•Elected to the Senate in 2006, reelected subsequently

◦Minority (Democratic) Leader Pro Tempore, 2010-2012

◦Minority (Democratic) Whip, 2008-2010, 2006-2008

•House of Representatives, 2000-2006

◦Democratic Policy Chair 2004-2006

◦Democratic Floor Leader 2002-2004

◦Democratic Whip 2000-2002

Other Public Service

•University Community Hospital Trustee, 1986-Present

•Chair, Florida Legislative Black Caucus, 2012-2013

•National Labor Caucus, Executive Committee, 2004

•Hillsborough Head Start Community Foundation Board, Inc., Board of Directors, 2002

•Federal Aviation Authority Management Advisory Council, 2000-2001

•Florida A&M University Foundation, Board of Directors, 1996-2000

•Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, 1991-1999

•Tampa Bay Partnership, Policy Board, 1993-1999

•U.S. Delegation United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China, 1995

•Governor's Commission on African-American Affairs, 1993-1994

•Hillsborough County Overall Economic Development Committee, 1992-1994

•Tampa Economic Development Board, Board of Directors, 1992-1994

•U.S. Delegation World Population and Development Conference, Cairo, Egypt, 1994

•Clinton-Gore Administration, Justice-Civil Rights Transition Cluster, Senior Advisory Council, 1993

•Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Board of Governors, Executive Committee, Minority Economic Development Council, 1990-1993

•Florida Supreme Court Racial and Ethnic Bias Commission, 1990-1991

•Governor's Commission on Government for the People, 1991

•Bay Area Legal Services, Board of Directors, 1977-1986, 1990

•City of Tampa General Employees Pension Fund, Board of Trustees, 1988-1990

•Hillsborough County Partners in Progress Committee, 1989

•Travelers Aid Society, Inc., Board of Directors, 1980-1988

•Governor's Task Force on the Black Family, 1986

•Helping Hand Day Nursery, Board of Directors, 1978-1986

•Hillsborough County Charter Review Board, 1985-1986

•State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Committee, 1984-1986

•Hillsborough Community Housing Resource Board, 1984-1985

•Criminal Justice Planning Council of Hillsborough County, Charter Member, 1974-1984

•Hillsborough County School Board, Citizen Advisory Committee, 1983-1984

•Florida Probation & Parole Qualifications Selection Committee, 1977

•YWCA, Board of Directors, 1976-1977

•Hillsborough County Nursing Home Ombudsman Committee, 1975

•Tampa Urban League, Board of Directors, 1975

•Legal Assistant to Representative Joe Lang Kershaw, Florida House of Representatives, 1969

Affiliations

•American Bar Association

•Florida Association of Women Lawyers

•George E. Edgecomb Bar Association, Hillsborough County

•Greater Tampa Urban League, Life Member

•Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers

•Hillsborough County Bar Association, Board of Directors

•NAACP, Life Member

•National Association of Bond Lawyers

•The Florida Bar

•Appointed by Speaker Bense to NCSL Law and Criminal Justice Committee, 2006

•Links, Inc., National Parliamentarian 1997-2000

•Commissioners' Roundtable, Airports Council International, North America, Steering Committee and Vice Chair 1992-1999

•Legal Steering Committee, Airports Council International, North America 1995-1999

•Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida 1992-1996

•Judicial Nominating Commission, 13th Judicial Circuit, Chair 1993-1994

•National Coalition 100 Black Women, Inc., National Legal Counsel 1992-1993

•Delta Sigma Theta Inc., National Legal Advisor 1985-1992

•National Bar Association, President 1984-1985

•Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, President 1974-1976

Biographical Information

Occupation- Attorney; Public School Teacher, 1964-1965

Education- Florida A&M University College of Law, J.D., 1968

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, B.S., Political Science, 1964

Born- February 3, 1943 in Lakeland, Florida

Religious Affiliation- African Methodist Episcopal

Recreation- Reading, traveling