George “Ges” Selmont: A Democratic Voice for Florida
Elkton, FL: George A. Selmont, current Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress (FL-CD6) and 2018 Democratic Nominee for Congress (FL-CD4) is a husband and father with a history of success in law, technology, entertainment, sports and higher education. He has been married to his wife, Monika (also an attorney) for 23 years. For the past 16 years they have raised their two boys, Nate and Luke (University of Alabama/ROTC “Roll Tide!”) in Northeast Florida.
For the last twenty-five years, George or “Ges" as family and friends call him (pronounced “Jess”) has dedicated a great deal of his time to improving the lives of citizens, especially those in underserved communities. In 1998, he served as a White House Intern for President Bill Clinton and then later served as Special Advisor to the President of Jacksonville University, and Edward Waters College, Florida’s first Historically Black College, where there would not be a football stadium without his efforts. He has most recently served as an Advisor to the Athletic Director at Bethune Cookman University (pro bono). As an attorney he has taken numerous pro bono matters including co-representing and negotiating settlement for two African American security guards who had a Confederate flag hung in their workspace.
As a filmmaker and producer, Ges has won 2 Emmy Awards and created in 2009 (with co-founder Praveen Yajman) the first video file-sharing social network (and precursor to Instagram) in Apple’s App Store: playXplay, Inc.
Ges has always had an interest in government and public service. He grew up in a Connecticut family that valued hard work, independence, rigorous debate, fairness and compassion. His father, a Korean War veteran, stockbroker, college administrator and union member taught him values that include honoring our veterans and the rights of employees to unionize. His mother, an actress, secretary and homemaker instilled in all the Selmont children an intense respect for fairness, justice and compassion. While still in college, as the leader of student government Ges was instrumental in helping the cleaning and buildings and grounds staff organize into the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). At graduation he was awarded the Lockwood Prize for Leadership. His first jobs were farm work, carpentry and fast food. He is proud to have received numerous endorsements in 2018 including the Florida AFL-CIO, Democratic Veterans Caucus, Moms Demand Action, and Environmental Caucus.
Ges has been appointed to serve on municipal and state boards as well as commissions, including the Commission for Educational Technology, the Conservation Commission and Historic District Commission. He was instrumental in getting rural roads declared State Scenic Roads. A committed volunteer throughout his life, he participated on presidential campaigns. At church he regularly served weekly meals to the homeless, and volunteered for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He is a graduate of Yale University, Northeastern University School of Law, Harvard University Extension School and Bard College.