Army and Desert Storm Veteran Running as Florida Independent: 'Country is a Mess'

Mike Klein wore many hats throughout his military career. Now, he has his sights set on U.S. Congress.

The Army veteran is running as a political independent in Florida's 3rd Congressional District, aiming to use the knowledge he's gained over multiple decades—both in service and out—to draw attention to veterans' issues, affordability, corruption, and a diplomatic approach to foreign policy. Republican Rep. Kat Cammack has represented the district since Jan. 3, 2021.

Klein graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1989, six months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, becoming a commissioned infantry officer. His service led him through multiple Army schools, including the Infantry Officer Basic Course, in addition to Ranger, Airborne, Air Assault, Northern Warfare and Jungle schools.

He served in the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks and was deployed as a lieutenant during Operation Desert Storm.

He transitioned in 1992 to inactive reserve and joined the Active Reserve Unit in Columbia, S.C. in the year 2000. In 2003, he was an ETS O3 and making his way out of service.

"I got out in 2003 out of extreme frustration with what I knew were lies about weapons of mass destruction, but I loved my time in the military in the active service," Klein told Military.com

Klein is a fifth-generation Floridian who grew up in Gainesville. His father was a naval doctor in Guam during the Vietnam War, while his mother was a realtor and stepmother attended medical school at the University of Florida—where Klein has two children.

It wasn't just Klein's father who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Unfortunately, the cost has been paid in other tragic ways.

Klein's brother, Eddie, followed him to West Point and later the infantry. Eddie was a company commander near Kandahar when he stepped on an IED, leading to his new reality as a triple amputee.

Klein spoke with Military.com about his military career, "five pillars," and why he believes now is the right time for independents to succeed in local and national elections.

Why Klein is Stepping Into Politics as an Independent

"I'm not a politician," Klein told Military.com when asked about why he is running for office. "I'm a concerned citizen."

He attributed part of the intention due to the oath he made to join the military at age 17, being engaged with the broader military and veteran community for the last 35 years. He said that the promise he made in honor of the Constitution did not stop just because he exited the military.

To him, it's a different engagement.

"[My oath] didn't stop the day I changed status from one part of my engagement with the military to another," he said. "The country is in a mess right now."

He said the No. 1 underlying issue that has muddied the national waters is corruption, and it's an across-the-board problem that encouraged him to run as an independent unaffiliated with any main party.

"Both parties are incredibly corrupt, riddled with special interests and unaccountable money," Klein said. "How decisions are made in each of the parties is highly suspect in any functioning democracy. This is the best worst kept secret in America right now, how dysfunctional the Republican and Democratic parties are.

"They're both parties in the middle of a civil war themselves, and it's no particular surprise that the vast majority of Americans now identify themselves as politically independent. I'm running because I believe that this is the highest and best use of my time and my energy and my experience to bring a little common sense back to Washington."

He described his campaign as providing "a clear calculus" for the issues of the day, focusing on quality of life for Americans—from seniors down to their grandkids. Rather than subjugate himself to the "different agendas that swirl through Washington," Klein said he is able to deter himself from the orthodoxy propagated by big party leaders.

"I have friends on the Democratic and Republican sides that would like to support things that they're unable to support because of the threats from their party leadership," he said. "I'm running as an independent in this district because I think I can actually do things differently and can represent the people of this district with clarity of purpose, without impacts from special interests that are destroying, frankly, our democracy as we know it."

Asked about the chances of independent candidates considering the historic strongholds by the GOP and Democrats, Klein said that he is running not just to make a point—but to win. It's campaigning, math, and giving the voters a delectable candidate outside the 'R' and 'D' on the ballot.

He said that even if five or 10 of the hundreds of independent candidates running nationwide are victorious, that could send shock waves in Congress.

"You put a credible alternative on the ballot in a lot of districts across the country, and people will actually vote independent," he said. "This is what I can describe as an emerging movement across the entire country. ... These are not protest campaigns. These are thoughtful."

