Powerful, Yet Always Purposeful

Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo

As Kathleen Passidomo was completing her term as President of the Collier County Bar Association in 2010, she couldn’t stop thinking about the devastation in our community from the 2008 economic downturn…14,000 construction jobs lost, thousands of homes in foreclosure, and no protection for residents who were being forced out of their homes. “I need to fix that,” she mused, “our laws are inadequate and antiquated and don’t protect anyone.”

Although running a successful Naples’ law practice at the time, Kathleen knew she could do more. She ran for State Representative and won. While it wasn’t easy, she pushed through the Florida Fair Foreclosure Act, which completely overhauled state law, providing new and significant protections for homeowners.

That attitude is the essence of Kathleen Passidomo, whose life-long mantra has been “Don’t say it can’t be done, but how can I get it done.”

As a State Representative, Kathleen kept a laser focus on Southwest Florida’s needs, and the voters responded. In 2016, she was elected to the State Senate and during her first years fought for legislation that protects children and seniors, including $100 million for mental health services in schools following the Parkland shooting.

In 2022, Kathleen’s colleagues elected her President of the Florida Senate, making her only the third woman in its 185-year history to serve in that role. In this powerful position, she has made sea changes on issues that affect all Florida residents, including “Live Local” legislation to address the workforce housing problem, expansion of the state’s wildlife corridor, $20 million to recruit law enforcement officers, and $4 billion in hurricane recovery funds with the majority going to Southwest Florida. Her current focus in the upcoming session will be what she calls “Live Healthy,” aimed at solving problems of the Florida healthcare system, including growing Florida’s health care workforce, increasing access, and incentivizing innovation through technology.

Along the way, Kathleen has given back to the Naples community, including using her legal skills to help 100 civic, charitable and business organizations with corporate documents and governance structure. She also created the Collier County Juvenile Justice Council, served as Chair of Champions for Learning, President of the Southwest Florida Land Preservation Trust and Board Chair for The United Way of Collier County.

Recently, Governor DeSantis named Kathleen to the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. While honored, Kathleen views her many achievements more as a way to be a role model for women and young girls, “to let them know they can do it too.” When asked what she is most proud of, she says, “Being married for 44 years to the same guy (John Passidomo of Naples’ law firm Cheffy Passidomo) and raising three accomplished daughters.” Two have followed in their parents’ footsteps and are attorneys, with the third a university professor. The Passidomos have two grandsons.

Kathleen is also passionate about cooking and makes a secret pasta sauce that is the talk of Tallahassee, having been served to members of the Senate on more than one occasion!