ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Equality Florida Action PAC has announced its endorsement of Michael Smith for Largo City Commission, Seat One. Smith, who would become Largo’s first gay comm issioner,
is running a strong grassroots campaign. He has also been endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the Largo Firefighters Association, and St. Pete councilman Steve Kornell.
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.