Candidate Profile: U.S. Senator from Florida: Connie Mack

Candidate: Connie Mack

Party Affiliation: Republican

Age: 45

Hometown: Fort Myers

Residence: Fort Myers

Occupation: Marketing consultant

Education:  B.A., University of Florida (1993)

Connie Mack, representative for Florida’s 14th Congressional District, is running against Bill Nelson for his position in the U.S. Senate. Mack has been a member of Congress since being elected in 2004 and says he wants to continue his dedication to freedom, security and prosperity in the United States Senate.

Currently serving the Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Government Reform Committees, Mack has worked to decrease federal government regulation in the free market system, advocating making it easier for private sector job creation and opposing financial bailouts. He stands in favor of national security and pending free trade agreements with Panama, Columbia and South Korea, additionally supporting the country’s relationship with Israel.

Mack has been recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business, Americans for Tax Reform, Club for Growth and the American Conservative Union for his attempts to reduce taxes and spending. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committe, he was able to help secure funding to expand I-75 in south Florida. He has taken a hard line position on Latin America, joining the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus and regularly denouncing the policies of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, though he's broken with many conservatives on his support of sites like Wikileaks, noting that the people who run them are "no heroes," but that he opposes any "attempt to suppress information from the general public."

From 2000 to 2003, Mack participated in the Florida House of Representatives and was appointed Deputy Majority Leader during his second term. He was employed as a business executive for LTP Management, as well as an independent marketing advisor, before becoming a congressman.

A Southwest Florida native, Mack married California Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack in 2007 and is the father of two children and two stepchildren.