Smith’s opponent, Mary Gray Black, has a history of anti-LGBT discrimination. In 2007, with Black leading the charge, the Largo City Commission made national headlines when they voted to fire then-city manager Steve Stanton, when they learned that Stanton was transgender and was planning to transition to Susan Stanton.

Today Stanton has moved on and was welcomed as the City Manager of Lake Worth, Florida.

Smith is a Pinellas County native, born in Largo and is a librarian and appointed by Mayor Gerard to serve on the Largo Historical Preservation Advisory Committee. In addition to his support of LGBT issues, he believes in a common-sense approach to fiscal responsibility and wants to preserve the quality of life in Largo.

Nadine took the time to thank President Obama for his efforts to pass anti-hate crimes legislation, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” while urging an end to anti-LGBT discrimination in health care. She also urged further action to stop marriage and employment discrimination.

“I was able to talk one-on-one with the President about the challenges my family faces and the complexity of gaining or losing protections for my wife and my son as we cross state lines.”