Welcome To The Lee County Property Appraiser's Office
Matt Caldwell is a 7th generation Florida native, whose family came to Micanopy in 1826. Matt was
born in Gainesville but grew up in Lee County where he met his wife, Yvonne. They live there today,
where they raise their daughter, Ava, and where he is also a deacon at their church, Gulf Coast
Church of Christ. In his private life, Matt enjoys the outdoor lifestyle that Florida offers,
including fishing, hunting, and camping, as well as spending time focused on his timber and cattle
business.
Lee County Property Appraiser
Matthew H. Caldwell
After attending local schools in Lee County, Matt received his Associate degree from Edison College,
a Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida Gulf Coast University, and a Master of Science in
Forestry Resources and Conservation with a concentration in Geomatics from the University of
Florida.
While an undergraduate he began his career as a real estate appraiser, ultimately joining the firm of
Maxwell, Hendry, Simmons in 2004, where he remains of counsel. He has attained the highest state
certification in his field and is qualified as an expert witness in multiple states and federal
courts. In 2019/20, he was a partner with TM Strategic Consulting, as well.
Outside of serving in elected office, Matt volunteered for appointment to various governmental committees
regarding financial oversight, audits, land use and transportation, as well as Everglades restoration as
a member of the Lake Okeechobee Water Resources Advisory Committee from 2006-2008, the constitutional
review of the Lee County Charter in 2008, the M-CORES Southwest-Central Florida Task Force in 2019/20,
and the OPPAGA Local Government Efficiency Task Force in 2021. Matt was a board member and chair of the
FGCU Center for Agribusiness Advisory Committee (2019-2024), is the incoming president of the Florida
State Parks Foundation, and also serves on the board of the Florida Association of Property Appraisers,
Real Estate Investment Society of SWFL, and the Richloam Museum. He is also currently a volunteer co-chair
for the "Yes on 2", the Right to Hunt and Fish, effort for the 2024 ballot.
Matt was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-2018, serving on and chairing several
committees including: tax policy, redistricting, insurance & banking, agriculture & natural resources/public
lands, transportation & infrastructure, local, federal, & military affairs, and oversight of government
operations, such as pensions & elections. He is proud to have sponsored, and have the Governor sign into
law, dozens of bills, including those related to agriculture, natural resources, public safety, cannabis
reform, medical care, criminal justice reform, pensions, and term limits, among others. He also served on
the Board of the Assembly of State Legislatures, a national organization focused on the implications of
Article V of the US Constitution. In 2018, Matt was the Republican nominee for Florida Commissioner of
Agriculture and Consumer Services. He was also the Republican nominee for Florida State Senate, District
27, in 2008.
In 2020, Matt was elected to serve as the Lee County Property Appraiser, following the retirement of
40-year incumbent Ken Wilkinson. As the author of numerous Constitutional Amendments, including Save
Our Homes, Working Waterfronts, and Portability, Wilkinson set a standard of excellence for public service.
Matt is proud to continue Ken’s legacy as an advocate for the taxpayer; using the platform as a Constitutional
Officer to support good government at the local, state, and federal level.