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Florida's Freshman Lawmakers

The confluence of term limits and redistricting contributed to significant turnover in the Florida Legislature, which welcomed 59 new lawmakers — including members who shifted chambers. Freshmen members previously elected in special elections were not included. Democrats picked up five seats in the House, putting an end to Republicans’ veto-proof two-thirds majority, and gained two seats in the Senate, marking their first net gain in that chamber in 30 years. The GOP has a 76-44 edge in the House and a 26-14 advantage in the Senate.

Net worth figures were obtained from the 2011 financial disclosure statements required of all candidates. The reports include all assets individually valued at more than $1,000, including household goods and personal effects; any liabilities in excess of $1,000; all primary and secondary sources and amounts of income exceeding $1,000; and interests in specified businesses. Net worth is computed by subtracting reported liabilities from reported assets.

Senate

Five freshman Democrats and 10 Republicans were elected to the 40-member state Senate.


Joseph Abruzzo

Joseph Abruzzo (D), 32, government relations and public policy consultant, Weiss, Handler & Cornwell

District 25 — part of Palm Beach County

Net Worth: $142,498

Notable: Abruzzo served two terms in the Florida House before moving to the Senate.

Aaron Bean
Aaron Bean

Aaron Bean (R), 45, relationship development officer, Shands Jacksonville

District 4 — Nassau and part of Duval County

Net Worth: $544,310

Notable: Bean served eight years in the Florida House, including a term as elected chairman of the Duval County Legislative Delegation in 2008. He also previously served as a Fernandina Beach city commissioner and as the city’s mayor.

Rob Bradley
Rob Bradley

Rob Bradley (R), 42, attorney

District 7 — Alachua, Bradford and Clay counties

Net Worth: $1.4 million

Notable: A former criminal prosecutor, Bradley also serves on the boards of Northeast Florida Community Hospice and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and received a gubernatorial appointment to the board of trustees of St. Johns River State College.

Jeff Brandes
Jeff Brandes

Jeff Brandes (R), 36, real estate

District 22 — parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties

Net Worth: $10.35 million

Notable: Brandes, an Iraqi war veteran, served one term in the Florida House.

Dwight Bullard
Dwight Bullard

Dwight Bullard (D), 35, teacher

District 39 — Hendry, Monroe and parts of Collier and Miami-Dade counties

Net Worth: $25,500

Notable: Bullard served two terms in the House.

Jeff Clemens
Jeff Clemens

Jeff Clemens (D), 42, energy contractor

District 27 — part of Palm Beach County

Net Worth: $26,700

Notable: Clemens moves to the Senate after one term in the House.

Bill Galvano
Bill Galvano

Bill Galvano (R), 46, attorney

District 26 — DeSoto, Glades and Hardee counties and parts of Charlotte, Highlands, Hillsborough and Manatee counties

Net Worth: $1.5 million

Notable: Galvano served in the House from 2002-10.

Next page, meet more new senators.

Senate (continued)

Denise Grimsley
Denise Grimsley

Denise Grimsley (R), 53, registered nurse/citrus grower

District 21 — Okeechobee County and parts of Highlands, Martin, Osceola, Polk and St. Lucie counties

Net Worth: $585,023

Notable: Grimsley served in the Florida House from 2004-12. During the last legislative session, she chaired the House Appropriations Committee, the first woman to serve in that position.

Dorothy Hukill
Dorothy Hukill

Dorothy Hukill (R), 66, attorney

District 8 — parts of Lake, Marion and Volusia counties

Net Worth: $54,883

Notable: Hukill served in the Florida House from 2004-12 and was mayor of Port Orange from 2000-04.

Tom Lee
Tom Lee

Tom Lee (R), 50, vice president, director, Sabal Homes of Florida

District 24 — part of Hillsborough County

Net Worth: $3.17 million

Notable: Lee returns after a six-year hiatus.

John Legg
John Legg

John Legg (R), 37, administrator/teacher

District 17 — parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties

Net Worth: $89,912

Notable: Legg served in the Florida House from 2004-12 and was deputy majority whip from 2006-08.

Wilton Simpson
Wilton Simpson

Wilton Simpson (R), 46, egg farmer and president, Simpson Environmental Services

District 18 — Hernando County and parts of Pasco and Sumter counties

Net Worth: $12.3 million

Notable: Simpson, a political novice who owns an egg farm and asbestos removal and construction company, ran unopposed in both the primary and general election.

Darren Soto
Darren Soto

Darren Soto (D), 34, attorney

District 14 — parts of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties

Net Worth: (-$75,142)

Notable: Soto moves over from the House, where he had served since 2007.

Kelli Stargel
Kelli Stargel

Kelli Stargel (R), 46, investment property manager

District 15 — parts of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties

Net Worth: $99,182

Notable: Stargel served two consecutive terms in the Florida House, where she chaired the K-20 Innovation Subcommittee.

