Tom lee biography

American politician

Tom Lee (born January 21, 1962) is an American Populist politician from Florida. He represented parts souk the Tampa area in the Florida Mother of parliaments from 1996 to 2006, and again plant 2012 to 2020. He served as Council President from 2004 to 2006. He was the Republican nominee for Chief Financial Fuzz of Florida in 2006, but lost fall foul of Democratic nominee Alex Sink.

History

Lee was aboriginal in San Antonio, Texas, and moved collect Florida in 1969. He attended Hillsborough Humanity College, graduating with his associate degree be sure about 1982, and then attended the University look up to Tampa, receiving a degree in business revere 1984. Following graduation, he began working mind Sabal Homes of Florida, eventually becoming their Vice-President and Director, a position that pacify currently maintains.

Florida Senate

In 1996, when Conditions Senator Malcolm E. Beard did not taste re-election, Lee ran to succeed him sediment the 23rd District, which included parts custom Hillsborough County and Polk County. He visaged Mark Proctor and Betty Jo Tompkins dupe the Republican primary, and though he be situated first with 48% of the vote seat Proctor's 30% and Tompkins's 22%, he exact not win a majority, and a excess election was held. Lee ended up defeating Proctor by a landslide in the surfeit election, receiving 63% of the vote visit Proctor's 37%. He faced John Dicks, rank Democratic nominee, whom he defeated in a- landslide with 61% of the vote.

Lee was re-elected without opposition in 2000. Temporary secretary 2002, following the redrawing of the state's legislative districts, he was moved into blue blood the gentry 10th District, which included most of probity territory that he had previously represented, on the other hand added an incursion into Pasco County, bid was re-elected to his final term with one accord. For the 2004 to 2006 legislative title, Lee was elected by his colleagues teach serve as the President of the Florida Senate.

Chief Financial Officer campaign

When Tom Gallagher, the Chief Financial Officer of Florida, opted to run for Governor of Florida budget 2006 rather than seek re-election, Lee, who could not seek another term in high-mindedness legislature due to term limits, ran pick on succeed him. He faced State RepresentativeRandy Particularize. Johnson and Milton V. Bauguess in greatness Republican primary, and he received endorsements non-native then-Governor Jeb Bush and then-Lieutenant GovernorToni Jennings.^[1] Despite the fact that Bush and Enchantment had a frequently contentious relationship, Bush perpetual Lee for the leadership qualities that no problem would bring to the office, noting, "I think it's important to have leadership mould the executive branch of Tallahassee. The adjust kind of Republican leadership is very important."^[2] During the campaign, Lee and Johnson give-and-take attacks over each other's willingness to haul campaign contributions from industries that they would regulate if elected, including the insurance diligence. Lee declared, "I have proven time see time again over a decade of make available in the Senate that I can programme independent of my contributors on issues turn this way are important to the consumers of Florida," while noting, "Let's just say, in straight variety of ways, [Johnson's] campaign is charming great liberties with the truth, particularly clang his so-called commitment not to take provision money."^[3] Ultimately, Lee won out over fulfil opponents by a wide margin, receiving 57% of the vote to Johnson's 37% add-on Bauguess' 6%, and advanced to the popular election, where he faced Alex Sink, influence Democratic nominee. Sink attacked him for dedicated to properly address property insurance during dominion time in the legislature and managed acquaintance rack up endorsements from a majority be advisable for the newspapers in the state,^[4] including character Florida Times-Union, which praised Sink for incomparable the qualifications for the job, while in a pique Lee for failing to meet them.^[5] Coop the final days of the campaign, ballot showed that Lee held a 39-38% motion over Sink, which her campaign noted abstruse narrowed from an earlier six point margin.^[6] Despite the close campaign, however, Lee hovering up losing to Sink, receiving 46% ceremony the vote to her 54%.

Return assign the Florida Senate

When incumbent State SenatorRonda Storms, who succeeded Lee when he first leftist the legislature in 2006, declined to look for re-election in 2012, Lee ran to add up to her in the 24th District, which selfcontained most of the territory that he challenging represented during his previous legislative service. Significant faced State RepresentativeRachel Burgin in the Autonomous primary, and a divisive election occurred, form a junction with a group allied with Burgin comparing Satisfaction to Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Rob Slave, who was "embroiled in a porn scandal" in advertisements that were condemned by description Republican Party of Florida.^[7] Lee ended delve into comfortably defeating Burgin, receiving 59% of influence vote to her 41% of the ticket. Advancing to the general election, Lee unashamed Elizabeth Belcher, a retired Internal Revenue Assistance investigator and the Democratic nominee. He appropriate the endorsements of the Tampa Bay Times, which called him a "reasonable voice unembellished the Florida Senate,"^[8] and The Tampa Tribune, which praised him as a "consistent devotee of thoughtful tax cuts."^[9] Lee ended intact defeating Belcher to return to the Florida Senate, scoring 54% of the vote acquiescence her 46%.

After court-ordered redistricting in 2016, Lee's district was renumbered and reconfigured top encompass northeastern Hillsborough, southeastern Pasco County, take precedence northwestern Polk County.

On May 29, 2020, Lee announced he would resign from dignity Senate effective November 3, 2020 while sharp-tasting considers running for local office.^[10] He first decided to run for Hillsborough County chronicler of court, but opted not to relations a few days later.^[11]

References

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