Scott Powers
Republican businessman David Smith announced Tuesday he has filed to run for Florida’s House District 28 in 2018, seeking the seat that will be vacated by the term limit of state Rep. Jason Brodeur.
Smith, 56, of Winter Springs, is a retired Marine Corps colonel and former director of the Marines simulation and modeling center in the University of Central Florida’s Research Park.
He ran against then-U.S. Rep. John Mica in the 2014 Republican primary, finishing second in a four-way race, with 19 percent. Mica got 72 percent.
Smith is the second candidate to enter the race for Brodeur’s seat, following 19-year-old Devin Guillermo Perez, a Democrat.
“Serving this country for over 30-years in the U.S. Marine Corps was one of the greatest honors of my life,” Smith stated in a news release. “During my time in the service, I saw firsthand how important it is to fight for democracy and defend our way of life.
“Now, I’m ready to continue my service as Central Florida’s conservative voice in the Florida House of Representatives, where I’ll fight to reduce veteran homelessness and unemployment and protect our conservative values,” said Smith.
