Participating Candidates

With a heart for serving this community, Karen Almond has been a community and education advocate for more than 25 years. She has dedicated thousands of volunteer hours within the school system, the City of Casselberry, Seminole County, and grassroots political campaigns – helping to elect others who serve and support the needs and best interests of our students and community. Almond has began serving as a Seminole County Public Schools Dividend/Volunteer in 1989 with experience as a Take Stock in Students Mentor, as a PTA President and a School Advisory Council Chairman. She also served on the District Governor’s Jr. All Star Selection Committee, District School Improvement Review Committee; Dividend of the Year Selection Committee (2004 to present), and SCPS Best Practices/Vision Quest Team.

Almond was elected to serve her first term on the Seminole County School Board in 2010. She has been a Seminole County resident since 1970. Almond, her husband, Randy, and their three children attended Seminole County Public Schools. She is a proud graduate of Lyman High School

Karen’s Recognitions, Honors and Leadership

Throughout her career, Karen has received many recognitions and honors for her selfless volunteer and leadership efforts:

• 2001 – Casselberry Police Department Citizen of the Year
• 2003 – Seminole County Public Schools Dividend/Volunteer of the year, with 6,000+ hours of service
• 2004 – United Way Community Impact Leader of the Year nominee
• 2004 Outstanding School Volunteer – Florida Dept. of Education and Nomination for Women of Distinction by Girl Scouts Citrus Council
• 2010 – The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellowship, in recognition of humanitarian efforts
• 2011 – Seminole County Board of County Commissioners Resolution, for outstanding service as a member of Metro Plan Orlando’s Citizen’s Advisory Board

• 2012 – Graduate of Leadership Seminole, Class 21, Presidential Alumni Member
• 2012 – Florida School Boards Association, Certified School Board Member
• 2013 – Casselberry Elementary Leader In Me Symposium Participant (Covey – 7 Habits)
• 2013 – Florida School Boards Association, Master School Board Member, with Distinction
• 2017 – United Negro College Fund/UNCF Champion for Education
• 2017 – The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellowship, in recognition of humanitarian efforts

Leadership and Committee, Business, Civic Active Membership/Participation

Children’s Cabinet
Casselberry Chamber of Commerce
Oviedo Winter Springs Chamber of Commerce
Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Community Alliance, Chairman
Five Year Capital Improvement Plan Committee
Seminole Prevention Coalition
PBAS/Private Business Association of Seminole
CLEO/Community Leaders and Elected Officials
SEDEN/Seminole Economic Development Education Network
Casselberry Community Forum
Rotary Club of Seminole County South
St. Mary Magdalen Council of Catholic Women, St. Eamon’s Circle

Almond is a Leadership Seminole Graduate, Class 21, whose Legacy Project is the dental clinic at Harvest Time International.
She has served on the Environmental Studies Center Committee, the Healthy Start Board of Directors and the Seminole County Public Schools Foundation’s Grant for Great Ideas images/almond.jpg Committee. Since 2003, Almond has served on Congressman John L. Mica’s Congressional District Air Force Academy Selection Committee. She is an active Member of Rotary Club of Seminole County South. In 2009, the Rotary named Almond a Paul Harris Fellow for her humanitarian service.
Almond’s past service includes many committees for the City of Casselberry: Occupational License Review Board, Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Advisory Committee, Citizen’s Assessment Committee – Police Chief Selection 2001, Chairman Parks & Recreation Special Events Advisory Committee. She also served as a Seminole County Representative on the Metro Plan Orlando Citizens Advisory Council for three years.

Charities and Non-Profits that Karen Supports
The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools
Sports 4 the Kids
Boys and Girls Clubs
Kids House
Boy Scouts
GROW Central Florida, Inc.
Leadership Seminole
A Gift for Teaching/Tools for Seminole Schools
Young Men of Excellence
UNCF/United Negro College Fund
The Foundation for Seminole State College
Christian Help
Sharing Center
Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch
Rescue Outreach Mission
Erin Leigh Boyle Foundation
Brianna Marie Foundation

Almond continues to build and strengthen relationships within the community and school district. She supports initiatives that provide opportunities for all students.

Dr. Geraldine (Geri) Wright has launched her campaign to seek the position of School Board District 4. Geri is a Central Floridian who knows well the issues affiliated with education and student achievement, having a wide range of experiences in the field of education as well as experiences in the community.

Dr. Wright was the Executive Director of Elementary Education for Seminole County Public Schools until 2012 where she oversaw the operation of 37 elementary schools and the Extended Day Care Child Care Program for the school district. Dr. Wright exercised proactive leadership in promoting the vision and mission of the district, assisted principals and departments in identifying program needs, and served as a liaison between the Superintendent and community groups.

Geri has been active in education for most of her adult life. She was the principal of Goldsboro Elementary School for six years and the Assistant Principal of Hamilton Elementary School for three years. Her experience also includes teaching kindergarten through grades five at the following schools: Midway, Winter Springs, Hopper and Wekiva.

