Meet Mike

Growing up in my hometown of Ocala, my parents taught me the importance of hard work and the need to invest in my community. As a husband and father with deep roots in Central Florida, I believe our community deserves fresh ideas from their Congressman and independent leadership that reflects our values and priorities. That is why I am running for Congress.

I graduated from the University of Florida, and went on to work as a state prosecutor fighting violent crime in our neighborhoods. I cracked down on drug dealers and child predators, and was specially appointed as a felony domestic violence prosecutor. Now, as a civil litigator in downtown Orlando, I represent working Floridians who have been severely injured or taken advantage of by big insurance companies and large corporations.

My wife of 14 years, Sandra, and our two children, Ryan and Sarah, live in Winter Garden. As we raise our kids, we want to teach them the same sense of community I was raised with and we want to know that someone is looking after their interests in Washington. Florida families deserve a representative who is investing in our children by improving our education system, protecting our environment, and lowering the national debt. Unfortunately, this is not the leadership we have been receiving from our current representative in Congress. We have seen many of the politicians in Washington fail to lead our country in the right direction. Our country has lost respect around the world with our "go it alone" approach and we have a failed policy in Iraq. At home, our working families can't afford healthcare, our environment and energy situation is in crisis, and our area's crime has increased as we police other countries and not our own streets.

I can do better. I am in touch with our community's needs and can lead this region as a person who truly understands Central Floridians' concerns and who will give a voice to our priorities in Washington.

I believe that we have to look to the future and meet the challenges that our country is facing head on. We need to focus on affordable healthcare for our children and families, tougher crime laws with more police on the streets to enforce them, cleaner fuels and less pollution spoiling our natural resources, and an immigration policy that we can use for years to come.

We need someone who feels passionately about changing the direction of our country. My name is Mike Smith, and I will be that fresh alternative in Congress. I am not a politician. I am a working father and husband in Central Florida who cares about where our country is heading. That's why I am asking to be your next United States Representative for District 8.