Tom Gallagher
Tom Gallagher | |
---|---|
1st Chief Financial Officer of Florida | |
In office January 3, 2003 – January 2, 2007 | |
Governor | Jeb Bush |
Preceded by | Office created |
Succeeded by | Alex Sink |
23rd Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida | |
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | |
Governor | Jeb Bush |
Preceded by | Bill Nelson |
Succeeded by | Office merged with Florida Comptroller to form Chief Financial Officer of Florida |
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 | |
Governor | Bob Martinez Lawton Chiles |
Preceded by | Bill Gunter |
Succeeded by | Bill Nelson |
Education Commissioner of Florida | |
In office January 5, 1999 – January 3, 2001 | |
Governor | Jeb Bush |
Preceded by | Frank Brogan |
Succeeded by | Charlie Crist |
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 117th district | |
In office 1983–1987 | |
Preceded by | Scott McPherson |
Succeeded by | Susan Guber |
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 111th district | |
In office 1974–1983 | |
Preceded by | Carl A. Singleton[1] |
Succeeded by | Roberto Casas |
Personal details | |
Born | Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. | February 3, 1944
Political party | Republican |
Residence(s) | Miami, Florida |
Occupation | Insurance Agent |
Website | Tom Gallagher Insurance |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
C. Thomas Gallagher III (born February 3, 1944) is an American politician, financier, and insurance agent from the state of Florida and a member of the Republican Party. Gallagher holds the distinction of having served more years as an elected state official than any other individual in Florida history. He began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1974 to 1987.
He was then the
After 2003, his office was merged with that of
Early life and family
Gallagher was raised in
Gallagher was married to his second wife, Laura Wilson, from 1998 to 2011. Wilson comes from a sixth-generation Florida family. The Gallaghers have a son, Charlie, born in 2000.[2]
Early political career
Florida House of Representatives
Gallagher began his political career when he was elected to the
Gallagher was re-elected from the 117th district in 1982, defeating attorney Charlene Carres by 57% to 43%. His final race was in 1984, when he defeated real estate agent and former actor Seth Sklarey by 70% to 30%. In the House he served as Minority Whip from 1980 to 1982. In 1984, he proposed a 10-year freeze on state taxes and spending. He declined to run for re-election in 1986, deciding instead to enter the Republican primary for Governor.
1986 gubernatorial election
In
Statewide office
Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal
In 1988, Gallagher ran in a special election for the office of
In the general election, he defeated Democratic State Senator Ken Jenne by 2,223,401 votes (53.47%) to 1,935,137 (46.53%). He and James C. Smith, who was elected Secretary of State of Florida, became the first Republicans to be elected to the State Cabinet since Reconstruction. Smith, who had been appointed to his office in 1987, was the first Republican to serve on the State Cabinet since Reconstruction.[8] He was elected to a full four-year-term in 1990, beating Democratic State Senator George Stuart, Jr. by 1,965,216 votes (57.22%) to 1,469,541 (42.78%).
1994 gubernatorial election
In 1994, Gallagher announced his second run for Governor of Florida. In the Republican primary, he faced former state Commerce Secretary (and future Governor)
Commissioner of Education
Out of office for four years, Gallagher ran for
2000 U.S. Senate election
Two years into his term, Gallagher announced that he was running for the
This compelled Gallagher to submit his resignation as Commissioner of Education early in 2000 when he began to campaign for the U.S. Senate seat. He chose January 3, 2001 as the effective date of his resignation, as that was the date new senators would be sworn in.
Gallagher faced U.S. Representative
Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal
As Gallagher's resignation could not be withdrawn, he instead ran for Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal again. As Nelson was resigning, a special election was taking place and following the withdrawal of State Senate President Toni Jennings, the Republicans lacked a top-tier candidate. State Representative Joe Arnall, who had been in the race for a week after Jennings pulled out, immediately withdrew in favour of Gallagher.
After polls showed that Gallagher was favoured for the Republican nomination and was by far the strongest general election candidate,[14] former State Representative and two-time Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal nominee Tim Ireland and State Representative Greg Gay also withdrew from the race, leaving Gallagher unopposed in the Republican primary.[15] In the general election against State Representative John F. Cosgrove, Gallagher won easily, as he was predicted to do,[16] taking 3,363,705 votes (59.01%) to Cosgrove's 2,336,117 (40.99%).
Chief Financial Officer
Following reforms made to the
2006 gubernatorial election
In 2006, Gallagher made his fourth run for governor, facing state Attorney General Charlie Crist in the Republican primary. Crist was the favorite to win the nomination and won in a landslide, taking almost double the votes of underdog Gallagher: 630,816 (63.98%) to 330,165 (33.49%). Crist went on to win the general election and took office in 2007 and Gallagher was succeeded as CFO by Democrat Alex Sink.
Subsequent career
After his defeat, Gallagher became involved in charitable and business activities including founding and serving as chairman of Tom Gallagher Insurance Agency and serving on the board of advisers of The TRIAM Consulting Group, Inc. He considered running for Chief Financial Officer again in 2010 and was encouraged by some to run for the U.S. Senate
References
- ^ "Guides @ UF: Federal Documents at University of Florida: Home". Archived from the original on 2018-01-13.
- ^ "Tom Gallagher: GOP candidates run the financial spectrum". Tampa Bay Times. July 9, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Mixson Ponders Bid For Governor". Sun Sentinel. September 17, 1985. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Easley Joins Gallagher's Campaign State Representative Leaves Education Commissioner's Race". Orlando Sentinel. July 15, 1986. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Regulator Steps Down Kearney Resigns -- Gallagher May Get Job". Orlando Sentinel. August 19, 1987. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Poole Named Regulation Agency Chief". