Florida Veterans for Common Sense

Kayak Trips for Vets - June
2026-06-13 13:00 UTC
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2026 FLVCS July Meeting
2026-07-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, FL, 34231
U.S. Army Iraq veteran, Brigadier General Leela Gray, Ret., will be the featured speaker at the 2026 FLVCS July meeting. She is running for Florida Congressional District 13. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about her positions on

Tackling the cost of living crisis
Growing economic opportunities
Fighting for our most vulnerable
Protecting our beaches, land, and coastal economy
National Security
Climate Change

These are some of the most important issues facing Florida and our nation today.
How to attend
Please join us in-person at the Unity of Sarasota Church.
Unity of Sarasota3023 Proctor Rd.Sarasota, FL 34236Monday, July 13, 20267:00 PM – 8:00PM EDT
Invite your friends and neighbors to the 2026 FLVCS July meeting. It is open to all.
If you can not attend in person, then please join us on Meet. We are no longer using Zoom. No registration is necessary. Click on the button below to join the meeting.

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Meet BG Leela Gray, Ret.
A third-generation veteran, attorney, business leader, and mother, Brigadier General (Ret) Leela Gray has never backed down from a tough fight. Raised with humble beginnings, Leela learned early on what it means to earn your way—working hard in middle and high school, from babysitting and lifeguarding to fast food service and waiting tables. Her father opened a small auto shop, and while her family relied on food stamps at times, they never stopped working to make ends meet.
Driven by a call to serve, Leela became an ROTC cadet and rose steadily through the ranks of the U.S. Army, working relentlessly to earn every opportunity and receiving recognition for her grit, determination, and character. Leela served more than 30 years in uniform, including two combat deployments and a peacekeeping mission. She represented the United States overseas and strengthened combat readiness for our forces in the Middle East. Leela was always focused on one mission: working for the men and women beside her and the American families counting on them back home.
While serving in the Army Reserve, Leela built a successful civilian career in technology and strategic communications, growing businesses, managing budgets, and serving on advisory boards. After retiring from the military, she earned her law degree, helping veterans access healthcare and other critical benefits. Leela is running for Congress because she knows leadership is about solving problems, protecting our freedoms, and standing up for hardworking Americans, not Washington elites.
Leela and her husband, Tony, have lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years and are proud parents of their daughter, Bailly.

This meeting is free and open to the public. BG Gray’s presentation is part of Florida Veterans for Common Sense’s efforts to educate the public on candidates and issues for the 2026 elections. BG Gray’s expressed views are her own and do not imply FLVCS’s agreement. Her presentation does not constitute FLVCS’s endorsement of her candidacy.
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2026 FLVCS August Meeting
2026-08-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota, FL, 34231
The 2026 FLVCS August meeting will feature a Candidate Forum for Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. Frank Collige and Earle Ford have confirmed their attendance. Other candidates will be listed as they confirm. Stay tuned.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about their positions on

Tackling The cost of living crisis
Lowering high insurance costs
Reducing taxes
Holding the Florida Government accountable
Improving disaster preparedness and financial resilience

These are some of the most important issues facing Florida today.
How to attend
Please join us in-person at the Unity of Sarasota Church.
Unity of Sarasota3023 Proctor Rd.Sarasota, FL 34236Monday, August 10, 20267:00 PM – 8:00PM EDT
Invite your friends and neighbors to the 2026 FLVCS August meeting. It is open to all.
If you can not attend in person, then please join us on Meet. We are no longer using Zoom. No registration is necessary. Click on the button below to join the meeting.

Join Meeting

Meet Frank Collige
My name is Dr. Frank W. Collige, and I am honored to announce my candidacy for Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With decades of experience in leadership, business development, financial oversight, and public service, I am ready to bring a bold vision and pragmatic solutions to Florida’s financial future.
From my time serving in the U.S. Air Force, where I was entrusted with safeguarding our nation’s most vital assets, to my leadership roles in the private sector overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets, logistical operations, and regulatory compliance, I’ve dedicated my life to serving others. Along the way, I’ve built businesses from the ground up, expanded operations across state lines, and worked tirelessly to ensure fairness and accountability in the insurance industry.
As the Owner of Property Pros Consulting, I grew the company to operate in eight states, managing over 1,000 insurance claims annually. In this role, I gained extensive experience identifying and addressing insurance fraud committed by carriers, contractors, and the insured. I’ve seen firsthand how unethical practices drive up costs for hardworking Floridians, and I’ve worked diligently to protect clients from unfair claim denials, inflated repair costs, and misleading policy practices.
Meet Earle Ford

Born on a U.S. Air Force base and raised in small-town Wyoming, Earle Ford grew up with the values of hard work, honesty, and pride in country. Those values shaped a lifetime of service that has taken him from military service to public service and the fight for accountability at every level of government.
Earle began his career in the U.S. Army’s Airborne Infantry, where he helped train America’s special operations units and learned the importance of discipline, leadership, and putting mission before self. After his military service, he became a state prosecutor, standing up for victims, protecting communities, and holding criminals accountable.
Later, Earle served as a federal IRS lawyer, where he scrutinized complex financial schemes, investigated the ultra-wealthy, and exposed tax loopholes that allowed powerful interests to avoid paying their fair share. Throughout his career, his mission has remained the same: fighting for the people, not the powerful.
This meeting is free and open to the public. This Candiates Forum is part of Florida Veterans for Common Sense’s efforts to educate the public on candidates and issues for the 2026 elections. Candidates’ expressed views are their own and do not imply FLVCS’s agreement. Their presentations do not constitute FLVCS’s endorsement of their candidacy.
Return to the FLVCS Calendar.
