I grew up in suburban Chicago and graduated from Smith College (1967) and Stanford Law School (1970), where I was Articles Editor of the Law Review. After law school graduation I worked for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and then for Illinois EPA, where I became involved in the newly-developing field of environmental law.

In 1973 I left Illinois EPA and joined the Chicago based law firm of Mayer, Brown and Platt. I became a partner and started the Mayer Brown Environmental Practice Group, which I headed for many years. In my practice I represented businesses and local governments. In fact, I was ranked very highly by both clients and peers. In its ranking "Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business: (2005)" (which surveys law firm clients for its rankings) concludes: "The ‘legendary’ Percy Angelo is one of the most senior and experienced stalwarts of the Illinois bar. A ‘formidable’ attorney, she is ‘super smart, meticulous and tenacious’…"

Because of my environmental background I was very involved in the effort to persuade the Charlotte County Board to reject the one-sided phosphate pact. Although Charlotte County approved the pact, Sarasota and Lee Counties have not and it has not gone into effect. I understand that protection of the Charlotte Harbor estuary is the most important environmental, and economic, issue facing the County, since the health of our economy depends on the health of our rivers and harbors.

I have participated in the recent citizens’ group meetings regarding the budget. I have read the budget. I have reviewed the list of projects currently in the Capital Improvement Program. I have read other important background documents affecting the County’s finances such as the Murdock Village Disposition Agreement. I understand the need for Commissioners to be more personally informed and much more proactive in guiding staff to a more responsible use of the taxpayers’ money. We don’t need any more surprises or "unintended consequences."

I served on the Citizens Panel considering amendments to the transfer of density unit ordinance in the summer and fall of 2007, and was instrumental in achieving numerous improvements to the original draft ordinance. I was also involved in the opposition to the redevelopment of the Wildflower Golf Course on Placida Road and worked with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council to find the original Wildflower development documents in the files of that agency, showing that the Wildflower density had already been used by the surrounding condo developments.

While working on the Wildflower project I learned that the County was not keeping track of infrastructure needs for the developments it was approving, indeed it had no count of the density approved. Working with a group we did our own count of condo units approved, reviewing files including state permit files at Florida DEP. We found over 2000 units had been permitted along Placida Road, even though infrastructure was severely constrained and hurricane evacuation times were extremely lengthy (over 18 hours to clear Cape Haze). Many of those condos now sit empty.

I’m a Board Member of the Lemon Bay Conservancy. Until this year Marv and I were volunteers at the Englewood Public Library. I’m also involved with the Cape Haze Womens Club and Marv is president of the Cape Haze Property Owners Association.

My husband Marv Medintz and I have two sons, both married. Son Mike is a policeman and security guard and lives in Colorado with his wife Michelle, a 4^th grade teacher.  Son Matt works for YRC Worldwide (the former Yellow Freight) in Kansas City. His wife Jasmine is a marketing consultant.

Marv (34 years and counting) is a lawyer who retired once to go back to school to become a high school English teacher. He finally retired (for good?) in 2004.

My family and I vacationed in the area beginning in the mid 70s. In 1989 my parents moved to Manasota Key, leading to many area visits, and in 1999 my husband Marv and I bought a home in Placida and spent as much time there as work allowed. We moved to Placida when we "retired" in 2004.

I was named after my grandfather who always found the name Percy a burden. He told his daughter he didn’t want any grandsons named after him. So when a granddaughter was born, that was an excuse to use the name after all. Of course Uncle Sam did inquire why I had not registered for the draft.