Geri earned her Bachelors of Arts Degree from Hunter College, New York; New York, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Florida, Orlando; an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Stetson University, Deland, FL in Educational Leadership; and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova South eastern University, Ft. Lauderdale Fl.

As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida, Dr. Wright supervised and counseled juniors and seniors in pursuit of their Bachelors’ and Masters’ Degrees in Elementary Education. When the concept of an early learning program was conceived for Seminole County Public Schools,, Geri assisted with the planning and implementation of Great Start… Pathways to Success, a Seminole County Public Schools Program designed to reach out to parents of newborn babies, focusing on oral language development, vocabulary and reading, Geri was the first team leader of the program and along with others on the team, including a full time social worker, provided playgroups for parents and worked in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health Seminole County, Winnie Palmer Hospital, Winter Park Hospital, Central Florida Regional Hospital and Florida Hospital Altamonte to provide Great Start gift bags to parents of newborn babies.

Geri is active in the community, currently serving as a Dividend Volunteer for Great Start as well as a volunteer at Longwood Elementary. She is a charter member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Kappa Sigma Omega Chapter of Sanford, a member of the Florida Metropolitan Chapter of the Drifters, the Seminole County League of Women Voters, assisted with the establishment of the Earl E. Minott Scholarship Foundation, and she is a member of Northland a Church Distributed. Geri is a native of Sanford, lives in Lake Mary. Geri and her husband James have three children, James, Stephanie and Joycelyn who are graduates of Seminole County Public Schools.

Cameron E. Shackelford grew up in Winter Park, Florida. He received his Bachelors degree from Rollins College and has earned Masters degrees in Computer Resources Management and Space Systems Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. He has also earned a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, where he graduated with Beta Gamma Sigma honors and the class Leadership Award. His Juris Doctorate (JD) degree was awarded by the Rutgers University School of Law.

Mr. Shackelford served for twenty years in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel with assignments devoted to space and flight operations. He retired as a Command Pilot with over 3100 hours of multiengine jet time in a variety of aircraft, most notably the T-39 Sabreliner, C-21A Learjet, and the C-141B Starlifter. He also earned a Master of Space Operations badge for his service with North American Air Defense Command and the former Air Force Systems Command’s Foreign Technology Division. He concluded his distinguished career of service as the Director of Operations for Air Mobility Command’s 33d Flight Test Squadron. He is a graduate of the USAF’s Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College.

Mr. Shackelford’s 15-year legal career has been focused on the defense of clients referred to his firm by insurance companies. He is a member of the Florida Bar, the Seminole County Bar Association, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association. He has been admitted to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and has presented arguments in many of Florida’s county and circuit courts. His pro bono activities are focused on serving the needs of military veterans.

Mr. Shackelford’s personal interests include MLS soccer, music and travel.

Commissioner Andrew Meadows is currently serving his first term on the City Commission after being elected in August 2014 and is the current Vice Mayor. He served as the Chairman of Planning and Zoning for two years and was a board member for two years prior. He previously served on the Lakes Management Advisory board as Vice Chair as well as the Casselberry Housing Task Force.

He is a current board member for the Casselberry Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the Seminole County School’s E-Pathways Committee after previously serving on the Vocational Career Committee. Commissioner Meadows is a local business owner and has a degree in Finance from the University of Florida. He and his wife Kim have been Casselberry residents since 2003.

Matt Caldwell is a 7th generation Florida native, whose family has a long history of being farmers, small business owners, ministers, and doctors.

Matt was born in Gainesville but grew up in Lee County where he eventually met his wife, Yvonne. They live in North Fort Myers, where Yvonne serves as a teacher and they raise their beautiful daughter, Ava.

After attending local schools in Lee County, Matt received his Associates Degree from Edison College and his Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida Gulf Coast University. He then began his career as a real estate appraiser with Maxwell, Hendry, & Simmons in Fort Myers. He has attained the highest state certification in his field and is qualified as an expert witness in multiple states and federal court.

As the son of a teacher and minister, Matt was taught very early on how important it is to give back to his community by being engaged locally and by serving in whatever capacity allows him to help others. Much of his formal service started in college when he volunteered for appointment to various governmental committees regarding financial oversight, audits, Everglades restoration, land use, and transportation, as well as the constitutional review of the Lee County Charter in 2008.

Matt’s desire to serve his community took him to Tallahassee when he was first elected to the Florida House in 2010. He has served on several committees during his tenure in the Florida House, including transportation, tax policy, redistricting, insurance, banking, and local government & federal government affairs. He has chaired subcommittees and committees related to agriculture and natural resources. He currently chairs the Government Accountability Committee, which oversees subcommittees regarding natural resources and public lands, transportation and infrastructure, local, federal, and military issues, & oversight of government operations, such as pensions & elections.

Matt is proud to have sponsored, and had the Governor sign into law, several pieces of legislation, including: The Andrew Widman Act, providing greater protection from career criminals; an act relating to Optometry, lowering the cost of, and increasing access to, medical eye care; as well as acts relating to pensions and term limits.

In addition, Matt has always been an advocate for the 2nd Amendment, cutting taxes, limiting the size and scope of government, and reducing or eliminating unnecessary regulations on business owners.

