Annie Betancourt

Betancourt was born in Havana, and moved to Florida in 1960. She attended the Miami-Dade Community College, receiving her associate degree in 1972, and the University of Miami, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1974.^[1] Betancourt held a variety of positions in Miami politics, including two separate appointments as the executive director of the Dade County legislative delegation,^[2] and President of the League of Women Voters of Dade County. In 1991, Betancourt was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the South Florida Water Management District,^[3] and worked to increase public transparency about the District's operations.^[4]

In 1994, Incumbent Democratic State Representative Art Simon opted to challenge State Comptroller Gerald A. Lewis in the Democratic primary rather than seek re-election.^[5] Betancourt ran to succeed him in the 116th District, based in Kendall^[6] and faced Ed Blanco and John Svadbik in the Democratic primary.^[7] She won the primary in a landslide, receiving 65 percent of the vote to Svadbik's 18 percent and Bianco's 17 percent.^[8] In the general election, Betancourt faced Republican nominee Peter Gonzalez, an aide to County Commissioner Miguel Díaz de la Portilla and the Republican nominee.^[9] She defeated Gonzalez in a landslide, receiving 57 percent of the vote to his 43 percent,^[10] becoming the first Cuban-American Democrat in the State House since 1925.^[11]

In 1996, Betancourt ran for re-election, and was challenged by Dulce Cuetara, an aide to State Representative Bruno Barreiro.^[12] Republicans targeted Betancourt's seat as they sought to win a majority in the State House,^[13] but she won re-election in a landslide, receiving 60 percent of the vote to Cuetera's 40 percent.^[14] She was challenged by police detective Frank Carollo, the brother of Miami Mayor Joe Carollo, in 1998,^[15] and won re-election by a wide margin,^[16] receiving 65 percent of the vote.^[17]

Betancourt ran for re-election to a fourth term in 2000, and was challenged by former state legislative aide Alina Garcia, the Republican nominee.^[18] Betancourt emphasized her experience in the legislature, and entered the race as the clear frontrunner ultimately defeating Garcia in a landslide,^[19] winning 58 percent of the vote.^[20]