Bruce Antone
Bruce Antone | |
---|---|
Geraldine F. Thompson | |
Constituency | 39th district |
Personal details | |
Born | Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | November 1, 1960
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Debra McGowan |
Children | Kaylyn |
Alma mater | Tuskegee University (BS) University of Central Florida |
Profession | Consultant |
Bruce Hadley Antone (born November 1, 1960) is an American politician from Florida. A Democrat, he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006, from 2012 to 2020, and again from 2022, representing parts of Orlando in Orange County.
Early life and career
Antone was born in Mobile, Alabama, and attended Tuskegee University, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering in 1983. Following graduation, he started graduate studies in electrical engineering, but moved to the state of Florida in 1984, where he pursued graduate studies in public administration at the University of Central Florida, but did not graduate.
Antone worked as a legislative aide to State Senator Buddy Dyer from 1992 to 1999, including serving as his chief of staff. He ran for a seat on the Orange County Commission from the 6th District, but received only 9% of the vote. In 2000, when incumbent State Representative Alzo J. Reddick did not seek re-election, Antone ran to succeed him, facing Gary Siplin, Wardell Sims, Miles Brooks, and David Rucker in the Democratic primary. He earned the endorsement of the Orlando Sentinel, which praised him as the "best equipped" candidate,[1] but ultimately lost to Siplin and Sims, who advanced to a runoff election, winning 27% of the vote.
Legislative career
First House stint
When Siplin, whom Antone had lost to in 2000, decided to run for the
County Commission campaign
Rather than seek re-election in 2006, Antone instead opted to run for a position on the Orange County Commission from the 6th District. He faced Moore-Russell, Juan Lynum, Jackson Marcelin, and Chick Fryar in the primary election, and he placed second to Moore-Russell, with 37% of the vote to her 38%, advancing to the general election. He was endorsed by the Sentinel, which praised his "sensible priorities" of increasing funding to the Lynx bus system, supporting SunRail, and fund after-school programs for children.[3] However, he narrowly lost to Moore-Russell, winning only 47% of the vote to her 53%. He and David Rucker challenged her in 2010 when she sought re-election, but she defeated him in a landslide in the primary election, winning 61% of the vote to his 26% and Rucker's 13%.
Second House stint
When legislative districts were redrawn in 2012,
Antone was term-limited from the House in 2020, after serving four terms.
Third House stint
After defeating incumbent Travaris McCurdy in the August 2022 Democratic primary, Antone won election to the Florida House of Representatives for a third time in 2022.
References
- ^ "Antone Is Best Of 5". Orlando Sentinel. August 16, 2000. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ Johnson, Pamela J. (October 13, 2002). "Voters' Choice Is Study In Contrasts". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ "Bruce Antone in District 6". Orlando Sentinel. October 25, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ Deslatte, Aaron (July 30, 2012). "5 Democratic candidates vie for House District 46 seat". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 17, 2013.