No other candidate in the race for Florida District 2 can match the experience and personal connection to the people of North and Northwest Florida that Steve Southerland has acquired through a lifetime of community and civic involvement. This November 2nd – the voters have a clear choice for the U.S. House of Representatives.  A choice to continue the destructive path our nation is on or a choice to stop the drifting away from the principles and values our nation was founded on.

Currently, Steve is the President and co-owner of Southerland Family Funeral Homes, a family business started by his grandfather over 55 years ago.  Steve knows the many pressures that small businesses face and what it takes to create jobs and make a difference in the community.  Making payroll, providing healthcare coverage, being grossly overtaxed and regulated by the federal government are all in a day’s work for Steve.  But it is that knowledge and experience that will enable him to fight to enact the policies we need to create and keep well paying jobs and to bring about true economic recovery.

Steve, following in the footsteps of his family, also understands the importance of service to the community he lives in.  The philosophy of giving back to the community you live and work in has been a priority to the Southerland, Bevis, Hinson and Williams families for generations.

Steve's broad range of experience and life's lessons have prepared him uniquely for this congressional campaign and to serve as a member of Congress.  The funeral business, in particular, has prepared Steve to provide strong leadership for people during their time of need, and has allowed him to form relationships with folks from all walks of life from one end of the district to the other.

A three-time gubernatorial appointee, Steve recently completed his commitments as chairman of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, the Early Learning Coalition of NW Florida and the Military Affairs Committee.  Steve has also served on other boards such as the Economic Development Alliance, the Bay Defense Alliance, the Florida State University Development Board, Covenant Hospice and the Bay Education Foundation.  In addition, Steve served two terms on the Florida Board of Funeral Directors where he had the distinct honor of serving as Chairman.  Steve received his gubernatorial appointments from both Governor Lawton Chiles and Governor Jeb Bush.

Steve was a co-founder of The Bay Patriots in Bay County; a group whose purpose is to educate men, women and students on the Constitution and to provide copies of the Constitution to as many citizens and students as possible.  Steve is also a charter member and former trustee of Northstar Church in Bay County, a Southern Baptist Church whose membership has grown from a small core group to over 3,000 regular attendees.

Steve is a graduate of Troy University with a degree in Business Management and had the distinction of representing Troy as a member of the university's golf team.

Married to his wife Susan for 23 years and the father of four daughters: Samantha, Stephanie, Allison and Abby; Steve is committed to common sense conservative values and fighting for his family, friends, district and country to ensure they are safe and have a secure future.