William J. Howey began his career as a life insurance salesman, transitioning into real estate development around the turn of the century. He managed diverse ventures, including automobile manufacturing and pineapple plantations, before focusing on Florida's real estate and citrus industries. Howey established the Bougainvillea Hotel, later replaced by the Hotel Floridian, and became the mayor of Howey-in-the-Hills, where he also built the Howey House and opened the state's first citrus juice bottling plant. Despite facing significant setbacks due to the stock market crash, fruit fly infestations, and hurricanes, his career was marked by entrepreneurial ventures and civic leadership.

William J. Howey's political identity is marked by an intriguing blend of economic conservatism and unexpected advocacy for civil rights. His advocacy for tax reductions and government expense cuts aligns with traditional conservative economic policies, yet his push to eliminate the poll tax reveals a surprising commitment to expanding voting rights. Howey's rhetoric often criticizes institutional corruption and mismanagement, suggesting a highly localized approach aimed at protecting regional interests. His strategic promotion of a "lily white" platform within the Florida Republican Party indicates a calculated effort to reshape the party's image, balancing ideological purity with electoral pragmatism.