21 Facts About Suzanne Kosmas

Suzanne M Kosmas was born on February 25,1944 and is the former US Representative for, serving one term from 2009 until 2011.

Suzanne Kosmas previously served in the Florida House of Representatives.

Suzanne Kosmas has owned Prestige Properties of New Smyrna Beach, a real estate company, since 1979.

In 1996, when incumbent State Representative Jack Ascherl opted against seeking re-election, Suzanne Kosmas ran to succeed him in the 28th District, which included eastern Volusia County.

Suzanne Kosmas was initially scheduled to face Ted Doran, a Port Orange attorney in the Democratic primary, but at the last minute, Governor Lawton Chiles persuaded Doran to run in the 27th District instead.

Suzanne Kosmas focused her campaign on economic development, education, juvenile crime, and healthcare.

On education, Suzanne Kosmas emphasized her support for reducing class sizes, accountability for local school districts, and on creating alternative learning environments for disruptive children.

Suzanne Kosmas noted her concern that, while violent crime was decreasing, juvenile crime was increasing, and argued that reducing truancy, using the educational system to identify at-risk children, and working with community leaders to develop home-grown solutions could help address the issue.

Chiles repeatedly visited the district to campaign for Suzanne Kosmas, arguing that Ascherl left large shoes to fill and that she had the leadership credentials to replace him.

When Suzanne Kosmas ran for re-election in 1998, she was opposed by Republican nominee Jerry Gardner, a staffer who had worked at the local state attorney's office and for the State Senate's criminal justice committee.

Suzanne Kosmas emphasized her experience in the legislature, legislative accomplishments, and moderate views, while Gardner argued that she was ideologically out-of-step with the more conservative district.

In 2000, Suzanne Kosmas ran for re-election against former Volusia County School Board Member Deborah Denys, who focused her campaign on her support for charter schools and school vouchers.

Suzanne Kosmas focused on her support for public schools and campaigned against Denys's proposal to provide public funds for private school vouchers, and noted her opposition to abortion regulations.

Denys attacked Suzanne Kosmas for opposing the right to fly the American flag, opposing classrooms displaying the Constitution, and supporting providing drivers licenses to foreign nationals.

Suzanne Kosmas argued that the attacks were inaccurate and misstated her record.

When Suzanne Kosmas was term-limited in 2004, she was succeeded by Republican Dorothy Hukill.

In 2009, Suzanne Kosmas joined with the Democratic majority to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, and the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Suzanne Kosmas originally voted along with 38 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Suzanne Kosmas was one of the top recruits for the Democrats in the 2008 cycle.

In 2008, Suzanne Kosmas campaigned on issues such as fiscal conservatism, support for veterans, and values like integrity and transparency.

Ironically, two years after handing Feeney the largest margin of defeat for a Republican incumbent in the 2008 cycle, Suzanne Kosmas herself lost by the second-largest margin of any Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle, after Chet Edwards of Texas.