Carol Hanson
Carol Hanson | |
---|---|
Mayor of Boca Raton, Florida | |
In office April 1995[1] – March 31, 2001[2] | |
Preceded by | Bill Smith |
Succeeded by | Steven L. Abrams |
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 87th district | |
In office 1982–1994 | |
Preceded by | Robert M. Woodburn[3] |
Succeeded by | Bill Andrews[4] |
Personal details | |
Born | Utica, New York | May 9, 1934
Died | August 22, 2017 Boca Raton, Florida | (aged 83)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Hank V. Hanson |
Carol G. Hanson (May 9, 1934 – August 22, 2017) was an American
Biography
Early life
Hanson was born in
Political career
Hanson first entered politics during the 1970s, when she fought against the amount of noise emitted by a tile manufacturer located near her home on Northeast Fourth Avenue.[2] She was appointed as an alternate member of the city's Planning and Zoning Board, though city council did not make her a full, permanent member.[7] That incident led to an interest in running for a seat on the city council.[7] She was elected to the Boca Raton city council in 1979, using a tiny campaign account containing just $647.[2] She served as a city council member for three years, from 1979 to 1982.[1][2] She won re-election to the city council in 1981 and served as Vice Mayor.[7]
Hanson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1982, serving from 1982 through 1994. The Democratic Party controlled the state House at the time, while Hanson was a member of the minority Republican Party.[2] Her greatest accomplishment in the House was the passage of the state anti-stalking law, only the second such law passed in the United States at the time.[2]
Hanson Rep. Hanson narrowly survived the 1992 Republican primary election, defeating her opponent, Bill Andrews, by just 82 votes.[2][7] On April 28, 1994, Hanson announced that she would not seek re-election to the state House and would retire.[7]
In 1995, Carol Hanson entered a three-way race for Mayor of Boca Raton.[5] Her opponents in the election were incumbent Mayor Bill Smith Jr., who was seeking re-election, and former Boca Raton Mayor Emil Danciu, who had previously held the office from 1987 to 1993.[1][5] Smith raised $95,000 for his re-election bid, out raising Hanson, who had $25,000 in her 1995 campaign account.[5] Still, Hanson campaigned on a message of fiscal conservatism, citing her voting record as a former state representative.[5] In the mayoral election, held on March 14, 1995, Hanson defeated Mayor Bill Smith and former Mayor Danciu.[5] She became Mayor in April 1995 and was re-elected to a second term in 1998. Hanson championed smaller growth, often opposing larger construction projects, arguing for the need to retain Boca Raton's small town atmosphere.[2] She retired from office on March 31, 2001, and was succeeded by Mayor Steven L. Abrams.[2]
She died on August 22, 2017, at the age of 83 in Boca Raton, Florida.[8]
References
- ^ Boca Raton Historical Society. Archived from the originalon 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Bushouse, Kathy (2001-03-31). "'The People's Candidate'". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL State House 087 Race - Nov 02, 1982".
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL State House 87 Race - Nov 03, 1992".
- ^ a b c d e f Ragland, Sarah (1995-03-15). "Hanson Is New Mayor Of Boca". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ Legislature, Florida (1986). "The Clerk's Manual for the Use of the Legislature of the State of Florida".
- ^ a b c d e Nichol, Steve (1994-04-29). "Carol Hanson To Leave Legislature". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ Longtime Boca Raton leader, state legislator, dies at 83