Businessman To Challenge Tobia In 2014 GOP Primary
By Matt O'Hern // August 8, 2013
STREET SERVED IN U.S. MARINES
BREVARD COUNTY • MALABAR, FLORIDA – A Marine veteran will challenge State Representative John Tobia (R-Melbourne Beach) in the upcoming 2014 Republican Primary race for Florida’s 53rd District seat.
Tim Street, a native of Detroit, Michigan, served in the U.S. Marines from 1996 to 2001 and currently works in the telecommunications industry. Street, who is married and a father of two daughters, left Michigan for family medical reasons. He moved from Broward County to Brevard County in 2009.
He views the economic turmoil in his native state as a warning for Floridians.
“Seeing the town you’re born in fall victim to 60 years of liberalism is a case study on how not to run a government,” Street said. “Are we better off than Detroit? Absolutely, but we have to fight to keep it that way. I never thought I would get involved with politics. I wasn’t one of those kids who ran for class president. I never said I wanted to be a Congressman, but we’re getting to a tipping point. We can’t wait any longer with the trajectory we’re on right now. Government is getting bigger and the private sector is compressing.”
For Street, the inspiration to run for office came from Tobia’s lack of criticism for policies Street viewed as harmful to Floridans’ individual liberties.
“John is obviously a patriot who served his state and I admire him for it,” Street said. “It’s not anything that he’s done that concerns me as much as what he has not done. I haven’t heard him as an outspoken proponent limiting government. I haven’t heard him trying to repeal bills that are onerous. It wouldn’t take me six years for people to understand that I don’t like onerous government, socialized medicine or government interfering with the private sector. We have too many people standing on the sidelines instead of fighting for what is right and standing on principals.”
Street’s involvement in charities and non profits includes St. Baldrick’s (Child Leukemia charity), Angel Flight and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is also a member of the National Rifle Association and Heritage Foundation Presidents Club. Street plans to announce a website within the next few weeks.
You can find his Facebook page at facebook.com/timstreet2014
