The Church of Scientology is entrance and heart of a metropolis council race in Florida.

Aaron Smith-Levin, who left the world of Scientology after 29 years, is operating to serve on the council in Clearwater—which has been house to the church's worldwide religious headquarters for many years. The election can be held Tuesday, March 15.

Smith-Levin has stated he is operating to repair the worldwide notion that the Church of Scientology "runs" Clearwater.

Leah Remini, probably the most well-known defectors of the church, has endorsed Smith-Levin and on Monday inspired residents to vote for him.

"Few issues would piss off David Miscavige, the chief of Scientology, greater than Aaron Smith-Levin profitable," Remini wrote on Twitter. "In case you reside in Clearwater, please vote for Aaron tomorrow. In case you do not reside there, please unfold the phrase and inform your folks."

"Scientology has created this notion resulting from [how] a lot downtown property they personal," Smith-Levin advised Newsweek in an electronic mail. "The reality is that Scientology may be very small and extremely unpopular, even right here in Clearwater. A victory tonight would show that clearly."

Smith-Levin has pledged work to push the IRS to assessment and finally revoke the church's tax exemption.

If elected, Smith-Levin stated, "The period of Clearwater leaders being duped and pushed round by Scientology will formally be over."

Scientology describes itself as a faith that "gives a exact path main to an entire and sure understanding of 1's true religious nature." The group was based within the Nineteen Fifties by L. Ron Hubbard however has been extensively criticized over the previous a number of years as former members accuse the church of monetary fraud, unlawful apply of drugs and harassment of its critics.

Smith-Levin grew up within the church however parted methods with the group in 2014. He's now the vice chairman of The Aftermath Basis, a bunch that aids folks in leaving the group.

In an episode of Remini's tv sequence "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," Smith-Levin stated he was forcibly disconnected from his twin brother and was advised to not attend his brother's funeral.

Florida City Election Is A Scientology Battle
The Church of Scientology is entrance and heart of a metropolis council race in Florida. On this photograph, a headquarters for the Church of Scientology is seen January 16, 2013, in Clearwater, Florida. Getty Photographs

Smith-Levin stated his mom was thrown out of the church for questioning its teachings. In 2014, his kids's nanny found he was nonetheless speaking to his mom and reported him to the church, leading to him being kicked out as properly.

"Our life is way happier now," Smith-Levin stated in the course of the episode. "We do not have to fret about our associates spying on us, or turning us in, or reporting on us. We are able to simply reside our lives the best way we need to reside it."

The Tampa Bay Instances reported in January that Smith-Levin has been concerned in two bar altercations the place he was accused of frightening the incidents with vulgar insults.

Smith-Levin apologized in an announcement, writing: "Everybody who goes by means of the hell of leaving Scientology is aware of simply how removed from nice it may get. And but I and my household have persevered and made it work, and I assist others do the identical. Within the unbelievable stress and stress of all of this, I've made errors. I proceed to heal and develop."

The Church of Scientology has described Smith-Levin as a "man with no ethical compass" who was expelled from the group. The church has created a number of smear campaigns concentrating on well-known defectors, together with Smith-Levin, Remini, Michael Rinder and others.

leah Remini Scientology aftermath
Leah Remini voiced her help of a metropolis council candidate for Clearwater, Florida, who additionally defected from Scientology. Above, Remini holds her award for excellent informational sequence or particular for "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" on the Governors Ball throughout evening one of many Inventive Arts Emmy Awards on the Microsoft Theater on September 9, 2017, in Los Angeles. Richard Shotwell/Related Press