Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda
| Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 9th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Loranne Ausley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 9, 1960 Rochester, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | New College of Florida, University of South Florida (B.A.), University of Florida College of Law (J.D.) |
| Profession | Attorney/college professor |
| Religion | Catholicism |
Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (born on July 9, 1960) is a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 9th District, which includes most of Leon County, since 2008.
History
Rehwinkel Vasilinda was born in Rochester, New York and moved to Florida in 1977 to attend New College, where she studied from 1977 to 1982, before graduating from the University of South Florida in 1982 with a degree in social and behavioral studies. Following this, she attended the University of Florida College of Law, graduating with her Juris Doctor in 1985.
Florida House of Representatives
In 2008, when incumbent State Representative Loranne Ausley could not seek another term due to term limits, Rehwinkel Vasilinda ran to succeed her in the 9th District, which included parts of Gadsden County, Jefferson County, and Leon County. She won the Democratic primary unopposed, and faced Peter Boulware, the Republican nominee and a former football player for the Florida State Seminoles and the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the district's Democratic lean, Boulware was competitive with Rehwinkel Vasilinda, and managed to significantly outraise her.[1] In the end, she emerged narrowly victorious, winning by 430 votes and with 49% of the vote.
She was challenged in the Democratic primary in 2010 by Rick Minor, the former Chairman of the Leon County Democratic Party. Minor attacked her for voting in favor of offshore oil drilling, a vote that she contended was part of "a much larger energy package," declaring that she "never promoted, supported or defended offshore drilling."[2] She was also attacked for being "a liability," as in 2008, she "barely won in a district that Barack Obama took by 24 points."[3] Despite these spirited attacks, however, Rehwinkel Vasilinda easily defeated Minor, winning 69% of the vote. In the general election, she faced Kirk Headley-Purdue, who did not present much of a challenge to her, and she comfortably won with 59% of the vote.
When districts were redrawn in 2012, Rehwinkel Vasilinda remained in the 9th District, which became solely located in Leon County. She faced Bradley L. Maxwell, the Republican nominee who had previously run against former State Representative Curtis Richardson in 2000, as her general election opponent. The Tallahassee Democrat endorsed her for re-election, citing her efforts to protect government jobs in the district, specifically praising her for fighting "to save the jobs of workers at the Jefferson Correctional Institution, which was slated for closure."[4] In the end, she was re-elected overwhelmingly, winning 62% of the vote.
References
- ↑ Kaczor, Bill (November 7, 2008). "Ex-NFL, Florida St. star Boulware concedes". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ↑ Derby, Kevin (May 7, 2010). "Energy at Center Stage in Democratic Primary Fight for FL House Seat". Sunshine State News. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ↑ Derby, Kevin (July 26, 2010). "Republican Candidate Headley-Perdue Posts Strong Financial Figures in 9th House Race". Sunshine State News. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Our Opinion: State House, District 9". Tallahassee Democrat. October 11, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
