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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • JD, Vanderbilt University Law School, 1977
  • BS, Mathematics, Tennessee Technological University, 1974

Professional Experience

  • JD, Vanderbilt University Law School, 1977
  • BS, Mathematics, Tennessee Technological University, 1974
  • Attorney & Partner, DeBeaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), 1980-present

Political Experience

  • JD, Vanderbilt University Law School, 1977
  • BS, Mathematics, Tennessee Technological University, 1974
  • Attorney & Partner, DeBeaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), 1980-present
  • Senator, Florida State Senate, District 9, 2016-present
  • Senator, Florida State Senate, District 10, 2010-2016
  • Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, 2001-2008

Former Committees/Caucuses

Member, Long-Term Care Policy Advisory Council, present

Former Vice Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Florida State Senate

Former Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Pre-K-12 Education, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Environmental Preservation and Conservation, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Lakeside Alternatives

Former Chair, Seminole County Legislative Delegation

United States Senator Connie Mack's Federal Judicial Advisory Committee, 1989-1992

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations Committee

Member, Community Affairs Committee

Member, Education Committee

Chair, Judiciary Committee

Member, Rules Committee

Member, Subcommittee on Education

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, Vanderbilt University Law School, 1977
  • BS, Mathematics, Tennessee Technological University, 1974
  • Attorney & Partner, DeBeaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), 1980-present
  • Senator, Florida State Senate, District 9, 2016-present
  • Senator, Florida State Senate, District 10, 2010-2016
  • Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, 2001-2008
  • Member, Orange County Bar Association, 1978-present
  • Member, The Florida Bar Association, 1977-present
  • Member, American Bar Association, present
  • Member, Annunciation Catholic Church, present
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Vanderbilt Law School Alumni Association, present
  • Member, Greater Orlando Area Chamber of Commerce, present
  • Former Member, City of Orlando Citizens Review Committee
  • Former Member, Executive Committee, Orange County Republican
  • Former Member, Orange County Republican Executive Committee
  • Former Chair, Orlando Landmarks Defense Trust
  • Former Member, Seminole County Republican Executive Committee
  • Member, Leadership Central Florida, 1996-1997
  • Member, Leadership Orlando, 1991-1992
  • President, Orange County Young Republicans, 1986-1988

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Chamber of Commerce, Distinguished Advocate, 2005, 2006;
  • Christian Coalition for Florida, Faith and Family Award, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006;
  • Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Certificate of Appreciation, 2006;
  • Orange County Public Schools, Gratitude for dedication and commitment and service to OCPS, 2006;
  • Florida Association of Professional Process Servers, Legislator of the Year Award, 2005;
  • Florida Legal Services for Commitment to Assuring Equal Access to Justice at the Supreme Court of Florida, 2005;
  • Florida Medical Association, Legislator of the Year Award, 2005;
  • Robert B. Crawford Charter President Annual Award for unrelenting dedication, outstanding service, and unselfish commitment in the protection, defense and improvement of the State of Florida's Workforce Education System, 2005;
  • Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society Outstanding Commitment to Provide Economically Disadvantaged;
  • Residents with Access to the Judicial System, 2005;
  • Seminole County Medical Society, Outstanding Legislator Award, 2005;
  • Chamber of Commerce, "A" Honor Roll, 2002, 2003, 2004;
  • Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, Legislator of the Year, 2004;
  • Florida Restaurant Association, Legislator of the Year, 2004;
  • Florida Sheriff's Association, Legislator of the Year, 2004;
  • Keiser College, Award for Contributions of Excellence in Education, 2004;
  • Florida's Public Radio and Television Stations Award for "Knowledgeable dedication, leadership, and vision that assured continued support for Florida's Public Broadcasting System", 2003;
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Legislator of the Year, 2002;
  • Florida Workers' Advocates, Legislator of the Year Award, 2002;
  • Florida Workers' Advocates, Outstanding Legislator on Behalf of Workers' Rights Award;

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Golf, running, tennis

Policy Positions

Florida State Legislative Election 2004 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legal.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- X

5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

6. Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- X

7. Require parental notification prior to a minor receiving an abortion.
- X

8. Other or expanded principles
- X

Budget, Spending, and Tax

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.

1. Education (higher)
- Greatly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase

6. Transportation and highway infrastructure
- Greatly Increase

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Capital gains taxes
- Eliminate

3. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Decrease

5. Estate taxes
- Eliminate

6. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status

7. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

8. Sales taxes
- Slightly Decrease

9. Vehicle taxes
- Maintain Status

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

11. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- No

12. Should Florida repeal the bullet train amendment passed in 2000?
- Yes

13. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

1. Do you support the current limit of eight consecutive years served for Florida governors?
- Yes

2. Do you support the current limit of eight consecutive years served for Florida state senators and representatives?
- Yes

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. PAC
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Parties
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

6. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- No

7. Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying, and ensuring accuracy of votes?
- No Answer

8. Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Florida are closed?
- Yes

9. Should Florida change the requirement for voters to amend the state Constitution from a simple majority to a three-fifths majority?
- Yes

10. Should Florida repeal the telephone rate increase that went into effect last year?
- Yes

11. Should Florida recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- No

12. Should Florida restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
- Yes

13. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X

2. Support the death penalty in Florida.
- X

3. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

4. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- X

5. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- No Answer

6. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
- No Answer

7. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- X

8. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer

9. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- No Answer

10. Increase funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent and to respond to terrorist attacks.
- X

11. Other or expanded principles
- X

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- X

2. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- X

3. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- X

4. Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
- X

5. Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
- X

6. Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- X

7. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X

8. Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- X

9. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- X

10. Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
- No Answer

11. Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
- X

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education Vouchers Issues: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education vouchers.

1. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- No Answer

2. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
- X

3. School districts that accept vouchers should give students standardized tests.
- No Answer

4. School districts that accept vouchers should conduct background checks on people who have direct contact with students.
- X

5. Schools districts that accept vouchers should demonstrate fiscal soundness before being approved to take tax dollars.
- X

6. Vouchers should not be given to home-schooled students.
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.

1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- X

3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X

4. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- No Answer

6. Include sexual orientation in Florida's anti-discrimination laws.
- No Answer

7. Increase the state minimum wage.
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

1. Public employment
- No

2. State college and university admissions
- No

3. State contracting
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment and Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X

2. Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
- X

3. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
- X

4. Support funding for open space preservation.
- X

5. Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

1. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

2. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- X

3. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- X

5. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- No Answer

6. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- No Answer

7. Require a license for gun possession.
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- X

2. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

3. Make medical malpractice records public.
- No Answer

4. Limit the fees attorneyes can receive from medical malpractice jury awards.
- X

5. Deny licenses to physicians who commit malpractice three times.
- X

6. Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
- X

7. Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
- X

8. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

9. Legalize physician assisted suicide in Florida.
- No Answer

10. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

1. Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
- X

2. Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- No Answer

3. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

4. Support current limits on benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- No Answer

5. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- X

6. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
- No Answer

7. Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
- X

8. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- No Answer

State Bills