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Florida Legislator Concludes 3rd Military Tour Of Duty

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Florida State Rep. Michael Scionti hugs his wife, Zsuzsanna, after returning to Tampa after serving a 6-month Army tour of duty in Kabul, Afghanistan.

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By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 21, 2008

Updated: 02/20/2008 11:33 pm

TAMPA - Dressed in sand-colored fatigues and flashing a weary grin, state Rep. Michael Scionti marched through Gate E75 of Tampa International Airport, the last leg of a journey that took him away from the mountains of Afghanistan and back into the embraces of his loved ones.

"I'm happy to be home," Scionti said. "Quite frankly, I've been away for a long time."

About 20 friends and family members greeted Scionti when his flight touched down at 7:21 p.m. Wednesday. Applause and shouts broke out from behind a banner they held that said, "Welcome Home Michael."

A captain in the Army Reserve, Scionti, 39, has spent the past six months in Kabul, Afghanistan. Because he is assigned to the military intelligence directorate, Scionti said he could not reveal details of his tour.

It is the third time he has been deployed overseas since he was elected in 2006. In November 2006, he was called to duty about a week after he was sworn in as a state legislator. He served two months and was deployed again in March 2007 for several weeks shortly after the spring legislative session began.

Minutes after he got off the plane Wednesday, Scionti said he would go on a fourth tour if needed.

"I'm ready to serve at any time," he said.

Although presidential candidates are calling for the end of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, Scionti said the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are making a difference.

"From my experience, the military's doing a heck of a job," Scionti said. "The U.S. Army has trained us well. We have a purpose. I'm proud of my service."

Scionti, a Tampa native who represents District 58, returns to Tallahassee on March 3. He is sponsoring six bills this legislative session aimed at assisting veterans and law enforcement personnel.

While he was in Afghanistan, Scionti held weekly conference calls and kept track of his bills with his legislative assistant John Rodriguez. Scionti said he feels that his efforts to pass laws, with help from Rodriguez, were effective even while he was away.

Scionti said he is looking forward to staying stateside longer than he had been away. He plans to spend time with his wife, Zsuzsanna, and the rest of his family before he heads to Tallahassee.

He had a window seat on the airplane, Scionti said, and watched as the lights of Tampa grew brighter and bigger.

"I was a little nervous because I hadn't seen the family in a while," he said. "But equally excited. It was nice to get the wheels on the ground."

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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