My Redemption Story
When I chose to be in the public eye and run to be your next Mayor, I was fully aware the mistakes of my youth might surface. Given the negativity of last year’s local election, I wasn’t naïve to think that there wouldn’t once again be harmful and toxic voices intent on spreading disinformation and inciting division in our community. Sadly, I was right; the negative campaigning has started. So, before someone with ulterior motives twists my story for their purposes, let me be the one to tell it. A story of redemption, not a fairy tale, but a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for transformation.
Many of us have been touched by the pain of addiction. It’s a disease that permeates every corner of life and reaches far beyond the individual who struggles with it. Growing up in a small rural town, I made the mistake of getting in with the wrong crowd. My journey through youth was marked by self-destructive behaviors and a series of bad decisions that ultimately resulted in encounters with law enforcement.
The turning point of my life came over two decades ago, by the stark reality of a DUI. I had hit rock bottom and was finally ready to do whatever it took to be free from addiction. While a harsh lesson, this was the springboard for a fulfilling life of sobriety and positive change. I couldn’t have made this transformation without my faith, family, and the support of the mentors in my life. Their dedicated acts of kindness instilled in me a deep desire to pay it forward and I do this by sharing my story and the message of love and hope with those still struggling with addiction. Today, my journey is marked by service. I lead a faith-based men’s group and volunteer for multiple organizations such as Gateway, Lakeview Health, Beaches Rotary, and the Neptune Beach Police Pension Board, to name a few.
These life experiences have forged resilience, compassion, composure under pressure, and a future-focused mindset. The past has shaped me, but it doesn’t define who I am today. I believe these experiences and my skills as a family law attorney and small business owner have uniquely prepared me to serve our community as the next Mayor of Neptune Beach.
Michael R. Phillips
Candidate for Mayor of Neptune Beach
