Candidate: David Schmidt

David is the son of Robert and Leslie Schmidt. He is a brother to Paul and Kevin Schmidt and Abbey Alderman. David is married to Shannon Lyndsay Schmidt and together have five blessings: Neyland, Bennett, Malachi, Ramsey and Sawyer. Can't forget Layla the Goldendoodle! Shannon and David are both graduates of the Okaloosa County School system.

Over the last seven years David has been active in Educational Leadership and Public Service. For the last seven years David has been both a Director at a dropout prevention school, the most challenging educational environment, while also serving the residents, businesses and churches as an elected Fort Walton Beach Councilman. While serving in these two capacities the last seven years, here are some examples of action that has been taken to improve the quality of life through education.

1. As a local legislator, David has supported the mission of the HSU Educational Foundation that educates and provides access for more students and families to engage in state of the art STEM programs.

2. In 2021, David worked with City leadership and the Montessori school to execute a lease with an option to purchase land next door to the Emerald Coast Science Center to increase access for more educational opportunities.

3. Worked alongside the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors.

4.  Increased the graduation rate each year over the previous six years while serving the dropout prevention population.  

David has participated in local educational programs offered by the HSU Educational Foundation through participating in multiple educational programs they have to offer at both their Fort Walton Beach and Crestview locations. David is proud of his students Unmanned Aerial Vehicle team, that have placed in the top 3 multiple times when competing against other students throughout the County. 

Another program is the Emeril Lagasse Full Circle Kitchen. Where a local organization called Food For Thought stewards with local Chef's to teach our students to be able to cook. Where all students will gain knowledge in how to cook for themselves and their families but also some students have chosen to take the next step into making it a career.

David and Shannon also started a Not-for-profit in March of 2013 called Financial Storehouse. Where he coaches students, individuals and groups on financial literacy. Some examples of the work that has been done in the community reaches from teaching a course on financial literacy to the Fort Walton Beach High School Leadership class, provided 200 memberships to local youth to access the recreation center, to leading a financial literacy class called Financial Peace University 12 times at Shalimar United Methodist Church, and sponsored many community programs like Bikes or Bust, which is an annual event where hundreds of bikes are given away each year to kids who have not had the privilege to own a bike.  

As you see, the impact through education is something important David has worked on executing during his time in Public Service and in Educational Leadership. 

To learn more about David, contact him at 850.685.0631 and/or on his facebook page.