Jennifer Carroll
Jennifer Carroll (b. August 27, 1959 in Trinidad) is a Republican politician and former Lieutenant Governor of Florida. She was sworn into office on January 4, 2011 and served until her resignation on March 12, 2013. Carroll was the first woman to be elected lieutenant governor of Florida, as well as the first African American elected to Florida statewide office.[1][2][3]
Carroll previously served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 13th District after winning a special election in April 2003.[4] She announced her resignation as lieutenant governor on March 13, 2013.[5]
The following month Carroll was hired as a senior advisor for Global Digital Solutions, an organization that does engineering and technical consulting work.[6]
Biography
Carroll served as in the United States Navy from 1979-1999, and has worked as Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.
She is involved with many organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, American Legion Post 0197, Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Federated Republican Women of Clay County, Florida Metropolitan University Board of Governors, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.[7]
Education
- M.B.A., Saint Leo University
- B.A., Political Science, University of New Mexico, 1985
- AA, Leeward Community College, 1981[8]
Political career
Lieutenant Governor (2011-2013)
Carroll was elected as the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Florida on a ticket with Gov. Rick Scott on November 2, 2010, and assumed office the following January. She is the first female lieutenant governor in Florida history.[1][2]
Resignation
On March 12, 2013, Carroll submitted her letter of resignation to Governor Rick Scott. Her resignation became public on the following day. Scott's chief of staff, Adam Hollingsworth, released the following statement explaining how the ongoing national investigation into Allied Veterans of the World, a nonprofit chain of Internet cafes, had prompted Carroll to step down:
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On March 12, Chase Burns, owner of International Internet Technologies, turned himself in to police in Oklahoma on a felony charge of being a fugitive from Florida. He was wanted in Florida in connection with racketeering and conspiracy charges. He allegedly sold illegal gambling software and then, together with the purchasers, claimed that proceeds from the games would benefit the Allied Veterans. However, prosecutors alleged that Burns made $290 million on the scheme and that less than 1 percent of the proceeds went to the nonprofit. Kristin Burns, his wife, had been arrested in Oklahoma on March 11 on charges of being a fugitive from Florida, where she was wanted on charges of racketeering, money laundering, and money laundering.[9]
3 N. & J.C. Corporation, the public relations firm Carroll owned and served as president of, had represented Allied Veterans, and she consulted for the nonprofit while serving in the Florida House of Representatives. Carroll was criticized for having a conflict of interest when she pre-filed House Bill 1185 on February 22, 2010. This bill would have imposed various regulations on gaming operators for "sweepstakes" games but exempted nonprofit operators from the requirements. The exceptions for nonprofit gaming operators, such as Allied Veterans, was removed in a later version of the bill, but Carroll withdrew HB 1185 on February 24, 2010, before it had even been formally introduced.[10][11] Citing an anonymous Republican Party source, Florida Times-Union online columnist Abel Harding attributed Carroll's decision to withdraw the bill to pressure from party leaders, but the legislator claimed that one of her staffer had "erroneously filed" the bill instead of simply requesting a "placeholder" bill which could be completed later.[12]
On April 4, 2013, Carroll said she had no idea Allied Veterans was being investigated until two agents visited her office in March. When they left Gov. Scott's chief of staff told her Scott wanted her to resign, which she immediately agreed to. "In my military time, when the commander in chief makes a demand or a request, you say 'Aye, aye sir,' and you march on. And that's what I did. I thought it would be better to remove myself from being a distraction," she stated.[13]
Anti-gay comment
At the opening of a campaign office for Mitt Romney in July 2012, Carroll was asked about accusations made against her by a former staff member, claiming she caught Carroll and a female aide in a "compromising position." Denying the accusations, Carroll stated, "Black women that look like me don't engage in relationships like that."[14]
Her comment was immediately met with criticism from many groups and individuals. Florida's Democratic Party issued a statement, saying, "Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll has embarrassed our state with her public comments insulting the gay and lesbian community. Her generalities about what Black lesbians 'look like' were ignorant, irrelevant and unnecessarily hostile."[15]
Equality Florida launched an online petition demanding an apology and, on July 26, Carroll sent a letter to director Nadine Smith, saying her comment was "wrong and inexcusable" and that she is "committed to treating every person with the utmost courtesy, respect and dignity and I hope you will accept my heartfelt apology."[16]
Florida House of Representatives (2003-2010)
Issue positions
Carroll did not provide answers to the Florida State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected.[17]
Committee assignments
During her last term in the House, Carroll served on the following committees:
- Economic Development Policy Committee (Chair)
- Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council
- Energy & Utilities Policy Committee
- Policy Council
- Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning
- Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Committee
Sponsored legislation
Carroll's sponsored legislation in the House included:
- HB 407 - "Proceeds of Forfeitures: Increases minimum percentage of such proceeds that must go to non-law enforcement organizations; revises types of organizations that may receive such funds & purposes for which such funds may be expended."
