Carlos Guillermo Smith

Carlos Guillermo Smith
Carlos Guillermo Smith speaks at the Florida Democratic Party State Convention in 2015
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 49th district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 8, 2016
Preceded by	Rene Plasencia
Personal details
Born	December 31, 1980 (age 35)
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Central Florida

Carlos Guillermo Smith (born December 31, 1980) is a community activist, lobbyist, and politician from Florida. He is a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives. Upon his election in 2016, Smith became the first openly gay Latino to serve in the Florida Legislature.

Smith was born in Florida to parents who immigrated to South Florida from Canada in 1979. His mother being from Canada, and father from Peru, Smith was the first member of his family to be born in America.

Smith attended Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, FL, where he graduated in 1999. In 2003, he graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in business administration. Following graduation, he worked for eight years and became manager of Men’s Wearhouse stores in Florida and Georgia.

In 2011, Smith was hired as a legislative aide for Florida House Representative Scott Randolph. He served as communications director and senior advisor to Joe Saunders during his successful 2012 bid for the Florida House of Representatives in the 49th district. From 2012-2014, Smith served as Saunders' policy chief and ran his legislative office. In 2013, he was elected chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party. He resigned his chairmanship of the Orange County Democratic Party in the summer of 2015 to focus on his bid for the seat Randolph and Saunders had held before him.