Geraldine Thompson
Geraldine Thompson

Geraldine Thompson (D), 64, museum founder and retired college administrator

District 12 — part of Orange County

Net Worth: $658,323

Notable: Thompson served in the House for three consecutive terms and as Democratic Leader pro tempore from 2008-10.

Next page, meet new members of Florida's House.

House

The 120-member Florida House has 44 new members — 24 Democrats and 20 Republicans.

Bruce Antone
Bruce Antone

Bruce Antone (D), 52, consultant

District 46 — part of Orange County

Net Worth: $150,000

Notable: Antone served in the House from 2002-06.

Halsey Beshears
Halsey Beshears

Halsey Beshears (R), 41, CFO, Simpson Nurseries; president, Total Landscape Supply

District 7 — Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Lafayette, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla counties and part of Leon County

Net Worth: $619,765

Notable: Beshears was president of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association from 2011-12.

Randolph Bracy III
Randolph Bracy III

Randolph Bracy III (D), 35, director of business development, Workforce Advantage Academy, an Orange County charter school

District 45 — part of Orange County

Net Worth: $2,573

Notable: Bracy got his professional start working as a campaign strategist and political adviser to former Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage, Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal, state Sen. Gary Siplin and U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson.

Mike Clelland
Mike Clelland

Mike Clelland (D), 49, lawyer/retired firefighter

District 29 — part of Seminole County

Net Worth: $203,000

Notable: Clelland pulled off the biggest upset in Florida last November, when he defeated Rep. Chris Dorworth (R-Lake Mary), who was slated to become House Speaker for the 2015-16 legislative sessions. Clelland won by 146 votes.

Neil Combee
Neil Combee

Neil Combee (R), 53, rancher and real estate and government affairs consultant, Republic Services Florida, a waste management company

District 39 — parts of Osceola and Polk counties

Net Worth: $517,674

Notable: Combee served 16 years as a Polk County commissioner and was on the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District for seven years.

Travis Cummings
Travis Cummings

Travis Cummings (R), 40, owner/president of an employee benefits consulting firm

District 18 — parts of Clay County

Net Worth: $604,642

Notable: The former Clay County commissioner ran unopposed.

Mark Danish
Mark Danish

Mark Danish (D), 58, teacher

District 63 — part of Hillsborough County

Net Worth: $239,254

Notable: Danish beat incumbent Republican Rep. Shawn Harrison of Tampa.

Karen Castor Dentel
Karen Castor Dentel

Karen Castor Dentel (D), 44, teacher

District 30 — parts of Orange and Seminole counties

Net Worth: $265,893

Notable: Dentel, who is the sister of Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and daughter of former USF President Betty Castor, beat incumbent Rep. Scott Plakon (R) in one of the biggest spending House races in the state.

Manny Diaz Jr.
Manny Diaz Jr.

Manny Diaz Jr. (R), 39, assistant principal

District 103 — parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties

Net Worth: (-$20,800)

Notable: A native of Hialeah, Diaz is no relation to the former Miami mayor who shares his name.

Next page, meet more new members of Florida's House.

House (continued)

Dwight Dudley
Dwight Dudley

Dwight Dudley (D), 58, criminal defense lawyer at his own law firm

District 68 — part of Pinellas County

Net Worth: $417,977

Notable: Dudley once worked as a legislative aide and analyst in the Florida House.

Dane Eagle
Dane Eagle

Dane Eagle (R), 29, real estate broker

District 77 — part of Lee County

Net Worth: $35,230

Notable: At age 24, Eagle was appointed chief of staff for former Gov. Charlie Crist, the youngest in Florida history.

Katie Edwards
Katie Edwards

Katie Edwards (D), 31, president, Arrow E Consulting

District 98 — part of Broward County

Net Worth: (-$111,574)

Notable: Edwards is a former executive director of the Dade County Farm Bureau and a member of the planning and zoning board in Plantation.

Mike Fasano
Mike Fasano

Mike Fasano (R), 54, associate vice president for investments, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter/Investments

District 36 — part of Pasco County

Net Worth: $1.26 million

Notable: Fasano, who moves over from the Senate, previously served in the House from 1994-02.

Heather Dawes Fitzenhagen
Heather Dawes Fitzenhagen

Heather Dawes Fitzenhagen (R), 52, marketing director, Condo & HOA Law Group

District 78 — part of Lee County

Net Worth: $558,551

Notable: Fitzenhagen also works as a mediator/lawyer at Resolution Strategies and was a vice president at AIG Advisor Group.

Dave Hood
Dave Hood

Dave Hood (R), 58, attorney

District 25 — part of Volusia County

Net Worth: (-$246,500)

Notable: Hood was mayor of Ormond Beach from 1994-99 and was a city commissioner from 1992-94.