As an avid sportsmen with a deep family background in farming, Matt has always been a champion of issues that impact our environment and the agriculture community. He sponsored an expansion of the Everglades Forever Act, which will complete Everglades restoration in the area south of Lake Okeechobee, as well as Legacy Florida, which will permanently fund restoration of the greater Everglades; and fighting Numeric Nutrient Criteria.

In 2017, Matt championed an overhaul of the vaunted Florida Forever program, refocusing the program on land acquisition with a priority for conservation easements and permanent funding totaling roughly $3 billion dollars over 17 years.

Because of his desire to serve his community and the state he cares so much about, Matt has decided to seek higher office and run for Commissioner of Agriculture. He formalized his campaign in May of 2017 and is busy traveling the state and continuing to build a relationship with the greater Florida community.

David Smith is a Republican candidate for Florida House District 28. He is a retired Marine Corps Colonel and lives in Winter Springs. For the last nine years he has worked in Central Florida’s Simulation and Training industry. He currently owns a business consulting company.

David’s family planted roots in Florida in 1972, living in Merritt Island. His father was a career U.S. Army officer and Vietnam Veteran. Most of his family still lives in Central Florida.

He attended Texas A&M University on a military scholarship. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and entered the Marine Corps in 1982.

David earned his wings at NAS Pensacola in 1984 and launched his career as an UH-1N helicopter pilot. During his 30 year Marine Corps career he flew more than 4,500 accident-free flight hours and held every Instructor Pilot qualification in the Huey helicopter. During his career he made six extended deployments overseas or aboard ship, including a combat tour flying in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 1997, in addition to his flying duties he began managing military procurement contracts. He is a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University and also holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from Florida Institute of Technology.

From 2005-2009 he commanded Fleet Readiness Center, East located at Cherry Point, NC. This aviation repair depot employed over 4,000 people and generated more than $770 million dollars in annual revenue. At the time, FRC East was the largest industrial employer in the state of North Carolina.

From 2009-2012 he led a workforce of 200 military and civilian employees at the Central Florida Research Park. He managed a portfolio of $1.4 billion worth of Simulation and Training projects.

Colonel Smith is the recipient of multiple combat decorations and numerous personal awards for sustained superior performance. During his career he held a TOP SECRET security clearance.

Since leaving active duty in 2012, David has been very active in community affairs. He is a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club of Winter Springs. He is a member of the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, multiple Veteran organizations and many other local non-profit groups.

He is a graduate of Leadership Orlando class #78 and Leadership Seminole class #26. David is a 2011 graduate of the Central Florida Political Leadership Institute.

David is an active member of Cross Life Church in Oviedo.

As a Florida native and lifelong resident of our area, Jay raised a family and operated a small business in Seminole County. He will bring conservative fiscal business leadership to the Seminole Commission, and limit local regulations in our community to bring quality jobs. Jay will fight to keep taxes low, preserve our rural community, and create a thriving business environment.

Conservative Leadership

• Small business owner meeting a payroll for 26 years.
• Selected WFTV Channel 9 Businessman of the Year.
• Seminole County Planning & Zoning Commission, Chairman.
• Seminole County Parks and Recreation Board, Member.
• City of Altamonte Springs Motor Vehicle Incident Review Board, Member.
• Advisor for Christian School Scholarship for Underprivileged Children.
• Twice honored as Volunteer Citizen of Year by the Orlando Police Department.

Community Action

• A Life Long Community Volunteer. Jay Has Never Held Elective Office .
• Led a Successful Voter Referendum to Stop Overdevelopment and Protect Rural Lands.
• Consultant To The City of Altamonte Springs, Seminole State College and Florida Highway Patrol.
• Held Large Auto Manufacturers Accountable For Customer Safety.
• Worked Alongside Central Florida Marine Conservation To Promote Education And Preservation Of Our Natural Resources.
• Married 35 Years To Wife Lisa With Two Children.

JUDICIAL HISTORY:
• Appointed to the Circuit bench, 2015
• Assigned to Juvenile Delinquency, Juvenile Dependency, Probate, Guardianship and Mental Health (Baker Acts and Marchman Acts), Divorces and Domestic Violence Injunctions
• Administrative Judge for Juvenile Delinquency and Dependency, 2017 – present
• Administrative Judge for Probate, Guardianship and Mental Health, 2017 – present

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:
• Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, 2010 – 2015
General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel
• Law Office of Sherman and Souto, 2008 – 2010
• Seminole County State Attorney’s Office, 2002 – 2008
Assistant State Attorney

ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS:
• Seminole County Bar Association, Board of Directors
• Brevard County Bar Association
• Seminole County Inn of Court
• Central Florida Family Law Inn of Court
• Seminole County Community Leaders and Elected Officials
• Brevard County Civilian Military Council, 45th Space Wing
• Sertoma (Service to Mankind), Seminole County Chapter

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
• Seminole County Bar Association Distinguished Service Award, 2018
• Sheriff’s Commendation, 2014

Amy Pennock, a mom and a community leader, has a long career of working with community organizations and businesses to improve their finances.

