insurance market."

While noting seeing progress on the front, Stelnicki indicated that there was still more work to be done. He also credited Rep. LaMarca, a lifelong resident of Broward County, for helping lay the groundwork for fixing the problem.

"A lot of it is controlling the legal burden that insurance companies have to feel in our state, and keeping that under control so we can encourage more insurance companies to come in the state and kind of spread the risk so that one insurance company is not carrying all the risk of the state, like we saw in California."

In addition, Stelnicki pledged to be a vote for public safety. Florida has led on issues of public safety and law enforcement under Gov. DeSantis's leadership, including with recruitment bonuses for officers.

"I'm big on making sure our community is safe," Stelnicki said. "I have family who are fireman down in Miami. I've got a sister who is a DEA agent. I've got a brother who is a SWAT commander and working hard with police and fire to make sure our communities are the safest communities for my children and their children is really a huge priority, and I will support police and fire to the nth degree."

But Stelnick isn't just relying on knowledge from his "day job" in hopes of a victory. He's also well aware of some of the other hot-button issues affecting Floridians, and a combination of two could very well make him a tough primary challenge as his name gains traction in the race.

Yoni Anijar, who is a Captain and Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, is another Republican candidate in the field. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Mayor Chris Vincent is also running on the Republican ticket.

Real Estate investor Jim Brenner is running on the Democratic side.