Early Life
I am a native Floridian and grew up in Opa Locka when South Florida was a wilder
place. The Everglades were closer (just a few minutes walk away) and snakes were more
common. Green lizards were everywhere, not like the brown ones you see these days. As
a boy, I loved catching them as much as my kids love catching the brown ones today. I
lived my boyhood outdoors and barefoot, a calloused-foot native, immune to hot tar
roads.
As a teen I attended McArthur High School in Hollywood where I ran track and cross-
country (with my shoes on) and sang bass in the school choir. I developed an interest in
computers and majored in Computer Science at Miami-Dade Community College.
Special Forces
In 1982, Ronald Reagan was President, patriotism ran high and people were proud to be
Americans. I joined the Army with my best friend. The recruiter signed us up with a
Special Forces Green Beret option. If we could make it through training, we would be
assigned to Special Forces. I made it, my friend did not.
I have held onto valuable life
lessons from my military training. Size and strength are not true indicators of success. Success
is found with those who have the determination to get back up and keep going, even when their
strength has given out. I learned the difference between failing and quitting. Sometimes--
despite our best efforts--we may fail; but quitting is always a choice. The only real loser is a
quitter.
Marriage and Family
I became a Christian while serving in the Army, and my faith gradually encompassed more and
more of my values. When my enlistment was up, I enrolled in Moody Bible Institute in Chicago
where I met--and fell in love with--another student from South Florida named Catherine.
After graduation, Catherine and I were married at First Presbyterian Church of Coral Springs.
For the first three years of our marriage, we rented an apartment in Coral Springs. Then, with
my VA Loan, we purchased a house on Winfield Blvd in Margate. We live in a great
neighborhood with good people; and we have built many, solid friendships here.
I began a career in Computer Science and after a few years of applying myself was made the
Systems Administrator of “Mutual Funds Magazine”. When the Internet boom erupted, I moved
into the position of Project Manager for "eDiets.com". Later I started my own small business, an
e-commerce company. I work from home where I can actively share with Catherine in the daily
responsibilities and challenges--
and most of all, the joys--of raising eight, wonderful children.
Eight kids?! That's right. We were blessed with a new child every two years, like clockwork,
until there were six. Then after a four-year pause, our seventh arrived, followed by our eighth
child two years later. The ages of our three daughters and five sons range from 7 months to
16 years.
We love our big family and its dynamics. Every bit of effort we invest in our children is
multiplied back to us. They are great kids, and we know we are blessed.
We treasure the time we spend homeschooling our children, and we are pleased with the
results. Our children make friends easily and are comfortable in social situations with people
of all ages and cultures. They are outgoing, self-confident, and friendly. We are proud of their
academic achievement as well. Our oldest is currently enrolled in two college courses, taking
advantage of Florida's dual enrollment program whereby high school students can earn college
credit at the same time as they are completing required high school courses. My campaign is
a family project; and history, government, and politics have become exciting and interesting
for the kids. At least one young Yardley is considering a major in Political Science.
Our kids help out around the house. They are industrious and are learning how to earn their
own money.
Politics
I made an abrupt entrance into politics. Our neighbor was a perpetual candidate for the Margate
City Commission. To everyone's surprise, this past election cycle, he was unable to run. This left
our neighborhood without a representative among the contenders. In his absence, I gave it a go,
barely entering the race in time to file the necessary paperwork. I was unhappy with Margate
government and felt I could make a positive contribution to the city, so I applied myself in the
campaign. I did not win; but even with my late entry into the race, I did reasonably well. I
received more votes than three other contenders, finishing second to the incumbent.
I entered the Margate race with a conviction that "we the people" have a responsibility to keep
government in check. The more I became involved in politics, the more that conviction grew.
Many local and state political seats go unopposed and unchecked. My opponent for
Representative of District 95 is approaching his run for a third term in the Florida House; he has
yet to be challenged by a conservative or even someone outside of his political party. I am making
that challenge in the 2010 race. I realized that as long as I sat on the sidelines, waiting for
someone else to fix the problems of government, I was part of the problem.
In the next election, I want to be part of the solution.
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.
Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer ( Lutheran pastor who died fighting Hitler )
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Pd. pol. adv. paid for and approved by Scott Yardley, Republican for State Representative District 95.