As the owner of Pennock Consulting Group, Amy works for companies across the country, including the non-profit Shepherd’s Hope, providing outsourced Chief Financial Officer services. Prior to forming her small business in 2011, Amy held senior financial management positions in healthcare and construction, including Controller at Cathcart Contracting, Administrative Services Director at Florida Department of Health, and Assistant Controller at Osceola Regional Medical Center.

She holds two Master’s Degrees, one in business administration and another in, forensic accounting, as well as key certifications including Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Internal Controls Auditor.

Amy has been recognized for her work and being one of Central Florida’s top women entrepreneurs. She was recognized by Orlando Business Journal in 2015 as one of the top CFOs in their C-Level Awards. The Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce named Pennock Consulting Group as the best Home-based Business doing business in Seminole County in 2012.

Amy is devoted to giving back and improving the Seminole County community. She has served on boards of directors and volunteered for more than a dozen non-profit agencies. She currently is the president-elect for Florida Executive Women and serves on the board of Goodwill of Central Florida and the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce. She was the 2015-2017 event chair of Second Harvest Food Bank’s Wine Women & Shoes, which has raised over $1 million to help provide food for Central Floridians in need. She founded the Seminole Chamber’s State of City for Lake Mary and has volunteered for Junior Achievement in the classroom, inspiring students for a career in financial management. She is a current member of the Seminole County Public Schools Leadership Training Program.

Much of her community service is part of a personal mission to lead by example for her daughters and is also actively involved with her children’s activities. Amy is married to Tim, and has three daughters, Madison and twins Savannah and Delaney. She has volunteered as “room mother” and serves on the board of the PTSA at Crystal Lakes Elementary School. She also is the team manager for Madison’s softball team, the Renegade Girls, who play in the Lake Mary Little League.

Pennock moved to Seminole County in 2009and she and her family are long-time members of Grace United Methodist Church in Lake Mary. She is an active participant in the church’s Women Around the Table Group.

Bob was born in Brooklyn, New York to parents who had relocated from Puerto Rico. When Bob was 10 years old, they moved back to Puerto Rico. Bob grew up there, graduated from high school, and attended college majoring in Computer Programming with a minor in Business Administration. During his college days, Bob worked for his father in the family’s sewing operation and learned the value of hard work and being fiscally responsible.

The year before his last year of college, Bob married his wife, Virginia, and they were blessed with their first child Robert Jr. in 1985.

Bob and Virginia’s son Robert Jr. was born with cerebral palsy, and to find better treatment for him, they moved back to the mainland United States in September 1985.

In 1989, Bob’s little family moved to the Central Florida area and fell in love with the community. They knew that they were “home.” Bob founded and is still the co-owner of Cortes Towing Service, and in 1990, Bob joined the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida. His business was off and running, and he’s never looked back.

Along the way, Bob and Virginia were blessed with two more children Kylee and Randy, but in 1990, Robert Jr. went to be with the Lord due to his illness. That event has perhaps impacted Bob and Virginia and their entire family most powerfully and forever reinforced in their lives the importance of faith, family, and community.

Throughout his career, Bob has become deeply involved in the community and has started more business ventures. In 2005, he was elected to the Board of the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida and became Regional Director in the same year. In 2011, Bob started Cortrans Shuttle Service, a transportation provider that services Orlando Sanford International Airport, Orlando International Airport, the Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal, and area attractions.

Bob was elected to the Longwood City Commission in November 2009 by a 61% margin on his first try. He was elected Deputy Mayor in 2010. In 2012, he was re-elected to a second term by 60% of the votes. Bob is a former member of the Seminole County Community Traffic Safety Team, a graduate of the Florida League of Cities Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) and Advanced (IEMO). Bob is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). With this organization Bob has participated in several institutes including the Newly Elected Leadership Institute, the Redistricting Institute and the Fiscal Policy Institute hosted by NALEO and the Kellogg School of Business. He is a member of the South Seminole SERTOMA.

Bob and his wife Virginia are active members of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs.

Bob and Virginia welcomed their first grandson, Brayden Robert November 2012, their second grandson Logan David in March 2014, and their third grandson Jeremy Robert, welcomed July 2015.

Wayne Culver, a fourth generation Floridian, grew up in Winter Park, Florida, Seminole County with his brother and parents. Wayne earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Central Florida. He then moved to Boston to pursue a law degree graduating with a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. Upon passing both the Massachusetts and Florida bar he decided to return to Florida to continue his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. In this position he prosecuted every type of crime which included attempted murders, arson, sex and weapons offenses, narcotics, trafficking, DUI’s, home invasions, armed robberies, and property crimes.

In 2004, he started his own legal practice in Seminole County representing clients in all matters including: appeals, criminal defense, civil litigation, dependency, estate planning, family law, juvenile, real estate, and traffic violations. After five years, he decided to dedicate his career to the defense of low-income clients and joined the Office of the Public Defender for Seminole County. During his career, he has litigated thousands of cases and tried over a hundred trials. He has also served as the Misdemeanor Supervisor in the Public Defender’s Office training new attorneys, and has lectured at the University of Florida and Barry University on criminal law and criminal procedure. Wayne is a member of the Florida Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, and admitted to Federal Court the Middle District of Florida.

