Negron, DeVos & Healey...Election 2006 Notable Republicans

Joe Negron, State Representative and substitute candidate for House of Representatives District 16 in Florida

Joe Negron is a native Floridian with an extensive record of community and public service, combined with almost 20 years of legal, business, and professional experience. Currently, Joe is the State Representative for Dist. 82, serving Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties and is chairmen of the Appropriations Committee. Joe has been married for 22 years to Rebecca Negron, a maternal-child nurse. They have three children, David, Jonathan, and Becca.

In the 2004 election, Joe served as Regional Chairman of the Bush/Cheney ’04 Florida Legal Team.

Educational Background:

Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia, Juris Doctorate (law degree), 1986

Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, B.A., 1983

Editor-in-Chief of the Stetson Reporter campus newspaper

Who’s Who Among American College Students

First Class Honor Rating, Associated Collegiate Press; two marks of distinction

Internship with Congressman L.A. “Skip” Bafalis in Washington, D.C. as part of American University exchange program

Professional Background:

Currently Of Counsel to Akerman Senterfitt, One of Florida Largest Statewide Law Firms

Private practice of law in Martin and Palm Beach Counties, 1986 – Present

Concentrating in civil litigation

The Florida Bar, 1986 – Present

Consumer Protection Committee, 1996 – 1997

Public Service:

State Representative, Florida House of Representatives, Dist. 82, 2000 –
Present

Chairman, Fiscal Council, House of Representatives - Budget and Appropriations

Chairman, Legislative Budget Commission

Select Committee on Medicaid Reform, Co-Chair

Chairman, Martin County Legislative Delegation, 2005-2006

Chairman, Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation, 2003 – 2004

Awards and Honors for Public Service:

Police Benevolent Association (PBA), Legislator of the Year, 2005

Florida YMCA Outstanding Leadership Award, 2005

Florida Guardian Ad Litem Association, Legal Advocacy for Children, 2005

Florida Chamber of Commerce Legislative Scorecard – “A,” 2005

County Court Judges, 2005

Enterprise Florida Legislative Champion, 2005

Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF)

Florida School Board Association (FSBA), 2005

Florida Optometric Association, H.G.Landrum Legislator of the Year, 2005

The Florida Bar President’s Legislative Award, 2003-2004

Associated Industries of Florida – “Champion for Business,” 2004

Miami Herald Legislative Ranking – Four Star Legislator, 2003

Florida Chamber of Commerce – “A” Honor Roll Ranking, 2003

Trust for Public Lands – Legislative Leadership Award, 2001

Florida Medical Association – Freshman Legislator of the Year, 2001

Record of Civic and Community Service

Florida Attorney General’s Victims of Crime Advisory (VOCA) Review Panel Member

Chairman, United Way Targeted Care Panel

President, Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce

Chairman, Martin County Development Block Grant Task Force

Mentor, Youth LEADERship Martin County Program

Jeb Bush Fundraising Host Committee Member

Republican Executive Committee of Martin County Member

President, Republican Club of Martin County

Chairman, Charter Schools Advisory Committee for Martin County

Graduate, LEADERship Martin County, Class IV

Arthritis Foundation Board of Directors

Women’s Center of Martin County, Board of Directors

American Red Cross, Martin County Chapter Board of Directors

Salvation Army, Board of Directors

~Joyce Comments: For more about Joe Negron on issues click here.



Dick DeVos, candidate for Governor of Michigan

Michigan Born, Michigan Raised
Dick's story begins on October 21, 1955 in Ada, Michigan, a small village a few miles east of Grand Rapids. The first-born son of Rich and Helen DeVos, Dick was later joined by his brother Dan, sister Cheri, and brother Doug.

Winding dirt roads, the Thornapple River, and a few families characterized Ada in the 1950s. Soon after they were married, Rich and Helen built a small ranch home there, next door to Rich's friend and business partner, Jay Van Andel, and his wife Betty.



