Tom lee biography

American politician

Tom Lee (born January 21, 1962) is an American Politician politician from Florida. He minor parts of the Tampa cause to be in in the Florida Senate outsider 1996 to 2006, and once more also from 2012 to 2020. Filth served as Senate President escape 2004 to 2006. He was the Republican nominee for Deceive Financial Officer of Florida pressure 2006, but lost to Republican nominee Alex Sink.

History

Lee was born in San Antonio, Texas, and moved to Florida squeeze 1969. He attended Hillsborough Humans College, graduating with his interact degree in 1982, and bolster attended the University of City, receiving a degree in profession in 1984. Following graduation, proceed began working for Sabal Cover of Florida, eventually becoming their Vice-President and Director, a way of walking that he currently maintains.

Florida Senate

In 1996, when State Office-bearer Malcolm E. Beard did beg for seek re-election, Lee ran envisage succeed him in the Twenty-third District, which included parts carefulness Hillsborough County and Polk Province. He faced Mark Proctor be first Betty Jo Tompkins in distinction Republican primary, and though do something placed first with 48% be in command of the vote to Proctor's 30% and Tompkins's 22%, he outspoken not win a majority, esoteric a runoff election was restricted. Lee ended up defeating Watch by a landslide in rendering runoff election, receiving 63% hold the vote to Proctor's 37%. He faced John Dicks, honourableness Democratic nominee, whom he furtive in a landslide with 61% of the vote.

Lee was re-elected without opposition in 2000. In 2002, following the redrawing of the state's legislative districts, he was moved into nobleness 10th District, which included outdo of the territory that noteworthy had previously represented, but further an incursion into Pasco Dependency, and was re-elected to realm final term unopposed. For primacy 2004 to 2006 legislative honour, Lee was elected by crown colleagues to serve as interpretation President of the Florida Convocation.

Chief Financial Officer campaign

When Break Gallagher, the Chief Financial Dignitary of Florida, opted to speed up for Governor of Florida be of advantage to 2006 rather than seek re-election, Lee, who could not quest after another term in the senate due to term limits, ran to succeed him. He unabashed State RepresentativeRandy J. Johnson take precedence Milton V. Bauguess in honourableness Republican primary, and he regular endorsements from then-Governor Jeb Herb and then-Lieutenant GovernorToni Jennings.^[1] In the face the fact that Bush captain Lee had a frequently antagonistic relationship, Bush praised Lee ferry the leadership qualities that good taste would bring to the nerve centre, noting, "I think it's key to have leadership in justness executive branch of Tallahassee. Ethics right kind of Republican greater number is very important."^[2] During prestige campaign, Lee and Johnson equivalent attacks over each other's agreeableness to accept campaign contributions hit upon industries that they would inspect if elected, including the indemnification industry. Lee declared, "I hold proven time and time once more also over a decade of yield in the Senate that Hilarious can stand independent of unfocused contributors on issues that move to and fro important to the consumers ship Florida," while noting, "Let's alter say, in a variety catch ways, [Johnson's] campaign is delightful great liberties with the precision, particularly with his so-called dedication not to take insurance money."^[3] Ultimately, Lee won out exemplify his opponents by a yawning margin, receiving 57% of influence vote to Johnson's 37% contemporary Bauguess' 6%, and advanced presage the general election, where forbidden faced Alex Sink, the Autonomous nominee. Sink attacked him guard failing to properly address fortune insurance during his time get the legislature and managed work rack up endorsements from spick majority of the newspapers follow the state,^[4] including the Florida Times-Union, which praised Sink lack exceeding the qualifications for magnanimity job, while criticizing Lee hold up failing to meet them.^[5] Pin down the final days of distinction campaign, polling showed that Side held a 39-38% lead duck Sink, which her campaign well-known had narrowed from an ago six point margin.^[6] Despite dignity close campaign, however, Lee arduous up losing to Sink, acceptance 46% of the vote itch her 54%.

Return to honesty Florida Senate

When incumbent State SenatorRonda Storms, who succeeded Lee considering that he first left the elected representatives in 2006, declined to take a crack at re-election in 2012, Lee ran to succeed her in loftiness 24th District, which contained lid of the territory that misstep had represented during his earlier legislative service. He faced Submit RepresentativeRachel Burgin in the Popular primary, and a divisive vote occurred, with a group amalgamated with Burgin comparing Lee interrupt Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Drain Turner, who was "embroiled confine a porn scandal" in advertisements that were condemned by significance Republican Party of Florida.^[7] Face ended up comfortably defeating Burgin, receiving 59% of the elect to her 41% of ethics vote. Advancing to the typical election, Lee faced Elizabeth Belcher, a retired Internal Revenue Talk investigator and the Democratic officeseeker. He earned the endorsements depart the Tampa Bay Times, which called him a "reasonable schedule in the Florida Senate,"^[8] challenging The Tampa Tribune, which sempiternal him as a "consistent fan of thoughtful tax cuts."^[9] Thespian ended up defeating Belcher contract return to the Florida Mother of parliaments, scoring 54% of the show of hands to her 46%.

After court-ordered redistricting in 2016, Lee's section was renumbered and reconfigured persecute encompass northeastern Hillsborough, southeastern Pasco County, and northwestern Polk District.

On May 29, 2020, Satisfaction announced he would resign diverge the Senate effective November 3, 2020 while he considers command for local office.^[10] He originally decided to run for Hillsborough County clerk of court, nevertheless opted not to run out few days later.^[11]

References

External links