Wayne’s father, a Master Chief in the United States Navy, taught Wayne the importance of service to country and community as he was a volunteer for the Citizens on Patrol in Seminole County over 10 years during his retirement. Wayne learned the value of hard work from his parents, working at Costco Automotive Tire Department while attending college.

Wayne currently lives in Longwood, Florida with his wife Tara and their two children Evan and Olivia. Tara is a licensed Certified Public Accountant who also works in the public sector as the Assistant Controller for the City of Orlando. When Wayne is not working, he enjoys cooking and attending his children’s sporting events and activities. He also enjoys showing his family’s 1968 Mustang fast back, which he restored with his father and brother, at local area car shows.

The Amy Lockhart for Seminole County Commission Campaign announced the endorsement of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

“I am honored to have the support of our local realtors in my campaign for Seminole County Commission,” said Lockhart. “Realtors are friends and neighbors in our communities, and I am proud to count the thousands of Seminole County realtors as part our grassroots campaign. As the chief marketers for our communities, realtors understand the need for excellent schools, good paying jobs, low taxes, and safe neighborhoods, which are all key components of my campaign for County Commission District 4. Working together with our realtors, we can continue to make Seminole County the best destination in Central Florida for families to pursue the American Dream,” Lockhart said.

The Orlando Regional Realtors Association is one of the largest local trade associations in Florida, with more than 14,000 realtors in Orange, Seminole, and the surrounding counties.

Amy Lockhart is a wife, mom, community leader, and lifelong conservative. Currently the chairman of the Seminole County School Board, Amy is a strong proponent of choice and excellence in public education, with one child currently enrolled in Seminole County Public Schools, and another who graduated in 2014. Dubbed a “Recess Hero” by advocates around the state, Amy led the cause of “free play” recess periods for all elementary school students in Seminole County. She was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Seminole State College District Board of Trustees in 2014.

A native Floridian, Amy has called Central Florida home since 1996. She and her husband Tim have been married for 23 years and live in Sanford with their 2 awesome kids: Karis (Seminole High School c/o ‘14) and Jake (Lake Mary High School c/o ’19), both of whom attended Idyllwilde Elementary and Sanford Middle Schools. The Lockhart family attends St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Commissioner Aramendia has served on the City Commission since November 2011 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy for Seat #1 until the City election in August 2012. At that election, he was unopposed and completed the remainder of the term which expired in 2014. At the City election in August, 2014, Commissioner Aramendia again ran unopposed for Seat #1 and is presently serving his first full term on the Commission.

Commissioner Aramendia serves as the City’s representative on, and is Chairman of, the Council of Local Governments in Seminole County (CALNO). He is also the current Vice President of the Seminole Cultural Arts Council, Vice President of Casselberry’s Friends of the Park, Chairman of the annual “Earthfest” event, a Member of the Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka Board of Directors, a Leadership Seminole #25 Alumni, and a Member on both the Leadership Seminole Government Committee and the Arts and Culture Committee.

Commissioner Aramendia previously served on the Casselberry Planning and Zoning Commission for four years, two years as the Vice Chairman, and was Chairman for Casselberry’s Housing Task Force. He has been a City resident since 2004.

My platform can be summed up in the following 3 P’s:

PROTECT: We must protect our students, faculty and staff from those who seek to do harm. Safety of all students is my top priority. Teachers did not become educators to carry a gun. I am a high school teacher, and I do not desire to carry a gun in my classroom. Teachers don’t want to carry guns, they want to teach. The trained expert’s (SRO’s – School Resource Officers) should be protecting our schools and our classrooms so teachers can be unencumbered with another responsibility and be released to thrive in their craft and educate and inspire young minds! When students feel safe, great things happen in the classroom! Students who know they are protected and safe will learn.
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PREPARE: Seminole County Public Schools is one of the best school districts in the state of Florida. Our county has incredibly gifted teachers who are able to silence the noise and distractions from outside the school and focus on educating young minds inside the classroom. Seminole County is a great place to send your children to school. We will continue preparing students for college or career. Preparation for college will be through rigorous and relevant curriculum that will provide students with advanced opportunities for learning and be well prepared for the next level. Students who do not desire to go to college will have opportunities to engage in a career path through vocational classes. Students will be able to select from a host of vocational classes that will prepare them for a career as soon as they graduate! If a student takes an automotive, culinary, cosmetology, technology, carpentry, or one of many other vocational classes, they will be prepared for a promising future! I will be a proponent of vocational opportunities to meet the interest of our students and growing needs of our community.

PURPOSE: Teachers are in education to teach, not test. Give teachers their students back and let them return to their purpose and teach! Eliminate/curb standardized tests that are taking away weeks of teacher impact time. How do we do this? The SAT is a nationally recognized standardized test. Colleges look at SAT scores, not FSA scores, for admittance. I propose we use SAT for accountability in our high schools and we stop excessive testing of our students that is disrupting weeks of instructional time. (This is only one example.) Let teachers teach. Give teachers their students back!

