Suzanne Kosmas

Infobox State Representative
honorific-prefix =
name=Suzanne Kosmas
honorific-suffix =


imagesize = 150px


state_house=Florida
state=Florida
district= 28th
term=1996 - 2004
preceded=
succeeded=
election_date = November 4, 2008
date of birth=birth date and age|1944|2|25
place of birth = Washington, DC
date of death=
place of death=
spouse = divorced
party = Democratic
residence = New Smyrna Beach, Florida
alma_mater = Stetson University
occupation = business owner, real estate broker
religion = Methodist
website = [http://www.kosmasforcongress.com/ www.kosmasforcongress.com]

Suzanne M. Kosmas is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative to represent Florida's 24th congressional district, challenging Republican incumbent and former Florida House of Representatives Speaker Tom Feeney in the 2008 election.

Kosmas was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 through 2004, serving four consecutive terms before being term-limited. In the state legislature, she took a moderate, common-sense approach to government and served in leadership within her caucus.

As the State Representative for District 28, Kosmas successfully fought for children’s issues, including more money for local schools and leading the charge in 2004 to expand health care for children. Though she was consistently on the back bench in the Florida House, Kosmas worked hard to be heard in the chamber. Kosmas also helped tried to improve health care for senior citizens. A self-described fiscal conservative, Kosmas also voted to eliminate taxes on investments by businesses into government services, joined efforts to quash a proposed tax on services, and has been supported by the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Kosmas voted to loosen requirements and make it easier for foreign nationals and illegal immigrants to get a driver’s license or state identification card. She was succeeded in the Florida House by Republican Dorothy Hukill.

Kosmas is the owner of Prestige Properties of New Smyrna Beach, a real estate company located in New Smyrna Beach since 1979. She was active in planning, development and exclusive marketing of an award-winning environmentally planned community in New Smyrna Beach. Kosmas is a member of Coronado Methodist Church, where she recently served on a mission team assisting in construction of a pre-school in Guatemala. Southeast Volusia Habitat for Humanity recently recognized Kosmas for leadership in initiating the first “women build” home in New Smyrna Beach, constructed for a single mother with children.

Kosmas has lived in New Smyrna Beach since 1973 and is the mother of four grown children, Paul, Michael, David, and Kristen, and grandmother of nine.

Kosmas graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stetson University in 1998, having previously attended Penn State University, George Mason University and Daytona Beach Community College. Kosmas was a sitting member of the Florida Legislature when she graduated.

Her community activities included participation in the following:
* Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA),
* Volusia County Readiness Coalition,
* Success By 6,
* Volusia/Flagler Boys & Girls Club,
* Southeast Volusia Habitat for Humanity,
* Friends of Spruce Creek,
* New Smyrna Beach Chamber of Commerce,
* Volusia County Cultural Arts Advisory Board,
* Southeast Volusia Historic Foundation Board,
* United Way of Volusia County,
* Volusia Vision,
* Futures, Inc.,
* East Central Florida Regional Planning Council,
* Volusia County Environmental & Natural Resources,
* Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program.

ee also

* United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2008
* Florida's 24th congressional district

External links

* [http://www.kosmasforcongress.com/ Suzanne Kosmas for U.S. Congress] , Campaign website
* [http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=FL24&Cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Suzanne_Kosmas Profile] from SourceWatch Congresspedia
* [http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4120&SessionId=28 Profile, sponsored bils and photo album] from the "Florida House of Representatives"