"Naples is one of the nation’s, if not the world’s, premier communities," Saad said. "But for several reasons, most notably the prolonged economic recession, our town is facing its toughest times in years. We need elected leaders who will work together in developing a shared vision for dealing with this current crisis and ensuring that Naples remains a distinctive and high-quality place to live, work and raise a family today and tomorrow."

The theme of Saad’s campaign will be "Our Naples." The highlights include preservation of Naples’ pristine beaches and public parks; maintaining the city’s friendly, small town atmosphere; safeguarding the community’s cultural offerings and laid-back lifestyle; and working to ensure Naples remains an attractive place to conduct business.

"The reason I am running for this position is to give the people of Naples a representative who can listen objectively to the needs of all the citizens of this community and come to a reasonable conclusion for the betterment of our community," Saad said. "I think the fact that I am a political newcomer makes me better suited than others to serve in this role."

Saad, 32, first visited Naples a decade ago. Recognizing the high quality characteristics of the town, he moved his family to the community in 2006. Since relocating to the area, Saad has been actively involved in community as a member of the local bar association, Naples Young Professionals and Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as a member of the Naples Planning Advisory Board, an advisory and zoning board that reports to the Naples City Council on a variety of key issues facing the city.

Professionally, Saad is principal of Sam J. Saad, III, P.A., a law firm dedicated to serving the real estate and business needs of the community. Before starting his own business, Saad was an attorney with Advocate Consulting, providing tax advice to aircraft owners.

Prior to moving to Naples, Saad was appointed by President Bush to serve as Special Assistant to the Solicitor at the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. In 2004, Saad volunteered as a Lawyer on the Bush-Cheney Re-Election Campaign, ultimately becoming a Field Director in Cleveland, where he led the voter fraud prevention team.

A native of Nebraska, Saad is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. Saad earned his Juris Doctorate (JD) law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he graduated with honors.