Marty Bowen

Bowen was born in Winter Haven, Florida, and grew up in Miami, graduating from Southwest Miami Senior High School.^[2] She joined her family's citrus business, Bowen Brothers Citrus, and served as vice president of the company.^[3]

In 2000, when Democratic State Representative Lori Edwards was term-limited, Bowen ran to succeed her in the 65th district, which included Haines City and Winter Haven in central Polk County. She faced Earle Lee, the former President of Landmark Baptist College, in the Republican primary.^[3] Bowen defeated Lee by a wide margin, winning the Republican primary with 60.5 percent of the vote,^[4] and advanced to the general election, where she faced Haines City High School teacher Marlene Bozeman, the Democratic nominee.^[5] She defeated Bozeman with 54 percent of the vote, flipping the seat for the Republican Party.^[6]

Bowen ran for re-election in 2002 and won the Republican nomination unopposed. She faced Libertarian James Clifford in the general election, and defeated him in a landslide, winning 74 percent of the vote.^[7] In 2004, Bowen faced retired U.S. Air Force executive David Anderson, the Democratic nominee.^[8] She defeated Bowen by a wide margin, receiving 61 percent of the vote to his 39 percent.^[9]

Following the 2006 election, Bowen was appointed by State House Speaker Marco Rubio as the Majority Leader, and became the first Republican woman to hold the role in state history.^[1] Following the resignation of Speaker pro tempore Dennis Baxley in 2007 to run for the State Senate, Bowen was elected Speaker pro tempore for the remainder of the legislature's term.^[10]

Bowen was term-limited in 2008 and was unable to seek re-election. In 2007, she announced that she would run for state Commissioner of Agriculture in 2010,^[11] but she dropped out of the race in 2009, opting to focus on her business.^[12]