- HB 997 - "Student Discipline and School Safety: Requires that district school board review its policy allowing corporal punishment once every 3 years during district school board meeting; revises content of district school board policies of zero tolerance"
- HB 1055 - "Taxation of Public-Private Transportation Facilities: Exempts certain public-private transportation facilities from certain specified taxes & special assessments; excludes certain taxes from such exemption."
For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
Elections
2010
Carroll was originally running for re-election to the 13th District seat in 2010. She had no opposition in the August 24th primary and would have been unopposed in the general election. However, on September 2, Rick Scott announced Caroll as his running mate for lieutenant governor.[18]
Carroll defeated Rod Smith (D) and John E. Zanni (Independence Party of Florida) in the general election on November 2.[19]
| Florida Gubernatorial/Lt. Gubernatorial General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Rick Scott/Jennifer Carroll |
48.9% | 2,619,335 | |
| Democratic | Alex Sink/Rod Smith | 47.7% | 2,557,785 | |
| Independent | Peter L. Allen/John E. Zanni | 2.3% | 123,831 | |
| No Party Affiliation | C.C. Reed/Larry Waldo, Sr. | 0.4% | 18,842 | |
| No Party Affiliation | Michael E. Arth/Al Krulick | 0.3% | 18,644 | |
| No Party Affiliation | Daniel Imperato/Karl Behm | 0.3% | 13,690 | |
| No Party Affiliation | Farid Khavari/Darcy G. Richardson | 0.1% | 7,487 | |
| Write-in | Josue Larouse/Valencia St. Louis | 0% | 121 | |
| Total Votes | 5,359,735 | |||
| Election results via Florida Department of State | ||||
2008
In 2008, Carroll won re-election to the Florida House of Representatives from Florida's 13th District. Carroll ran unopposed in the election, allowing her to win the race without appearing on the ballot during the November election.[20] Carroll raised $44,892 for her campaign.[21]
Campaign finance summary
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Carroll and her husband, Nolan, have three children.[22]
See also
- Governor of Florida
- Lieutenant Governor of Florida
- Governor Rick Scott
- Florida Lt. Governor's resignation the "right decision for the state and her family"March 13, 2013
External links
- Florida Governor - Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll (dead link)
- Florida House of Representatives - Rep. Jennifer Carroll
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012 (w/Rick Scott), 2010 (w/Rick Scott), 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004
- Jennifer Carroll on Facebook
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Florida.gov, "Meet Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll," accessed August 22, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Tampa Bay Times, "Florida Lt. Gov Jennifer Carroll resigns," March 13, 2013
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Florida lieutenant governor resigns amid gambling investigation," March 13, 2013
- ↑ Florida Governor's office, "Meet Lt .Governor Jennifer Carroll," accessed September 13, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Gary Fineout, Associated Press, "Fla lt gov quits; tied to firm under investigation," March 13, 2013
- ↑ Miami Herald, "Former Fla. lieutenant governor lands new job," April 24, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Carroll Biography
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Jennifer Carroll," accessed August 22, 2012
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Tia Mitchell, Miami Herald, "Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns from post," March 13, 2013
- ↑ Bill summary for Florida House Bill 1185, accessed March 13, 2013
- ↑ Text of Florida House Bill 1185, accessed March 13, 2013
- ↑ Abel Harding, Florida Times-Union, "Controversial internet cafe legislation dropped days after introduction," May 8, 2010 (with later correction)
- ↑ ABC News, "Ex-Fla. Lieutenant Governor Discusses Resignation," April 4, 2013
- ↑ Huffington Post, "Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll Denies Lesbian Relationship Claims," July 17, 2012
- ↑ Huffington Post, "Jennifer Carroll Lesbian Comments: Democrats Demand Apology For 'Embarrassing' Florida, Outrage Floods Lt. Gov's Facebook Page," July 18, 2012
- ↑ Miami Herald, "Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll apologizes for anti-gay remark," July 26, 2012
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Carroll Issue Positions
- ↑ Gov Monitor, "Rick Scott Chooses Jennifer Carroll As Lieutenant Governor," September 2, 2010
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Governor and Lieutenant Governor: General Election," accessed November 8, 2010, November 29, 2010, and December 21, 2010
- ↑ Explanation of Florida's uncontested races
- ↑ District 13 Florida House candidate funds, 2008
- ↑ Project VoteSmart, "Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll (FL)," accessed August 23, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Florida House of Representatives District 13 2003–2011 |
Succeeded by Daniel Davis (R) |
| Preceded by Jeff Kottkamp (R) |
Lieutenant Governor of Florida 2011-2013 |
Succeeded by NA |
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