U.S. Congressman Tom Rooney (R-17) cut the ribbon on his new district office in Summerfield on Friday. Congressman Rooney has served in the House of Representatives since 2009. The office is located at 11345 Big Bend Road at Summerfield Shoppes in Riverview.
The ribbon cutting was a joint event for both the Riverview and Sun City Center chambers of commerce.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Colonel James Previtera began the ribbon cutting ceremony saying, “I’m honored to be here on behalf of Sheriff Gee. I am impressed with his service [Congressman Rooney] to our country and to the state of Florida and to the children of the state of Florida. We’re honored to have you here in Hillsborough County,” he said of the Congressman.
The 17th Congressional District is a sprawling district ranging from the east side of Lake Okeechobee to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf coast, north almost to Winter Haven and along I-75 in the Tampa Bay Area south of Brandon to the Manatee County line.
Locally, the Congressman represents parts of Riverview, all of Sun City Center, Wimauma and Sundance.
“We have 10 counties, this is the biggest district in Florida outside of the Panhandle,” Congressman Rooney said. “It is going to be a challenge to our office to be able to serve as well as we’d like to and that is one of the reasons we picked this spot. This is a prime location for everyone to be able to meet at this office.”
In addition to the Riverview office, the Congressman also has district offices in Punta Gorda and Sebring, along with his main office in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC.
During the ceremony, the Congressman stated that it was an honor to open the new office in Riverview.
“Whenever you have a problem with a federal agency or the federal government, it is our job to represent you, to make sure that you have someone representing you,” he told the crowd assembled for the ceremony. “It is my job and the job of our staff to represent you.”
Congressman Rooney was born in Philadelphia but moved to Florida with his family at the age of 14. He attended Syracuse University and Washington & Jefferson College before earning a master’s degree in political science from the University of Florida. He then went on to earn a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. After law school he joined the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps. In 2008, he was elected to represent Florida District 16 in the House and was re-elected in 2010. In 2012, due in part to redistricting, he ran in the newly formed 17th Congressional District.
His Riverview office may be reached by calling 813-677-8545. His Washington office may be reached by calling 202-225-5792. For more information, visit his Congressional website at rooney.house.gov.