Governor Sets House District 103 Special Election Date

Governor Charlie Crist issued Executive Order Number 07-252 today regarding a special election for Florida House of Representatives District 103.

The special primary is scheduled for February 12, 2008 and the special general election is scheduled for March 4, 2008

The seat was held by Wilbert “Tee” Holloway, who recently resigned to serve on the Miami-Dade County School Board that opened with the passing of Board Member Robert Ingram.

The Governor’s Executive Order is below, followed by November 22, 2007 news coverage of now-former State Representative Holloway’s acceptance of Governor’s appointment.

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact this office.

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 07-252
(Special Election)

WHEREAS, Section 100.101(2), Florida Statutes, provides that a vacancy in the office of state House of Representatives shall be filled by special election; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 114.01(d), Florida Statutes, a vacancy now exists in the state House of Representatives due to the resignation of Representative Wilbert “Tee” Holloway, House District 103; and
WHEREAS, under the provisions of Section 100.141, Florida Statutes, the Governor is obligated, after consulting with the Secretary of State, to issue an order declaring the date the special election shall be held;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, in obedience to my solemn constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, do hereby promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:

Section 1.
A special election shall be held in House District 103 to fill the vacancy in the state House of Representatives.

Section 2.
A special primary election shall be held on February 12, 2008.

Section 3.
A special general election shall be held on March 4, 2008, to select the state Representative for House District 103.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at
Tallahassee, this 3rd day of December, 2007.

_________________________________
GOVERNOR

ATTEST:

________________________________
SECRETARY OF STATE
 

 

Selection suits school district to a `Tee’

The governor’s selection of Wilbert ‘Tee’ Holloway to replace late Miami-Dade School Board member Robert Ingram drew broad community praise — even from others who aspired to sit on the board.

Posted on Thu, Nov. 22,

BY KATHLEEN McGRORY, The Miami Herald
kmcgrory@MiamiHerald.com

After two months of anxious community anticipation about who would fill the vacant seat of late Miami-Dade School Board member Robert Ingram, Gov. Charlie Crist’s choice didn’t rock the political boat.

By choosing state Rep. Wilbert ”Tee” Holloway, Crist found a nominee widely known and well-liked in Ingram’s northern Miami-Dade district, and who — despite a legislative record lacking noteworthy accomplishments — has drawn nearly universal admiration from across the local political spectrum.

”He’s a great man,” Bishop Victor T. Curry, president of the Miami-Dade branch of the NAACP, said of Holloway. Curry withdrew his own name from consideration for the seat two weeks ago to protest the time Crist was taking to name Ingram’s replacement. “He’s represented that community for many years and withstood the test of time.”

Holloway ”knows that community and knows its issues,” said Gepsie Metellus, the executive director of the Haitian Neighborhood Center-Sant La who ran an unsuccessful campaign for another School Board seat in 2006. “He seems to be the very best from among the nominees.”

Political observers say Holloway isn’t likely to change the balance of power on the School Board. Like his predecessor, Holloway says he strongly supports Superintendent Rudy Crew. He’s particularly supportive of the School Improvement Zone, Crew’s intensive-care treatment program for a group of perennially failing schools.

”The superintendent needs to be given the opportunity to continue with the programs he’s implemented,” Holloway told The Miami Herald this week. “They can and will work. It takes time to turn around the system.”

Holloway added: “He’s certainly putting forth the effort. I want to support his endeavors.”

One Tallahassee source who advised the governor said Holloway’s selection was designed to solidify Crew’s support on the School Board.

TIES TO MIAMI

Born in Overtown, Holloway graduated from Miami Northwestern Senior High, where he was student body president. He later received a degree in business administration from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, but returned to Miami to raise his four sons. All graduated from public schools.

Holloway spent 35 years working in the telephone industry. He established a partnership between AT&T and the public schools in Liberty City. He also served with the Southeast Regional Center for Drug Free Schools and Communities.

In 2000, he decided on a career change and ran for the state House of Representatives. He won.

In Tallahassee, Holloway was known for his business background. He served on the Juvenile Justice, Criminal Justice and Government Appropriations committees.

Holloway’s signature cause was promotion of a bill to allow student-led prayer in schools. Conservative House Republicans, as well as Crist when he was education commissioner, supported the measure — though it died in every session in which it was introduced.

”I believe our children need to have a value-based foundation,” he said. “For me, this is what school prayer is all about.”

That bill aside, Holloway promoted and passed few bills of his own since his 2000 election. He was one of a few Democrats to back former Gov. Jeb Bush’s push to eliminate the stocks-and-bonds tax, and pushed a failed bill to exempt religious child-care facilities from state regulation.

Holloway has been an outspoken opponent of high-stakes student testing. In Tallahassee, he cast several votes against the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, he said.

”Our children have been shackled with these tests,” he said. “All of our children don’t need to be on the same academic track. There should be other alternatives. We need to focus on vocational skills as well.”

Although Holloway’s legislative focus was not on education, he held frequent meetings with Miami-Dade School Board members on budgetary issues. School Board member Martin Karp says Holloway understood the amount of money necessary to fund a world-class education.

”I worked with him quite a bit when he was in Tallahassee,” Karp said. “I found that he had a solid understanding of educational issues.”

APPLIED FOR BOARD

This year, Holloway was facing term limits on his legislative post. So he put his name in for the School Board. Crist tapped him Monday.

While serving on the board, Holloway will continue to work as area director of public affairs for AT&T Florida, he said. He says he doesn’t anticipate any conflicts of interest. He will earn an annual board salary of $40,887, said John Schuster, a district spokesman.

Holloway must resign from his legislative post before he is sworn in — which he expects to happen before December’s board meeting. But he’s already thinking about education policy.

”Right now, our schools are struggling at the bottom with regards to test scores,” he said. “We’ve got to continue improving in that area. We also need to look at vocational schools.”

Holloway appeared at Tuesday’s board meeting. He approached the audience lectern to express his support for a School Board proposal to rename Opa-locka Elementary School for Ingram.

”Representative Holloway,” board Chairman Agustín Barrera told him, “you have big boots to fill — not shoes.”

”It’s a privilege to be here,” Holloway responded. “I anticipate with excitement the opportunity to serve with you.”