I am not a politician. I am one of you. I am a husband, father, teacher and community leader (Pastor). I’m running for Seminole County school Board because the residents in this county deserve a leader who will represent them and their children. After 22 years teaching our students and 25 years serving our community as a pastor and 44 years living in Seminole County, I am ready to be your next school board representative.

I am running for District 1 seat but I will represent ALL of Seminole County. I hope that I have your support and vote!

Mark is a graduate of Bishop Moore High School in Orlando. He played collegiate basketball at Flagler College in St. Augustine. He is a graduate of Valencia College and the University of Central Florida with a degree in Biology. Mark is a small business owner who has focused on services to the transportation industry that help private and municipal fleets meet their environmental requirements. The business was recently recognized by Metro Plan for its clean air initiatives. Part of his business was acquired in 2013 by Seaboard Nuemann Distribution, one of the largest oil and lubricant distributors in Florida. Through that acquisition Mark continues to develop a segment of business for them. Before business ownership, Mark worked in operations and national fuel sales for the largest independent aviation fuel supplier in the country. During this time he also consulted for a start-up company that patented new bio-fuel and emission-dispensing technologies to meet standards required by the Clean Air Act. He traveled frequently to Washington, D.C., to work with industry stakeholders to define new rules and regulations for these emerging technologies.

Mark is a former elected official, having served as Vice Chairman of the Orange County Soil and Water District from 2004-2006. In his time in office he helped Central Florida communities source funds to assist with the clean-up and preservation of fresh water canals, rivers and lakes after the 2004 hurricane season. He is looking forward to using his experience with Central Florida fresh-water ecosystems to address the growing need for drinkable water and the ongoing protection of its natural treasures, like the Triplet Chain-of-Lakes.

Growing up in Pine Hills, Mark was exposed to a very diverse community on the West side of Orlando, in a family of seven. His Mother and Father have always been active in their community, spending countless hours over the last 25 years working with homeowners, local elected officials and county government to improve their community. They still publish a local news outlet, The Pine Hills Press, which focuses on community news, events and small business. Recently, they were recognized as “Pine Hills Pillars” by the Orange County Neighborhood Improvement District for their dedication and work. Growing up in this environment is where Mark’s interest in how communities interact with government was born. He came to recognize the importance of government but also experienced the problems caused by its failures and excesses. He grew to appreciate the importance of neighborhoods and communities working together to solve problems.

Marks wife, Elizabeth, grew up in Casselberry. Her Mother and Father are first-generation Americans, coming from Peru and Puerto Rico. They became citizens through our immigration system and are a perfect model for how the immigration process should work. They came here legally, learned English, became citizens, worked hard and created more opportunity for their children. Today, Elizabeth is a highly specialized Physical Therapist who consults in health, wellness and chronic pain disorders.

Mark’s strong belief in personal freedom, responsibility and supporting a united community centered around family, business and public safety have been instrumental in his decision to run for the City of Casselberry Commission #3 seat. He ran on a similar platform for the District 7 US Congressional race in 2016.

Judges need to be credible, competent and compassionate. I have over 21 years of diverse experiences. These experiences are both ones within the legal field and living within our community. I have prayed with clients and their families for justice to prevail. I know what it is like for a parent to be reunited with children that they thought were wrongfully taken away from them by the other parent. I have seen the wonderful transformation that a person experiences when they get the right legal help and are able to turn their lives around. I have life experiences that make me a legitimate person to be a well-qualified judge.

My competency in the courtroom is not just something I believe in, it is something that the Florida Bar believes in. I am a board certified criminal trial attorney. I know my way around a courtroom. My years of trial experience are exactly what a judge needs in order to conduct an efficient and fair trial.

My compassion for my fellow human being is evidenced every time I take up the cause of a client. This compassion is not a blind pursuit of justice. Rather, even when pressing my client’s legal cause, I am mindful of the fact that the other participants in the legal process deserve my respect and professionalism. My ability to passionately follow the law and respect the fact that the legislature, and not a judge, makes the laws are exactly what is required of a skilled judge serving this community.

I am a person who exemplifies credibility, competency and compassion both in and outside of the courtroom. I am the distinguished choice to be your next judge.

I respectfully ask for your vote on or before August 28th, 2018.

(GEMM) GOD’S ETERNAL MIRACLES MINISTRY, INC. – THE MISSION OF THIS NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION IS TO MINISTERTO THE COMMUNITIES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WITH FOCUS ON SPECIAL SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

ALTAMONTE COMMUNITY LEADERS – AT THE ROSENWALD CENTER
SEMINOLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH– BOARD OF ADVISORS
SEMINOLE COUNTY HEALTH COALITION
STATE OF FLA. – COMMISSION FOR TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED – SERVED AS THE CHAIRMAN OR MEMBER OF 5 SUBCOMMITTEES THAT OVERSAW THE $110,000,000 ANNUAL BUDGET THE PARA-TRANSIT INITIATIVE FOR THE DISABLED FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA
STATE OF FLA. – FAITH BASED INITIATIVE
PLEASANT GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH – NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL.
PEACEFUL ZION BAPTIST CHURCH – ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL.
SEMINOLE HERALD & OVIEDO/WINTER SPRINGS VOICE NEWSPAPERS – A WEEKLY COLUMN “SPECIAL PEOPLE” A COMMUNITY SERVICE COLUMN FOR THE DISABLED.

