About
Robert Ott, PhD, is an educator, author, and former mid‑level banking manager with more than a decade of leadership experience in the financial sector and over ten years of service in the classroom, contributing more than 20 years of combined impact across education, banking, and community engagement.
Before entering public education, Dr. Ott spent more than a decade in mortgage and retail banking—serving as a mortgage loan officer, Assistant Vice President, and Sales Manager for major financial institutions including The Bank of New York, Citigroup, and IndyMac Bank. In these roles, he worked closely with key members of C-suite management, led teams, managed risk, and helped working families navigate some of the most important financial decisions of their lives.
The Great Recession disrupted his financial career, but it became one of the most prosperous turning points of his life—propelling him into education, where he discovered a deeper purpose in developing students and strengthening communities. For more than a decade, Dr. Ott has taught psychology and human development at Indian River State College and served as a professor at Pathways College. He also guides high school students as they navigate the dual enrollment pathway in psychology for St. Lucie Public Schools, helping them build the confidence, discipline, and academic readiness needed to succeed in college-level coursework.
Dr. Ott holds a PhD in Psychology and is the author of A Practical Approach to Life Satisfaction. He is currently working on his next book, The Silence Before the Rubicon, which explores the intersection of psychological resilience, civic responsibility, and the forces that shape human character. His work centers on emotional intelligence, resilience, and the strengths that help individuals and communities flourish.
Rooted in the values of the Treasure Coast, Dr. Ott is committed to responsible leadership, economic opportunity, and strengthening the institutions that make America exceptional.
Vision & Policies
A Fair Tax System That Works for People, Not Predators
It’s time to remove unnecessary obstacles that burden families while closing loopholes that reward avarice.
Excise taxes and imposts were designed to fund government without crushing working Americans. When used responsibly, they target specific activities and large-scale transactions rather than wages and everyday labor. When abused or distorted, they become tools for speculation, consolidation, and quiet exploitation.
What This Means in Practice
Excise Taxes with Purpose
Applied narrowly and transparently to luxury goods, excessive speculation, and extractive practices—not essentials like groceries, housing materials, or healthcare inputs.
Imposts That Protect, Not Punish
Trade and import duties should defend domestic workers and fair competition, not serve as hidden taxes passed down to consumers or favors for entrenched interests.
Removing Unjust Barriers
Eliminate outdated fees, duplicative taxes, and regulatory tolls that slow small businesses, raise consumer prices, and discourage honest enterprise.
Confronting the Stratagems of Avarice
Close loopholes and financial maneuvers designed solely to extract wealth without creating value—practices that inflate prices, distort markets, and undermine trust.
Dr. Robert Ott's leadership has brought strength, impact, and triumph to our community
