Floyd Self for School Board District 4

ABOUT FLOYD

I have always believed that candidates are more than just their positions on the issues. What has always mattered to me is the quality of the person - is this someone who could be your trusted friend or business partner, and someone you can count on to always to do the right thing no matter how hard it is.

The person I am today, and the principles I live my life by, were instilled by my parents, community, church, and the public schools. I was inspired by people like President Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, the triumphs of science and discovery in our space program, and even the turbulence and challenges of the civil rights movement, the Viet Nam war, and Watergate all taught me valuable lessons about the importance of leadership, hard work, an outstanding education, social justice, and honesty.

I attended FSU and graduated after three years with a B.S. cum laude in government and history in 1977. I attended graduate school in legal history at the University of Virginia with the idea that I might become a teacher. While in Charlottesville, Virginia, only a year, living there made me realize that my home should be in Tallahassee. In 1979, I returned to Tallahassee and worked for the state until 1983, when I began law school at FSU.

While in law school I was a member of the Law Review and its founding Legislative Editor. I also worked for a year as a legislative intern in the Florida House of Representatives, and I had the privilege of serving for a semester as a law clerk in the Florida Supreme Court for Justice Parker Lee McDonald. I received my J.D. degree in 1986, graduating with honors.

In law school I began clerking with the law firm that still employs me today, more than 20 years later. However, when I first began working as an attorney, the firm was not called Messer, Caparello & Self, P.A., as it is today. My experience has been focused in the areas of public utilities, especially telecommunications law, as well as in the areas of local government regulatory issues, technology, general corporate, administrative law, and appeals, including the privilege of arguing two cases before the Florida Supreme Court.

My wife Eileen and I have been blessed with two wonderful sons - John, now a sophomore at Georgia Tech, and Christopher, who will graduate from Leon in 2008. We've learned a lot about ourselves raising these boys, and we are so grateful for the terrific teachers they have had while enrolled at Gilchrist Elementary, Raa Middle School, and Leon.

One of the things we have done together as a family is Boy Scouts. I am proud to say that both John and Chris have now earned their Eagle Scout ranks. Together we have undertaken some amazing adventures together with the Boy Scouts.

I have been honored to participate in many Scouting leadership positions, and to receive numerous awards and recognitions, but serving as a mentor and role model to hundreds of youth in our area is the real reward and at the end of the day, what really matters.

The duty to serve others has also given me the opportunity to help numerous other organizations in Tallahassee. Some of my other important community involvements have included:

• Challenger Learning Center, Board Member (2004-present).
• Grace Lutheran Church, worship reader, usher, communion assistant.
• Leadership Tallahassee: Member of Class 20 (2002-2003)); Class 24 Curriculum Chair (2006-2007); Board of Governors (2005-2008).
• Leon County School Board, School Board Community Representative for the Selection Committees for a Construction Manager, for Pineview Elementary School and Chiles High School.
• School volunteer, speaker, guest teacher, or chaperone: Chiles High School, Gilchrist Elementary, Leon High School, Nims Middle School, Raa Middle School, Sealy Elementary.
• Youth Leadership Tallahassee: Co-founder as member of LT Class 20 (2003); Class 1 Curriculum Committee (2003-2005); Class 2 Curriculum Chair (2005-2006).

We are going to have some very difficult decisions to make in the coming years regarding taxes and budgets. The variety of experiences I have had in both the government and private sectors would bring a unique perspective that can lead to better decisions by the School Board. My proven leadership and unwavering integrity can be counted to take our schools to the next level.

Our legacy is our children. And the quality of the education they receive says a lot about who we are as a people. Let's work together to give them the best education possible. As your School Board member my commitment is to be there for our kids and to work hard every day to make that dream come true for every child.

Contribute to my Campaign

Please make a contribution today to my campaign. Any amount is appreciated, $25, $50, $100, $250. The maximum contribution is $500 per person or business.

Please call me and I will arrange to pick up your check or you may mail it to:
Floyd Self Campaign
2924 Coldstream Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Thank you for your support.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Floyd Self for School Board, District 4