Mitch Reed
Non-Partisan | Florida
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, Masters Leadership Studies, 2018-2019
Johnson University, Knoxville, TN, Bachelor of Science, Counseling, 2004-2009
WORK & MILITARY
United States Army, Officer, 2010-2020
AFFILIATIONS
UKnightedXP, Inc, CEO, 2018-2026
United Cajun Navy, National Technical Liaison, 2025-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Okaloosa County School Board, District 3, 2026-
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q1 (01/01/2026 - 03/31/2026) from Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $100.00 contribution from Cynthia West (Okaloosa School Board Candidate)
Campaign Treasurer's Report - Q3 (07/01/2025 - 09/30/2025) from Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections
Selected contributions/expenditures:
- $50.00 contribution from Cynthia West (Okaloosa School Board Candidate)
Complete list of candidate's Campaign Finance Reports can be found on the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections website.
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
I absolutely agree.
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
Public schools should advocate and educate to the best of their ability and within their ethical and legal limitations. If not homeschooling, parents and guardians should partner with their school(s) of choice to ensure that students have the resources and tools they need to succeed and to safeguard human life and the well-being of all involved. This should include but not be limited to, 1) Clear procedures and policies, 2) Academic accommodations, 3) Appropriate staff training, 4) Fact-based resources, 5) Community partnerships.
ECONOMY
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely. It is irresponsible for one to assume debt or debts that they cannot or do not intend to pay back. This is one of many reasons why I advocate for financial literacy to be brought back into our public schools.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
My position on government funding of public education (pre-K through college) is rooted in fiscal responsibility, parental rights, local control, and focused on measurable results aligned with workforce demands vs. bureaucracy, waste, or ideological agendas.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Public schools should retain neutrality, not hostility towards faith: 1) No establishment of religion or coercion: government should not run churches or favor certain religions or theologies. 2) Protect free exercise: all students should retain their constitutional rights. 3) Accurate education vs indoctrination. Teach accurate history, including Christianity. 4) Parental rights first. The issue is not too much faith; it is aggressive secularism that often marginalizes Christians.
IMMIGRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Disagree
I will uphold parental rights, require notification for sensitive health and well-being issues, and protect students from premature sexualization or political indoctrination. Schools must remain neutral ground, focused on reading, writing, math, critical thinking, and character development.
Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Strongly Agree
There must absolutely be consequences for bad behaviors and poor decisions, helping to ensure our classrooms are free from disruption, bullying, and violence, including cybersafety and cybersecurity. I support policies that back our teachers with clear, enforceable rules, due process (as required), and parental involvement in partnership with our schools. Safe schools protect the right of everyone, not just the students, but every staff member, volunteer, and member of the community.
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely, and at a bare minimum, this should include the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Federalist Papers.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Reducing federal overreach is important, but that also means running our schools more efficiently to ensure we operate in a manner that is sustainable. Public schools should be a competitive option school, ensuring transparency and accountability at the local level. Education excellence begins in our communities, based on workforce demands, not in distant bureaucracies. We can adopt industry best practices and standards, and external agencies may assist, but control must reside with the taxpayer
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
I support age-appropriate, biologically accurate sexual education that prioritizes parental involvement and student well-being. Parents have the primary right to guide their children’s moral and sexual development. Any school program must be transparent, allow full parental opt-out, and avoid ideological indoctrination.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
Mathematics Language Arts Science Vocational Learning American History & Civics Physical Fitness Personal Finances Information Technology Art & Music Foreign Language
Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.
Strongly Agree
Policies should refocus resources to support excellence in the classroom and strength of character as they go hand in hand to secure America’s future.
School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely, competitive marketplace options are essential for a modern quality education.
VALUES
Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Disagree
No. Biological males should not compete in women’s sports or occupy women’s private spaces.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian leader with conservative values, rooted in biblical principles: the sanctity of life, the importance of the traditional family, personal integrity, hard work, and loving my neighbor. As a husband, father of five, and Army veteran, I strive to lead with humility, wisdom, and moral courage. I believe in the ethical commitment to parental rights, protecting children, fiscal responsibility, and serving our community with honesty and accountability.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
In Okaloosa County schools, this means robust parental notification for health and well-being issues, transparency in curriculum and materials, opt-out rights, and policies that treat parents as the primary decision-makers. Schools work best as partners with families, not substitutes.
I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Strongly Agree
Dr. King's teachings here are truly the American ideal. We should teach and live this principle in our schools.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
In our schools, this means respecting parental values and avoiding curricula that undermine family values.
Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.
Strongly Agree
We must follow the science and “first, do no harm.” Schools should not socially transition students behind parents’ backs or push contested medical interventions.
School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.
Strongly Disagree
School library books should meet high standards of age-appropriateness and educational value. Explicit sexual content, pornography disguised as literature, or graphic depictions of sexual acts have no place in K-12 school libraries.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Secure elections require basic safeguards like photo ID to prevent fraud, helping to ensure only eligible citizens vote, and maintain public confidence in our democracy. Requiring ID is common sense, not suppression. Photo verification is common in banking, flying, alcohol purchases, and entering secure buildings. Voter ID protects the integrity of every lawful vote, including those of minorities and the elderly.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election 2022 Republican Primary 2022 General Election
What political party are you affiliated with?
Republican.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Strongly Agree
Parents expect schools to do everything possible to keep their children safe. I will champion policies that empower responsible, vetted staff to defend our schools while respecting the Second Amendment. Safety should be comprehensive and more than bureaucratic slogans.
