Accomplishments

LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP

  • Cut Taxes – Supported Jeb Bush’s historic $1 billion tax cut plan in 1999 and helped pass the permanent repeal of the “intangibles tax”, which taxed personal and retirement savings
  • Balancing Florida’s Budget the Right Way – Worked to balance Florida’s budget year in and year out while cutting taxes for families and job-creators every year that he served in the Senate
  • Excellence in Education – Supported Jeb Bush’s “A+ Plan” to raise standards, promote innovation and ensure accountability to improve Florida’s K-12 schools and our colleges and universities
  • Job-Saving Frivolous Lawsuit Reform – While Senate President, helped pass the repeal of “joint and several liability”, a tort system that forced many businesses to needlessly fight frivolous lawsuits
  • Ethics Reform – Passed sweeping reforms in 2005 that required lobbyists to disclose their income from their clients for the first time in Florida history.
  • Successful Pro-Life Legislator – Sponsored the first “Choose Life” license plate law to pass the Florida Legislature, supported Florida’s ban on partial-birth abortions, and as President helped pass Florida’s 2005 parental notification law, the first parental notification law to be held constitutional by state courts
  • Pro-Gun Rights – During his Senate presidency, backed Florida’s landmark “Stand Your Ground” law
  • Strong on Crime – Supported Florida’s 10-20-Life and “Three strikes, you’re out” crime prevention bills

 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Achievement Award (Litigation Reform)
  • Hillsborough Community College Distinguished Alumni
  • Theodore Roosevelt Society, Legislator of the Year
  • Sun Coast League of Municipalities, Bill Bartholomew Good Government Award
  • Hillsborough County Commission, Ellsworth Simmons Good Government Award
  • Florida League of Cities, Quality Floridian Award
  • Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Senator Tom Lee Leadership Award (presented annually to honor community leadership)
  • Florida Sheriffs Association, Legislator of the Year
  • Florida Sheriffs Association, Award for Leadership in Service to Law Enforcement
  • Florida Police Chiefs Association, Legislative Achievement Award
  • Florida Association of Realtors, Legislator of the Year
  • Florida Tax Collectors, Legislator of the Year
  • Sierra Club of Florida, Legislator of the Year
  • Florida Association of Post-Secondary Schools & Colleges, Legislator of the Year
  • The Wall Street Journal, Selected as a Rising Star in the Florida Senate
  • Florida Christian Coalition, Faith and Family Award
  • Florida Medical Association, Legislative Appreciation Award
  • American Planning Society Legislator of the Year
  • Florida Restaurant Association, Government Relations Award
  • PACE Center for Girls, Legislative Leadership Award
  • Associated General Contractors of Florida, Legislator of the Year
  • American Cancer Society, Legislative Leadership Award
  • Florida Homebuilders Association, Legislator of the Year
  • Florida Tax Collectors Association, Legislative Appreciation Award
  • Independent Colleges and Universities, Guardian of Independent Education
  • Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, President’s Award

 

OTHER PUBLIC SERVICE

2004 Presidential Elector- Member
2004 George W. Bush for President- Florida Vice Chairman
2004 Republican National Convention- Delegate
2003 Senate Select Committee on Constitutional Amendment Implementation- Chairman
2000-04 Senate Rules and Calendar Committee- Chairman
2000 Florida Energy Policy 2020 Study Commission- Member
1999 Florida School Construction Finance Commission- Member
1998-00 Senate Regulated Industries Committee- Chairman
1998 Republican Party of Florida- Executive Committee Member
1998 Southern States Energy Board- Member
1996-06 Elected member of the Florida Senate
1992-95 Hillsborough County City/County Planning Commission- Member
1991-93 Hillsborough County Zoning Board of Adjustment- Member

 

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

2008-Present A Kid’s Place- Board of Directors
2008-Present Tampa Bay History Center- Board of Trustees
1998-06 Center Place Fine Arts and Cultural Center, Board of Directors
1998-03 Brandon Regional Hospital, Board of Trustees
1983-94 Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board
1998-94 Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
1986-Present Brandon ’86 Rotary Club, Member
1986-92 Hillsborough Community College Foundation- Board of Directors
1987 Leadership Brandon- Program Chairman
1986 Leadership Brandon- Graduate

 

EDUCATION

University of Tampa
1984, B.S., Business

Hillsborough Community College
1982, Associate of Arts

Brandon Senior High School
1980 Graduate

 

PROFESSIONAL

Bank of Tampa
2007-Present

  • Member of the Advisory Board to the Brandon Division

Florida Senate President
2004-06

  • Provided management for all functions of the Senate and its staff
  • Established both executive and political organizational structures and defined leadership assignments for each of the 40 elected members of the Senate
  • Managed the development and implementation of Senate public policy agenda
  • Managed the development of the Senate’s version of the Florida State Budget and negotiated budgetary differences with the House of Representatives and the Governor
  • Such other broad powers and responsibilities as provided in the Florida Constitution and the Rules of the Florida Senate

Sabal Homes of Florida, Inc.
1984 – Present, Vice President & Director

  • Project feasibility assessment
  • Land acquisition and entitlements
  • Manage executive functions of finance, accounting, legal, insurance & personnel

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Since October 30, 1984

 

PERSONAL

  • Continuous resident of Hillsborough County for over 40 years.
  • Married, Laurel Moore Lee
  • Three children – Regan, Brandon and Faith.
  • Hobbies- golf and exercise.