•Elected to the Senate in 2010, reelected subsequently

◦Minority (Democratic) Whip, 2011-2012

•House of Representatives, 2006-2010

Other Public Service

•Represented Florida as a speaker at the Nobel Peace Summit on Human Trafficking, Berlin, Germany

•Met with AJC representatives in Berlin regarding post-Holocaust refugee camps

•Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Lion of Judah

•Assistant State Attorney, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties

•Appointed by Governor Crist to the Florida Statewide Task Force on Human Trafficking, 2009

•Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation 2009-2010, Chair; 2008-2009, Vice Chair

•Circuit Fifteen Juvenile Justice Commission, Executive Board

•Executive Board Member of T.A.G. (Together Against Gangs)

•Jewish Association for Residential Care (JARC), Supporter

•Kids in Distress, Advisory Board Member

•"Scared Straight" Program, Dade County

•South Tech Executive Board, Member

•Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Broward County, former President

•Women for Excellence, Inc., Founder and former President

Honors and Awards

•Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Outstanding Legislator Award

•Introduced Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to Joint Session of the Florida House and Senate

•Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 758, Special Recognition Award

•Phi Theta Kappa, Honorary Member of Delta Omicron Chapter at Palm Beach

•Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, Champion of Judicial Independence Award, 2011

•GREY2KUSA, Leadership Award, 2011

•Awards Ceremony for Teachers of Palm Beach County, Polished Apple Award, 2011

•The Voters Coalition - Palm Beach County, Award for Public service and dedication, 2011

•Florida Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association, 2011 Legislator of the Year

•Florida Bar Family Law, Legislative Award of Merit, 2010

•American Jewish Congress, Distinguished Civic Achievement Award, 2009

•Veterans of Foreign Wars, Florida's Legislative Award, 2008

•Chinese Language Teachers Association, FL, Certificate of Appreciation, 2008

•National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Certificate of Appreciation, 2006

•B'Nai B'rith Greater Florida Region, Distinguished Humanitarian Award

•Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF), All Star Award

•National Association of Women Business Owners, Vista Award

•Order of the Sons of Italy, Great Humanitarian Award

•Palm Beach County Business Leadership Network - Business Leaders Award; Florida Senator of the Year

•The Key to the City of Boca Raton

Affiliations

•Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, Member

•Boca, Delray, Boynton Beach Democratic Club, former Vice President

•Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Member

•Broward County Women Lawyers Association, former President

•California Bar Association, Member

•Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, Member

•Federal Bar of the Southern District of Florida, Member

•Florida Association for Women Lawyers, former President

•Florida Bar Association, Member

•National Organization for Women (NOW), Member

•Palm Beach County Juvenile Detention Center, 15th Circuit, Advisory Board Chairperson

•Statewide Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Member

•University of Maryland, former Associate Professor

Biographical Information

Occupation- Attorney, Constitutional Law

Spouse- Peter Sachs of Berlin, Germany

Children- Natasha, Marcello, Taylor

Education- University of Miami, J.D.

Boston University, M.A.

University of Maryland, B.A. Cum Laude

Born- March 25 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Moved to Florida in 1976.

Historical- Russell F. Lorts, father, decorated combat Veteran, U.S. Army Infantry, World War II; mother, Italian war bride, World War II

Religious Affiliation- Catholic

Recreation- Autocross, equestrian, biking