ALSO WROTE OTHER REGULAR COMMUNITY, GOVERNMENTAL AND POLITICAL NEWS FEATURES.

METROPLAN ORLANDO: TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED LOCAL COORDINATING BOARD (LCB)

SEMINOLE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
SEMINOLE COUNTY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
SEMINOLE COUNTY DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD / IMPACT FEE COMMITTEE

Since 1920, The League of Women Voters has stood for freedom: freedom to vote, freedom to understand the issues, to serve and be served, no matter how rich or how poor. Our mission is to encourage the informed, active participation of citizens in government.

A section in the LWVS handbook outlines the non-partisan policies of the league, as follows:

LWVSC NON-PARTISANSHIP POLITICAL POLICY

• The League, as an organization, takes political action on selected government issues.
• The League encourages its members to be politically active in their communities.
• The League, as an organization, shall neither support nor oppose:
• Any political party, candidate, or office holder for elective office, or
• Any group in its action for or against political parties or candidates. This policy applies to partisan and nonpartisan elections.
• Situations not specifically covered by these guidelines shall be reviewed and revised from time to time, especially prior to elections.
• Follow the Non-Partisanship Policy of the National and State Leagues.

Mike Miller believes in giving back and playing to win.  He has spent most of his career advancing common sense conservative principles, and supporting the community he loves.  Many people do not know that back in the day, he also had one heck of a fast ball, earning a scholarship to pitch for the University of Florida.

After his college baseball career, Mike worked for some of Florida’s legendary common-sense conservatives like U.S. Senator Connie Mack, Congressman Bill McCollum, U.S. Senator Mel Martinez and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.

In 2014, Mike first ran for public office and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives.  In a district that was evenly divided Republican and Democrat, Mike defeated the incumbent Democrat, Linda Stewart, who had been a popular two-term county commissioner. And in 2016, Mike handily defeated his Democratic opponent in a district where Hillary Clinton won by 12%.

Mike has fought tough battles in Tallahassee including balancing the state budget without tax or fee increases, improving public education by empowering parents and supporting the largest education budget in state history.

He supported $1 billion in tax cuts for Floridians – including cuts to the business rent tax which especially helps small businesses and filed legislation to prevent the government from collecting taxes from citizens on internet content. Mike has also taken a strong stance strengthening penalties for drug dealers and those committing terrorist acts and helping address Orlando’s homeless challenges.

Mike and his wife, Nora, have been married for 21 years and have two children in high school.  The Millers are active members of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Mike has been an advocate for affordable housing for seniors and families as Vice-Chair of Winter Park Housing Authority and continues to work to address the challenges facing our homeless youth by serving on the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness Committee on Youth Homelessness. Mike has coached local youth baseball and basketball for nearly 20 years and is a proud member of Rotary.

Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Florida, and an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.

Ben Paris, the first millennial Mayor of Seminole County, has announced re-election for Longwood City Commission, District 3.

Benjamin “Ben” Paris is a Lyman High School alumnus and resident of the City of Longwood. His work history is broad and extends to both the private and public sectors. After attending Seminole State College for two years, Ben began his professional career with Northrop Grumman Laser Systems Division. Ben later began his career at the City of Longwood while taking night classes at DeVry University. Over the next five years, Ben served in the City of Longwood Public Works Department where he acquired invaluable knowledge concerning the city’s infrastructure needs.

Mayor Paris was first elected to the Longwood City Commission in 2014 and was unanimously voted in as Mayor by his peers in November of 2017. He has spent the past four years focused on repairing Longwood’s stormwater systems, repaving old roads like the Florida Central Parkway, and working on other city transportation priorities. Mayor Paris’ unique experience as a Longwood citizen, a former city employee, and a current elected official have enabled him to make informed decisions that have led to results.

Other notable accomplishments include having established term limits for elected city officials, lowering permitting fees by 30%, and successfully reinvesting funds in city-wide sewer and stormwater projects.

If re-elected, Mayor Paris plans to focus on commercial development by bringing more small businesses, such as restaurants and local shops, to the city.

“As a resident of Longwood for the past twelve years, I have been honored to have played a role in revitalizing our city and protecting the personal freedoms of our residents. While we have accomplished many great things, Longwood has a long way to go in attracting new businesses and investment.”

The son of a teacher and a police officer – Joe Durso has always been taught the importance of public service and giving back to his community. As a Vice President of CBC of Central Florida, Joe has spent the past 14 years fighting for abused and neglected children, their families and other vulnerable groups in communities throughout Central Florida. As the youngest Mayor in Longwood’s history, Joe sought to bring innovative solutions and his ability to make tough decisions to meet the needs of a diverse and growing county. Joe’s leadership in Longwood has led to unprecedented economic growth, a higher quality of life, and a city rated one of the Top 10 safest cities in Florida.