Travis Hutson
Travis Hutson

Travis Hutson (R), 28, Realtor

District 24 — Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties

Net Worth: $6.7 million

Notable: Hutson worked for his family’s real estate investment business, Hutson Cos., and served on the finance team of a number of notable Republicans, including Gov. Mitt Romney, Gov. Rick Scott, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Attorney General Pam Bondi and others.

Shevrin Jones
Shevrin Jones

Shevrin Jones (D), 29, vice president of community affairs, McKinley-Alston Financial

District 101 — part of Broward County

Net Worth: $150,000

Notable: Jones, who was elected without opposition, is co-founder of a youth leadership organization called L.E.A.D., Leaders by Empowerment — Activist by Development.

Dave Kerner
Dave Kerner

Dave Kerner (D), 29, attorney

District 87 — part of Palm Beach County

Net Worth: (-$54,612)

Notable: Kerner led a statewide class-action lawsuit against 26 cities and a camera company that helped recover millions of dollars in damages from illegal use of red light cameras.

Next page, meet more new members of Florida's House.

House (continued)

Mike La Rosa
Mike La Rosa

Mike La Rosa (R), 30, real estate developer

District 42 — parts of Osceola and Polk counties

Net Worth: $579,698

Notable: La Rosa was a replacement candidate for Republican Rep. Mike Horner, who withdrew from the race last September after his name surfaced on a client list at an Orlando brothel.

Larry Lee Jr.
Larry Lee Jr.

Larry Lee Jr. (D), 59, owner, State Farm insurance agency in Fort Pierce; co-owner, WFLM 104.7 FM and WIRA 1400 AM radio stations

District 84 — part of St. Lucie County

Net Worth: $2.5 million

Notable: Lee played briefly in the NFL in 1976 after graduating from Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C. He signed with the Denver Broncos but was cut in preseason.

MaryLynn Magar
MaryLynn Magar

MaryLynn Magar (R), 49, vice president, HeartCare Imaging

District 82 — parts of Martin and Palm Beach counties

Net Worth: $1.9 million

Notable: Magar has been a local Republican executive committee member for 20 years.

Kionne McGhee
Kionne McGhee

Kionne McGhee (D), 35, lawyer/professor/motivational speaker

District 117 — part of Miami-Dade County

Net Worth: (-$49,760)

Notable: McGhee was raised in public housing. In school, he was labeled emotionally handicapped and learning disabled and was suspended more than 20 times. His father and brother were murdered.

Jared Moskowitz
Jared Moskowitz

Jared Moskowitz (D), 32, general counsel, AshBritt Environmental

District 97 — part of Broward County

Net Worth: $299,641

Notable: In 2006, as a second-year law student, Moskowitz was elected to the Parkland city commission, making him one ofo the youngest elected officials in the state at that time.

Kathleen Peters
Kathleen Peters

Kathleen Peters (R), 51, vice president of public affairs, Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce

District 69 — part of Pinellas County

Net Worth: $244,994

Notable: Peters served since 2008 on the South Pasadena City Commission and recently was mayor, a commission-appointed position.

Cary Pigman
Cary Pigman

Cary Pigman (R), 54, emergency room doctor

District 55 — Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee counties and part of St. Lucie County

Net Worth: $529,566

Notable: In 2011, Pigman was deployed for six months in northern Iraq, where he served as an emergency medicine physician at Forward Operating Base Diamondback in Mosul and then at Contingency Operating Site Warrior in Kirkuk. He and his wife, an emergency room nurse, raise sheep and chickens and maintain a vineyard on their small farm.

Bobby Powell Jr
Bobby Powell Jr

Bobby Powell Jr. (D), 31, former legislative aide

District 88 — part of Palm Beach County

Net Worth: $11,482

Notable: Powell was a legislative assistant for state Rep. Mack Bernard from 2009-12. Prior to that, he was a planner for West Palm Beach.

Sharon Pritchett
Sharon Pritchett

Sharon Pritchett (D), 60, retired investigator, Miami-Dade public defender’s office

District 102 — parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties

Net Worth: $170,000

Notable: Pritchett is a former Miami Gardens councilwoman and narrowly lost a bid for a House seat in a special election in 2011.

Next page, meet more new members of Florida's House.

House (continued)

Jake Raburn
Jake Raburn

Jake Raburn (R), 27, marketing director, Hinton Farms Produce

District 57 — part of Hillsborough County

Net Worth: (-$51,564)

Notable: After graduating from the University of Florida, Raburn worked for two years as a marketing specialist at the Florida Department of Citrus before joining his wife’s family farming operation.

Kevin Rader
Kevin Rader

Kevin Rader (D), 44, insurance agent

District 81 — part of Palm Beach County

Net Worth: $913,975

Notable: Rader served in the House from 2008-10.