"If we had 10 independents that voted as a coalition of common sense, what you would end up having is the parties would have to come to that coalition and make their case, math, facts, and science," he added. "Like, what's actually good public policy? And if they want to get things passed, that's the agenda for this particular cycle."

Klein's 'Five Pillars'

Klein's campaign revolves around five central "pillars" that outline his political intentions.

One is to protect constitutional rights, ensure transparency, end gerrymandering, get money out of politics, and respect due process.

"I would argue that I'm one of 15 to 20 races that are viable," he said. "I want to serve the people of my district, but I'm just as interested in accomplishing the bigger mission, which is to get enough independence in Congress so we can stop playing silly games and actually work on behalf of the people."

Another pillar is "strength through peace," which he describes as global leadership through diplomacy and foreign policy in the national interest.

Another is coined as economic resilience, boosting food and energy supply chains along with small businesses to keep prosperity on the rise in an era of uncertainty.

"Affordability, oh my god—everybody's had it, the cost of everything is skyrocketing in Florida's 3rd District. I know it's happening all over the country," he said. "Things are just becoming incredibly unaffordable, and the electorate's making the connection between the affordability crisis and the corruption that's in Washington. They realize that housing affordability, insurance, food, gas, everything is just becoming outrageous. The middle class is being hollowed out."

Community renewal is another pillar of his, reviving the local connections that contribute through business investment and service. Klein has been the co-founder and chair of Warrior Centric Health for the past roughly 12 years, increasing the quality and safety of care for the warrior community in commercial health care.

The fifth pillar, "American Dream 2.0," essentially says that any American who works hard and does things right should have enough to live, to pay for health care, and be able to start a business or have long-term economic longevity.

But there's one thing that cuts across all party lines, Klein said.

"The electorate's angry about the Epstein files," he said. "They're angry around the Iran War. Everybody's angry about corruption. Everybody has something to say about stock trading in Congress and how it should be illegal. Reversing Citizens United.

"Honestly, corruption is the one issue that cuts across all demographics, and it's so obvious to everybody that our public policy across the board is written, bought and paid for."

Thoughts on TCAVA Legislation

Klein, like countless other veterans, has his thoughts on the sweeping Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) that continues to be deliberated in Congress. The legislation is currently postponed after the House delayed the vote last week over disagreements on veteran disability benefits.

The TCAVA consists of more than 60 provisions that include the Major Richard Star Act, the Love Lives On Act, caregiver program reforms, Department of Veterans Affairs modernization initiatives and combat-injured veteran expansions, among other proposals. Arguably the biggest gripe has revolved around one provision known as Section 108 that critics believe will have nefarious effects on military service members who suffer from tinnitus and sleep apnea. Rhetoric surrounding the legislation has led to more personal barbs between lawmakers and VSOs.

Klein has seen the legislative discussions play out, describing it as an outside observer as ​​"a hostage situation."

"When I see thoughtful veteran service organizations disagreeing on something like this, that usually tells me that there's other agendas at play because all the organizations are patriotic, committed organizations that are supporting the military and veteran community," Klein said, referencing battles between lawmakers and VSOs like the VFW.

"The bottom line is that there's an awful lot of good in that package of bills, and the real simple solution would be to take all the stuff that everybody agrees on, pull it out, and pass it tomorrow. I really don't see why we have to wait for those benefits to support the veterans' community. This has been going on for six years, and I have skin in the game given my family."

Instead, he said, the bills have been turned into "political footballs" and that not all VSOs are receiving the same attention and ability to put in their thoughts on the framework.

"There's nothing more frustrating for me when people use the veteran and military community as campaign whistle-stop opportunities, and they say they care about us," he said. "But when it comes time to put up or shut up, they're nowhere to be seen."

"If we're going to talk about reducing benefits and changing ratings, that should be something that's discussed in the open with the VSOs at the table, not buried hundreds of pages into a 500-page document. That's why I said this feels to me like a hostage situation," he added.