Meet Mike Yost: Candidate for the US Congress in Florida’s 3rd District

As owner of The Conservative Candidate (www.theconservativecandidate.org) website, I have recently had the distinct honor of coming to know Mr. Mike Yost, a humble yet driven man who has made his way in this world by the sweat of his brow. Mike Yost is running for Congress in Florida’s 3^rd District in 2010. I am pleased to introduce you to him here on my blog.

Michael “Mike” Yost grew up getting his hand dirty at his Grandpa’s Volkswagen Dealership in Bluefield, VA. Bluefield, known as “Virginia’s Tallest Town”, is located on the Virginia/West Virginia border about 2 hours east of Roanoke. Mike believes that his small town, conservative upbringing and countless hours spent learning about his Grandpa’s business cutting grass, sweeping floors and cleaning dirty parts taught him “the value of hard work, opportunity, and success from achievement.” By and through these lessons Mike worked hard to open his own automotive repair facility and also worked as an insurance agent and manager. In 1999 the economy took a turn for the worse. Facing increasing “government regulations and higher city taxes” Yost did what any good practicing Conservative would do and decided to close up shop and move to Florida rather than take on debt he would not be able to repay.

It was in Florida where he met Debra Youmans whom he affectionately describes as the “love of [his] life.” Though he admits that initially Debra thought he was crazy for wanting to run for Congress she has been his rock and consistently supported him in his “beliefs for our nation.” Debra and Mike reside in Jacksonville, FL and are engaged and will be married this coming Fall.

I asked Mr. Yost what his deciding factor was in choosing to run for Congress. Like many Conservatives, he could not point to a single issue but a group of related issues that all boil down to one; Loss of liberties. He cites “massive debt being burdened on our future generations,“ bank bailouts, automotive buyouts, and imposed nanny provisions as his prime movers. If elected to represent the people of Florida’s 3^rd Yost intends to immediately attack the “Liberal’s spending spree” with a Balanced Budget Act. In a very firm statement to me Mike says:

“We MUST stop punishing those who strive for success by taxing them more and more or we end up with a nation of medocrity- where we are all are equally poor. We MUST have a balanced budget and start paying down this nation’s debt. If we don't, our credit will be collected…by those who hold that debt. It will drive our nation’s money into the levels of worthlessness as no one will continue to buy our debts…We become strong when we are financially capable of funding and paying for [necessities] rightfully as function of government. “

According to Yost, unemployment in Florida’s third district is approaching 11%. To encourage hiring he will work to ease taxes on small businesses and reduce regulations on industries important to the constituents of the 3^rd district as well as the Nation. He contends that “more and more [jobs] will leave for China, Indonesia, India and other places where government is business friendly,” if we don’t make these important changes. Mr. Yost is deeply concerned that “we no longer MAKE things in this nation” and believes positive improvements in fiscal responsibility will return jobs to the United States. He adds that he “can bring about those changes in regulations and taxation that WILL bring those industries back,” and that “people CAN AND WILL get back to work.”

Mike Yost attributes his Conservative stance to a strong adherence to fiscal responsibility in his personal life. Out of control government spending conflicts with his values and principles as a Conservative and he feels strongly about returning sanity to the National Budget. He cites the Declaration of Independence and holds dear the affirmation that we all have right to pursue liberty and happiness and not have those rights dictated to us as outlined by an over reaching, centralized, federal government. As the bureaucracy continues to grow Mike says that the “ideals of smaller government” incrementally disappear. He believes in “free enterprise ideas and solutions, opportunity for all, and prosperity available for those who seek it.” He stands “on principles that made this nation what it is today, not the "greatness of our government" as envisioned by the Liberals/Statists.”

If you want to learn more about Mike Yost and his Congressional campaign please visit his campaign on the web at www.yostforcongress.com You can read his blog at http://thecommonconservative.com/ or his page on www.TheConservativeCandidate.org