Suzanne Kosmas

Suzanne Kosmas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 24th district
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by Tom Feeney
Succeeded by Sandy Adams
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 28th district
In office
1996 - 2004
Preceded by Jack Ascherl[1]
Succeeded by Dorothy Hukill[2]
Personal details
Born (1944-02-25) February 25, 1944
Washington, DC
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) divorced
Residence New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Alma mater Pennsylvania State University
George Mason University
Stetson University (B.A.)
Profession real estate broker

Suzanne M. Kosmas (born February 25, 1944) is the former U.S. Representative for Florida's 24th congressional district, serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives.

Early life, education and career

Kosmas has lived in New Smyrna Beach since 1973. She has owned Prestige Properties of New Smyrna Beach, a real estate company, since 1979. Kosmas attended The Pennsylvania State University and George Mason University, later graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Stetson University in 1998.[3]

Florida House of Representatives

Kosmas represented the 28th District in the Florida House of Representatives for four consecutive terms, 1996 through 2004, before being term-limited. She was succeeded by Republican Dorothy Hukill.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee Assignments

Votes

In 2009, Kosmas joined with the Democratic majority to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,[4] the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009,[5] the American Clean Energy and Security Act,[6] and the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.[7] She originally voted along with 38 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act.[8] However, she switched to a "Yes" vote for the Senate version of the bill.[9][10]

Political campaigns

2008

Kosmas was one of the top recruits for the Democrats in the 2008 cycle. Despite the wide perception that Feeney had drawn the 24th for himself while still serving as state house speaker (the district included most of his state house district), the district is actually a fairly marginal district on paper, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+4. It includes most of Democratic-leaning Volusia County, where Kosmas lives.

In 2008, Kosmas campaigned on issues such as fiscal conservatism, support for veterans, and values like integrity and transparency.[11] Feeney was attacked in independent expenditure ads for his ties to Jack Abramoff, the negative perception of which was exacerbated by Feeney's own.[12]

In the November election, Kosmas won, taking 57% of the vote to Feeney's 41%[13] — the largest margin of defeat for a Republican incumbent in the 2008 cycle.

2010

Kosmas defeated former Winter Springs Mayor Paul Partyka in the Democratic primary.

Kosmas was defeated for re-election by former State Representative Sandy Adams on Nov. 2, 2010 by a 60% to 40% margin. Ironically, two years after handing Feeney the largest margin of defeat for a Republican incumbent in the 2008 cycle, Kosmas herself lost by the second-largest margin of any Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle.

References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Tom Feeney		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 24th congressional district
2009-2011 		Succeeded by
Sandy Adams
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