ABOUT.

The Representative

David Smith was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018. He now represents the citizens of House District 38. The district encompasses the Southwestern section of Seminole County and includes portions of Oviedo, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Fern Park, Altamonte Springs and Wekiva Springs.

After 30 years of service, David retired at the rank of Colonel from the U.S. Marine Corps. He has worked in the private sector of Central Florida’s Simulation & Training industry for the last ten years. He is a Business Consultant.

Representative Smith is a member of the following committees: 

The Office of the Public Counsel was created by the Florida Legislature to provide legal representation for the people of the state in utility related matters before the Florida Public Service Commission.  The Public Counsel exists under the auspices of the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight.  It intervenes in rate proceedings before the Florida Public Service Commission and counties involving electric utilities, as well as in numerous proceedings involving gas, water, and wastewater utilities.

The Commerce Committee considers matters related to Florida’s economy, business and professional regulation, housing, transportation infrastructure, energy, utilities,telecommunications, insurance, financial entities, and gaming.

 

The Ways & Means Committee’s purview encompasses issues concerning all state and local taxes and select non‐tax revenue sources. The committee addresses statutory and constitutional policy regarding tax rates, tax base design, and collection and enforcement parameters. The committee’s work also addresses debt financing policy, tax administration, and enforcement of tax laws.

The Rules & Ethics Committee submits Special Order Calendars for adoption by the House and recommends procedures for the management of the floor process. The committee considers matters related to ethics and standards of conduct for public officers and employees. The Rules & Ethics Committee will also address breaches of decorum, policy, and propriety by Members.

The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee considers matters related to transportation infrastructure, energy, utilities, telecommunications services, broadband services, telephone solicitation, and new and unique marketplaces.

The Justice Budget Subcommittee makes recommendations to the Budget Committee as it pertains to Florida’s Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Legal Affairs (Attorney General), State Court System, Justice Administration and the Commission on Offender Review.

The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee makes recommendations to the Budget Committee as it pertains to Florida’s Workforce Education, Florida College System, State Universities, Private Colleges & Universities, Student Financial Aid, Division of Blind Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Board of Governors.

David’s family moved to Central Florida in 1972. His father was a career U.S. Army officer and Vietnam Veteran. His extended family still lives in Merritt Island.

Growing up and throughout high school, David was very active in sports. He played on both community and school baseball, basketball, football, and tennis teams. Additionally, he acted in multiple community theater productions, which included roles in Inherit the Wind, Guys & Dolls, Harvey, The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Lion in Winter, Macbeth, As You Like It, and Jesus Christ Superstar. David attended vocational training in high school and earned a certification in welding.

David attended Texas A&M University on a military scholarship and graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Upon graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. David earned his wings of gold at NAS Pensacola launching his career as a UH-1N helicopter pilot.

During his career he flew more than 4,500 accident free flight hours and was a designated Weapons and Tactics Instructor. He made six extended deployments overseas or aboard ship, including a combat tour flying in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to his flying duties, David also had multiple assignments as a Program Manager overseeing military procurement contracts.

After graduating from the Defense Acquisition University he was selected by the Marine Corps as one of their first Acquisition Professionals. David also holds a Master’s degree from Florida Institute of Technology in Business Management.

He had Command assignments or Program Management responsibility for three separate billion-dollar programs, and his final Marine Corps assignment was leading a military and civilian workforce at the Central Florida Research Park that managed $1.4 billion worth of Simulation & Training projects.

After 30 years of service, David retired at the rank of Colonel. He has worked in the private sector of Central Florida’s Simulation & Training industry for the last seven years. He currently owns a business consulting company.

Colonel David Smith lives in Winter Springs and is very active in community affairs. He is a Paul Harris fellow at the Winter Springs Rotary Club, a member of the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, VFW Post 5405 and multiple other Veterans organizations and local non-profit groups. He is a member of Leadership Orlando class #78 and Leadership Seminole class #26. David is a member of CrossLife Church in Oviedo.