Ricardo Rangel
Ricardo Rangel

Ricardo Rangel (D), 35, business consultant

District 43 — part of Osceola County

Net Worth: (-$25,000)

Notable: Rangel, a 12-year Army veteran, is a former Osceola County organizer who helped organize Osceola and drum up support in the Puerto Rican community for John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004.

Holly Raschein
Holly Raschein

Holly Raschein (R), 32, consultant/former senior legislative aide

District 120 — Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade County

Net Worth: $4,000

Notable: Raschein assumes the seat of her former boss, former House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders, who lost his bid for the Florida Senate in 2012.

Dan Raulerson
Dan Raulerson

Dan Raulerson (R), 55, certified public accountant

District 58 — part of Hillsborough County

Net Worth: $1.2 million

Notable: Raulerson is a former Plant City commissioner and served two years as the mayor of Plant City until June, when he stepped down to focus on his House bid.

David Richardson
David Richardson

David Richardson (D), 55, accountant

District 113 — part of Miami-Dade County

Net Worth: $3.5 million

Notable: Richardson, who faced no opposition after winning his Democratic primary, is one of Florida’s first two openly gay state legislators, both elected in 2012.

Ray Rodrigues
Ray Rodrigues

Ray Rodrigues (R), 42, budget manager, Florida Gulf Coast University

District 76 — part of Lee County

Net Worth: $14,927

Notable: Rodrigues, who serves as vice chairman of the Lee County Republican Party, faced no challengers on the November general election ballot.

Jose Javier Rodriguez
Jose Javier Rodriguez

Jose Javier Rodriguez (D), 34, attorney

District 112 — part of Miami-Dade County

Net Worth: (-$22,543)

Notable: Rodriguez, a Harvard Law School graduate who served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, defeated veteran Republican lawmaker Alex Diaz de la Portilla.

David Santiago
David Santiago

David Santiago (R), 41, financial adviser/Army veteran

District 27 — part of Volusia County

Net Worth: $92,724

Notable: Santiago served as a Deltona city commissioner from 2003-07.

Joe Saunders
Joe Saunders

Joe Saunders (D), 29, community organizer

District 49 — part of Orange County

Net Worth: $21,727

Notable: Saunders, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, is one of Florida’s first two openly gay state legislators, both elected in 2012. As a field director with Equality Florida, Saunders worked on the unsuccessful campaign to defeat Florida’s anti-gay “Marriage Protection Amendment” and more recently served as campaign manager for Equality is Gainesville’s Business, a successful campaign to defeat an anti-gay charter amendment in Gainesville.

Next page, meet more new members of Florida's House.

House (continued)

Ross Spano
Ross Spano

Ross Spano (R), 46, attorney

District 59 — part of Hillsborough County

Net Worth: $731,368

Notable: Spano is a board member of the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce and the Community Issues Council.

Richard “Rick” Stark
Richard “Rick” Stark

Richard “Rick” Stark (D), 60, owner, independent insurance agency Stark & Associates

District 104 — part of Broward County

Net Worth: $1.8 million

Notable: Stark lobbied for 12 years in Tallahassee for health reform and supports full implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Florida.

Linda Stewart
Linda Stewart

Linda Stewart (D), 64, former Orange County commissioner

District 47 — part of Orange County

Net Worth: $797,149

Notable: Stewart was Orange County commissioner from 2002-10 and was instrumental in bringing the Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute to Medical City in Lake Nona.

Charlie Stone
Charlie Stone

Charlie Stone (R), 65, president and owner, Stone Petroleum Products

District 22 — Levy County and part of Marion County

Net Worth: $473,600

Notable: Stone served two terms on the Marion County Commission and ran unchallenged for the newly drawn 22nd district seat.

Victor “Vic” Torres Jr.
Victor “Vic” Torres Jr.

Victor “Vic” Torres Jr. (D), 65, retired detective, New York City Transit Police; retired part-time bus driver

District 48 — part of Orange County

Net Worth: (-$30,846)

Notable: The Bronx-born Torres is of Puerto Rican descent and campaigned for office with just $2,000 while driving a Lynx bus two days a week.

Clovis Watson Jr.
Clovis Watson Jr.

Clovis Watson Jr. (D), 53, retired Alachua city manager; retired police officer

District: District 20 — parts of Alachua and Marion counties

Net Worth: $1.3 million

Notable: During his tenure as Alachua city manager, Watson spearheaded and implemented Vision 2010 Plan, outlining the city’s future growth, guided the city to fiscal stability and AAA bond ratings and helped attract a number of Fortune 500 companies to the region.

Carl Zimmerman
Carl “Z” Zimmerman

Carl “Z” Zimmerman (D), 61, high school journalism teacher

District 65 — part of Pinellas County

Net Worth: $88,627

Notable: Zimmerman defeated Republican Rep. Peter Nehr in his third run against the incumbent lawmaker.