Mel Sembler
| Mel Sembler | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | The Sembler Company |
| Role: | Chairman emeritus and founder |
| Location: | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Expertise: | Real estate |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Education: | Northwestern University |
| Website: | Official website |
Mel Sembler was the founder and chairman emeritus of The Sembler Company, a commercial real estate development and management company. He contributed to and fundraised for a variety of Republican candidate campaigns. Sembler died on October 31, 2023.[1][2]
Career
Shopping centers
In 1962, Sembler founded his company Mel Sembler Associates, a company specializing in retail space. By 1965, his company opened its first shopping center in Dyersburg, Tennessee.[5] In 1984, he changed the name of the company to The Sembler Company.[5]
Philanthropy
In 1976, Sembler and his wife, Betty Sembler, founded the nonprofit organization, Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. (formerly STRAIGHT, Inc.), which was formed to advocate for policies and laws that reduce drug use.[1][6]
Political career
Under former President George H.W. Bush (R), Sembler served as the U.S. ambassador to Australia and Nauru and served as the ambassador to Italy under former President George W. Bush (R).[1][4]
From 1997 to 2000, Sembler served as the finance chairman for the Republican National Committee.[1]
Board activity
Sembler served on the following boards: the International Council of Shopping Centers, American Enterprise Institute, George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, Republican Jewish Coalition, and Moffitt Cancer Center.[1]
Sembler served as a member of the Florida Council of 100, a business advisory council to the governor of Florida.[1]
Political activity
Candidate contributions
Jeb Bush presidential campaign, 2016
- See also: Jeb Bush presidential campaign, 2016
A supporter of both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Sembler also supported Jeb Bush's (R) run for president in 2016. Sembler contributed $200,000 to the pro-Jeb Bush super PAC, Right to Rise USA, according to FEC submissions.[7][4]
Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
- See also: Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
On May 24, 2016, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced that Sembler would serve as a co-chair for Trump's victory committee.[3][4]
Ballot measure activity
Sembler contributed $1 million in opposition to Florida's Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, which was on the ballot in 2016 and was approved. The initiative legalized medical marijuana in Florida.[8]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Mel Sembler. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- George H.W. Bush
- George W. Bush
- Jeb Bush
- Donald Trump
- Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 The Sembler Company, "Mel Sembler," accessed November 20, 2025
- ↑ The New York Times, "Mel Sembler, Developer and G.O.P. Fund-Raiser, Is Dead at 93," November 7, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bloomberg, "Trump Unveils Stable of Republican Donors," May 24, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Atlantic, "Where Republicans Stand on Donald Trump: A Cheat Sheet," August 3, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Sembler Company, "Corporate History," accessed August 3, 2016
- ↑ Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., "Founding Members," accessed August 3, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "Right to Rise USA," accessed August 3, 2016
- ↑ Tampa Bay Business Journal, "Mel Sembler dumps $1 million into anti-pot campaign," July 15, 2016
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