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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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2019-01-01 |
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| Name | Missy Cotter Smasal |
| Address |
Virginia Beach, Virginia , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Donate |  |
 Facebook | missycottersmasalforsenate |
 X (Twitter) | MissyforSenate |
| Born |
Unknown
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| Contributor | State Legislatures Big Fan |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Apr 16, 2024 04:47pm |
| Tags |
Married - Navy -
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| Info | Missy is dedicated to our country, our commonwealth, our community, and her family. She served in the United States Navy, opened a small business in Virginia Beach, and is an advocate for safety and equality. Missy is committed to a safe, environmentally resilient, and economically strong Virginia Beach. Now she is running to serve in Virginia’s Senate to represent the 8th district.
Service and leadership have been central to Missy’s life. She served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy and deployed aboard the USS Trenton (LPD-14) during Operation Enduring Freedom. She began studying leadership as a Naval ROTC midshipman at Villanova University, where she graduated with honors in 2000, after having earned a scholarship from the Navy.
After completing her active duty service, Missy earned her master’s degree from Old Dominion University, and completed the Distance Education Command and Staff Program with the Naval War College.
In 2007, Missy opened Rita’s Shore Drive, an Italian Ice and Frozen Custard franchise. Missy was both owner and operator of the successful business for over ten years and focused on training a fantastic young staff to provide delicious frozen desserts and excellent customer service. Missy employed over 100 local high school and college students and endeavored to provide an excellent first job experience. She was also a “Partner in Education” with numerous Virginia Beach Schools, and donated thousands of dollars to local schools and charities.
Missy is an active volunteer in our Virginia Beach community. Missy coached youth basketball for Upward and Great Neck leagues and youth soccer with Rush. She also developed a preschool sports program at Star of the Sea School, serves on the Executive PTA Board of her child’s Virginia Beach public school and leads “the most delightful Girl Scout Troop imaginable.”
A strong advocate for safe schools and communities, Missy led a movement for locked doors and camera/buzzer systems in our Virginia Beach Elementary Schools. In the Fall of 2017, when her daughter started elementary school, Missy found that “anyone could just walk into any elementary school in Virginia Beach.” After speaking with administrators without gaining support, she started a petition and reached out to local friends across the city. Her petition gained over 2,500 signatures, and she presented it to the Virginia Beach School Board in December of 2017. One year later, schools across the city are now locked and cameras and buzzers have been installed.
In the Fall of 2018, after years of our General Assembly failing to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, Missy worked with other concerned citizens to take local action. She brought a resolution in support of the ERA forward to the Virginia Beach City Council, which unanimously passed.
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