Dick's childhood was shaped by loving parents, an entrepreneurial father and a schoolteacher mother. Theirs was a busy home. Dick and brother Dan shared bedroom space in the basement with each other - and with their dad's office. And it was a simple home. Dick recalled how the bathroom went without floor tile for quite some time - until their Dachshund, Gretel, had a litter of puppies that funded the tiling of the floor.[more...]


Turning Around Grand Rapids - Getting it Done

"From a community standpoint, it was 'put up or shut up' time," DeVos recalled. "I thought possibly I was in position to bring people to the table to find consensus to make it happen. I wanted to make it happen. I wanted to make a few calls to see if this thing [could] go, or on the contrary, take it off the table for 10 years. It was clear one day we would have an arena. It was time to get on it or decide it's not going to happen"

Dick grew up in Grand Rapids. He knew his hometown was capable of more. He remembered the days when downtown was a destination, not a detour. The previous generation had gotten Grand Rapids off on the right foot, but more work was needed. Dick knew that with the right combination of leadership and motivation, Grand Rapids could change and become stronger. [more...]


The Alticor Story - Creating Opportunities and Jobs

A few years into his employment, the company initiated a management training program in which Dick enrolled. The program was designed to give individual exposure to and experience in the entire breadth of the Amway business. For nearly six years, Dick worked on the manufacturing lines. He worked in accounting and finance. He worked in research and development. He worked in shipping and receiving. He drove hi-los. He drove eighteen-wheelers. He worked in the printing shop. He worked shoulder-to-shoulder with nearly everyone in the Amway operation. He and his wife Betsy also worked as distributors, selling Michigan-made Amway products to friends and neighbors. They were constantly amazed at how few people really knew about the great, high-quality products being made in their own backyard.

After successfully completing the management training program, Dick began working in the meetings and special events department and later assumed leadership of the department. [more...]

~ Joyce Comments: To read Dick DeVos TurnAround Plan for Michigan click here.



Kerry Healey, Lieutenant Governor and candidate for Governor of Massachusetts

As Lieutenant Governor, Kerry Healey assumed a broad range of responsibilities in the Romney-Healey administration. She has drawn on her background in criminal justice to promote tougher public safety laws. Kerry has been a leader in efforts to increase penalties for sex offenders and drunk drivers. A vocal advocate for victims, Kerry has also championed legislation to mandate post-release supervision for convicted criminals as well as legislation to track violent criminals (including domestic abusers) using GPS technology.

Kerry Healey grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida, with her parents, Edward and Shirley Murphy. A World War II veteran, her father served 27 years in the US Army and the Army Reserves. Her mother taught in the Florida public school district for over 20 years. Kerry went to work at the age of 15 after her father suffered a disabling heart attack. She worked three jobs while she was in high school and went on to help put herself through Harvard, graduating in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in government.

She was awarded a Rotary International Scholarship in 1983 and earned a Ph.D. in political science and law from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. In 1985, Kerry was chosen to be a visiting researcher in the International and Comparative Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School. She continues to pursue her interest in international affairs as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

For more than a decade, Kerry enjoyed a distinguished career as a law and public safety consultant at Abt Associates, Inc., in Cambridge, MA. While at Abt, she conducted extensive research for the U.S. Department of Justice related to child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, gang violence, victim and witness intimidation and the prosecution of drug crimes.

A Beverly resident, Kerry has been an active member of her community. She is a past member of the Foundation Board of North Shore Community College and the Friend's Board of Beverly Hospital. Kerry successfully co-chaired the campaign to rebuild her city's branch library, raising over $1 million in private funds and grants. In 2001, she co-chaired Beverly's United Way Campaign to support community development efforts.

Kerry also served as a member of the adjunct faculty at Endicott College and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell teaching criminal justice and social policy.

Kerry, 46 and her husband Sean have been married for 20 years. They have two school-aged children.