Joe’s experience in the private and public sector has given him a clear, strong voice he can bring to the Seminole County Commission to STAND STRONG FOR YOU!

STANDING STRONG FOR SEMINOLE COUNTY’S FUTURE STARTS WITH…

Standing Strong for Economic Growth
Dedicated to protecting Seminole County’s robust economic expansion, Joe has a proven track record of keeping taxes low, reducing regulatory burdens, embracing transportation innovations and supporting responsible development. Joe believes a small, efficient, effective government will keep Seminole growing!

Standing Strong for Public Safety
Joe is a steadfast supporter of our first responders. As the son of a retired police officer, he is committed to ensuring that our police and firefighters have the resources needed to protect and serve our rapidly growing community. As Mayor of one of Florida’s safest cities, Joe knows what it takes to keep the public safe and to provide residents and visitors alike security and peace of mind.

Standing Strong for Seminole County’s Families
Joe has dedicated most of his private sector career to serving families. As a leader in the fight for abused, neglected and abandoned children, Joe has worked to ensure that children in Central Florida’s foster care system can grow up safe, happy and health. As an adjunct professor of political science at Seminole State College of Florida, Joe has used his experience in the public and private sector to give students a real world understanding of the limited role of local, state and federal government.

Standing Strong for Florida’s Natural Choice
As Seminole County grows, Joe is committed to protecting our community’s natural beauty and rural heritage for future generations. Ensuring a safe and sustainable water supply and preserving the Rural Boundary is vital to ensuring a livable community and maintaining a high quality of life.

She is a conservative Republican running to be Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Growing up in Wauchula, Denise’s family has deep roots going back generations in Florida agriculture as cattle ranchers and citrus growers. Denise is a member of the Peace River Valley and Highlands County Citrus Grower’s Associations, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and the Florida Farm Bureau.

She received her degrees from Polk Community College and Warner Southern College, and earned an MBA from the University of Miami.

Denise has spent most of her career serving those in need as a registered nurse. But when her father became ill, she left nursing to run her family’s small business and experienced the frustrations of government red tape and bureaucracy firsthand. Those frustrations and her commitment to serving others is what led her to run for office in the Florida House and Senate.

In the Legislature, Denise has been a tireless advocate for Florida agriculture. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and is the recipient of the 2017 Florida Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year award.

Today, Denise serves as a hospital administrator, focusing on patient care, customer satisfaction, and fiscal responsibility. And she still works her family’s citrus and cattle operations.

Family and faith are central to Denise’s life. She is proud and grateful for her parents, who have been married more than 60 years, her daughter Nicole, and her grandchildren Tyson and Jillian.

As Commissioner of Agriculture, Denise will bring her conservative Heartland values and commitment to serving others to Tallahassee to fight for our farmers, protect consumers and seniors, and defend our Second Amendment rights. Her mission will be to run a Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that puts people first, responsibly uses our tax dollars, and meets the needs of Florida farmers.

Denise believes Florida is the best place in America to work, raise kids, and retire. She will always work hard to improve the quality of life we all value. Denise loves the land, our waters, and our vibrant agricultural community, and she will fight to protect Florida farmers and families as our next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

As a Seminole County school teacher, Cade Resnick has instructed more than 3000 students over the course of 16 years. His students view him as a guide and mentor in the classroom and many continue to seek him for career guidance after graduating. He focuses on teaching his students essential content and important life lessons they can use beyond the classroom. Cade’s life focus has always been to consider beyond the immediate opportunity; to truly understand what’s happening. As a teacher, guiding the future, we always should ask why… using this guiding force is Cade’s way of facilitating community and government opportunities.

Cade is involved in partnership with the State of Florida and Seminole County on committees that guide the future of our education. From textbook adoption, Marzano Evaluation and the integration of higher standards into curriculum, Cade is experienced in many of these processes.

In 2010, Cade was elected to the City of Winter Springs Commission, where he was extensively involved as a stalwart of the budget and community relations. Focused on maintaining a healthy budget with no additional debt; Cade has worked through many community issues that have been able to be resolved – leaning toward the benefit of the citizens. As the economy has improved, his focus has also been on improving parks within the city and is working with staff to rebuild a complete park making it a destination for those outside of the city.

Partnering with teachers and community members locally and within the State, Cade has lobbied the legislature in dealing with educational issues, teacher issues, student’s issues and most recently has been involved in discussions on testing issues. Cade is a member in several local committees focused on helping our youth, as well as the Florida League of cities where he currently sits on the Committee for Economic Development in the State of the Florida.

Cade, a family man, is married to Shawna Resnick, who is also a teacher in Seminole County, and has 2 children Aiden and Merissa. Aiden is currently a 2ndgrader and Merissa will be entering VPK in August of 2018 within Seminole County. Having moved to Seminole county in 2001, Cade has spent his time involved as a teacher since 2002.