Ardian Zika
{{short description|American politician from Florida}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Rep. Ardian Zika.jpg
| image_size =
| name = Ardian Zika
| caption =
| state_house = Florida
| state = Florida
| district = 37th
| term_start = November 6, 2018
| term_end = November 8, 2022
| predecessor = Richard Corcoran
| successor = Susan Plasencia
| constituency =
| majority =
| party = Republican
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|2|17}}
| birth_place = Yugoslavia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Tasha R. Zika|2008}}
| alma_mater = Louisiana Tech University
Saint Leo University
| occupation = {{hlist|Businessman|politician}}
| residence = Land o' Lakes, Florida, U.S.
| website =
| children = 5
}}
Ardian Zika (born February 17, 1980United States Public Records) is an American businessman, banker and former politician who served as a Republican member of the Florida Legislature representing the state's 37th House district, which encompasses parts of Pasco County. On May 5, 2022, he announced not to run for a third time, and resigned from office on November 8, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Pasco state Rep. Ardian Zika says he won't run for a third term |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2022/05/05/pasco-state-rep-ardian-zika-says-he-wont-run-for-a-third-term/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}
Early life and education
Zika was born and raised in Kosovo, then Yugoslavia. He immigrated to the United States in 1997, aged 17, with his family during the Yugoslav Wars on a refugee visa.{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Mitch |title=Pasco businessman Ardian Zika to run for House District 37 seat |url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/242285-pasco-businessman-ardian-zika-files-run-house-district-37-seat |access-date=December 2, 2018 |publisher=floridapolitics.com |date=August 1, 2017}} He graduated from high school in Louisiana. Zika moved to Florida after graduating from college in 2005.{{Cite web |title=Ardian Zika - 2020 - 2022 ( Speaker Sprowls ) |url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4730 |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=www.myfloridahouse.gov |language=en-US}}
He graduated from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and in 2012 with a Master of Business Administration from St. Leo University in St. Leo, Florida.{{Cite web |title=Ardian Zika |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ardian_Zika |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}
Career
Zika spent over 15 years of his early career in banking. He currently is the president and chairman of Guardian Street, LLC,{{Cite web |title=Detail by Entity Name |url=http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/corporationsearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=GUARDIANSTREET%20L170000386371&aggregateId=flal-l17000038637-fa8a25d7-45cc-48ce-b840-d4129ae63d3b&searchTerm=GUARDIAN%20STREET,%20LLC&listNameOrder=GUARDIANSTREET%20L170000386371 |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=search.sunbiz.org}} a private business advisory practice specializing in middle-market companies.
Politics
Zika began his political career as a congressional intern which he spent in Washington, D.C., during June and July 2000.
He defeated two candidates in the August 28, 2018, Republican primary, winning 57.5% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Florida Department of State - Election Results |url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=8/28/2018&DATAMODE= |website=results.elections.myflorida.com |access-date=November 29, 2018}} In the November 8, 2018, general election, Zika won 60.47% of the vote, defeating Democrat Tammy Garcia.{{cite web |title=Florida Election Watch - State Representative |url=https://floridaelectionwatch.gov/DistrictOffices/StateRepresentative |website=floridaelectionwatch.gov |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071451/https://floridaelectionwatch.gov/DistrictOffices/StateRepresentative |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
Personal life
Zika is married to Tasha R. Zika (b. c. 1982) since 2008.{{Cite web |title=Ardian Zika |url=https://floridahousegop.com/officials/ardian-zika/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Florida House GOP |language=en-US}} They have five children and reside in Land o' Lakes, Florida. Zika is a Baptist and active member of the Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida.
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zika, Ardian}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives
Category:Louisiana Tech University alumni
Category:Saint Leo University alumni
Category:Kosovan emigrants to the United States
Category:People from Land o' Lakes, Florida
Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature
{{Florida-FLRepresentative-Republican-stub}}