Anthony Suarez (Florida politician)
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Democratic (before 2002)[1]
Anthony Suarez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from District 35 | |
| In office March 9, 1999 – November 7, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Brooks |
| Succeeded by | Jim Kallinger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 16, 1953 New York City, U.S. |
| Party | Republican (2002–present) Democratic (before 2002)[1] |
| Children | Anthony Jr., Christian |
| Education | Fordham University (B.A.) St. John's University School of Law (J.D.) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Anthony "Tony" Suarez (born October 16, 1953) is a Republican politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1999 to 2000.
Suarez was born in New York City and attended Fordham University, graduating with his bachelor's degree in 1974, and the St. John's University School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1977.[2] He worked as an assistant district attorney in Bronx County after graduation, and established a law firm with Peter M. Rivera.[3] In 1988, Suarez was appointed to the New York Judicial Commission on Minorities.[4]
Suarez relocated to Florida in the early 1990s, and was elected the Chairman of the Seminole County Democratic Party in 1994.[5] He was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to serve as a member of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission, and served as a delegate to the Guatemala peace accords.[6]
Florida House of Representatives
In 1999, Republican State Representative Bob Brooks resigned from the Florida House to serve as Secretary of the Florida Department of Health, and Governor Jeb Bush called a special election for March 9, 1999, to serve out his term.[7] Suarez announced that he would run, and won the Democratic nomination unopposed.[8] In the general election, Suarez faced Republican nominee Jerry Creel, the pastor of the Brush Arbor Baptist Church, who defeated former State Representative Tom Drage in the Republican primary, and Libertarian nominee Janet Hawkins.[9]
Suarez won the general election by a narrow margin, receiving 51 percent of the vote to Creel's 46 percent and Hawkins's 3 percent,[10] becoming the first Hispanic state legislator from Orange County.[11]
While serving in the legislature, Suarez was the only Democrat to support Governor Bush's "One Florida" plan to end affirmative action.[12]