Alfred Lawson
From Ballotpedia
| Alfred Lawson | ||
 | ||
| Candidate for | ||
| U.S. House, Florida, District 2 | ||
| Party | Democratic | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Florida State Senate, District 6 | ||
| 2002-2010 | ||
| Florida House of Representatives | ||
| 1982-2000 | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Florida A&M University (1970) | |
| Master's | Florida State University (1973) | |
| Personal | ||
| Profession | Businessman | |
| Websites | ||
| Campaign website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
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Biography
Lawson earned his BS from Florida A&M University in 1970. He went on to receive his MSPA from Florida State University in 1973.
Career
- 1982-2000: Florida State House of Representatives
- 2002-2010: Florida State Senate
- 2008-2010:Senate Minority Leader
Lawson has worked for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1976 to the present. He has been President of Lawson & Associates Incorporated since 1984.
Committee assignments
Lawson served on the following committees while a member of the senate:
- Banking and Insurance Committee, Florida State Senate
- General Government Appropriations Committee, Florida State Senate
- Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, Florida State Senate
- Health Regulation Committee, Florida State Senate
- Reapportionment Committee, Florida State Senate
- Rules Committee, Florida State Senate
Issues
Campaign themes
2012
Lawson's campaign website listed the following issues:[3]
- Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt: "I led the charge in the Florida Legislature to create jobs for North Florida. I consistently fought to bring job-creating projects to the district, and pushed for policies that would help small businesses grow. For example, I oversaw the creation of numerous correctional institutions in this district which have created thousands of jobs for the people of North Florida."
- Education
- Excerpt: "Providing a good quality education for our children is important in preparing them to compete in the 21st century global economy. As both a parent and legislator, I’ve always been an advocate of improving our schools and providing access and opportunities to all students, and supporting our teachers."
- Seniors
- Excerpt: "Protecting Social Security and Medicare for seniors is critical to the people of North Florida. I believe that we must honor the contract with those who have contributed to these programs and ensure that when they retire, they receive the benefits they have earned. I will work every day to protect Medicare and Social Security, and to improve their finances to ensure that these programs remain solvent for current and future generations of Americans."
- Veterans
- Excerpt: "While I was serving in the legislature during the Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan Wars, I saw firsthand the challenges facing our men and women in uniform when they returned home. As a legislator, I have supported veterans accessing higher education and training in Florida."
- Environment
- Excerpt: "Growing up in North Florida, I have a unique understanding and commitment to the environment. As a result, every major environmental law passed by the Florida Legislature in the last 28 years has had my imprint. While serving as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee in the Florida House, I sponsored and passed the Apalachicola Bay Protection Act, Preservation 2000 (Florida Forever), and the Clean Indoor Air Act."
Elections
2012
Lawson ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Florida's 2nd District. Lawson sought the nomination on the Democratic ticket.[4] Candidates wishing to run were required to file by the signature filing deadline of June 8, 2012. The primary elections were held on August 14, 2012. Lawson defeated Alvin Peters, Leonard Bembry, and Mark Schlakman in the Democratic primary.[1] He was defeated in the general election by incumbent Steve Southerland II.[5]
General election
| U.S. House, Florida, District 2 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Al Lawson | 47.2% | 157,634 | |
| Republican |  Steve Southerland II Incumbent |
52.7% | 175,856 | |
| Independent | Floyd Patrick Miller | 0.1% | 228 | |
| Total Votes | 333,718 | |||
| Source: Florida Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Primary results
The primary took place on August 14.[6]
Democratic Primary
| Florida's 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Alfred Lawson |
54.6% | 46,900 |
| Leonard Bembry | 26% | 22,357 |
| Alvin Peters | 13.9% | 11,919 |
| Mark Schlakman | 5.4% | 4,653 |
| Total Votes | 85,829 | |
2006
On November 7, 2006, Lawson won re-election to the 6th District Seat in the Florida State Senate. Lawson was unopposed and raised $50,993 for his campaign.[7]
Campaign donors
2012
Lawson lost election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that election cycle, Lawson's campaign committee raised a total of $714,000 and spent $720,886.[8]
| U.S. House, Florida, District 2, 2012 - Alfred Lawson Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $714,000 |
| Total Spent | $720,886 |
| Total Raised by Election Winner | $1,823,957 |
| Total Spent by Election Winner | $1,722,317 |
| Top contributors to Alfred Lawson's campaign committee | |
| American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees | $12,500 |
| American Assn for Justice | $10,250 |
| Bridge PAC | $10,000 |
| Florida Policy Benevolent Assn | $10,000 |
| Plumbers/Pipefitters Union | $10,000 |
| Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $63,925 |
| Leadership PACs | $54,500 |
| Public Sector Unions | $50,750 |
| Candidate Committees | $40,500 |
| Education | $29,750 |
2006
In 2006, Lawson collected $50,993 in campaign contributions.[9] The five largest contributors to his campaign were as follows:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Florida Hospital Association | $1,500 |
| Florida Home Builders Association | $1,000 |
| Ronald L. Book | $1,000 |
| Florida Police Benevolent Association | $1,000 |
| Florida Association of Realtors | $1,000 |
Personal
Lawson and his wife, Delores Brooks, have two children.
External links
- Official Florida State Senate website of Senator Alfred Lawson
- Project Vote Smart Alfred Lawson biography page
- Project Vote Smart Alfred Lawson policy page
- Alfred Lawson Facebook page
- Alfred Lawson twitter page
- Campaign contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998
- LinkedIn page
- Campaign website
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 AP Results "U.S. House Results" Accessed August 14, 2012
- ↑ ABC News "2012 General Election Results"
- ↑ Campaign website, Issues
- ↑ The Palm Beach Post "Al Lawson to make another bid for Congress," February 9, 2012
- ↑ ABC News "2012 General Election Results"
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State, "August 2012 Primary Election," Accessed September 4, 2012
- ↑ 2006 Senate District 6 Election Results
- ↑ OpenSecrets "2012 Election" Accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ 2006 contributions to Alfred Lawson
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jim Horne (R) |
Florida Senate District 006 2002–2010 |
Succeeded by Bill Montford |
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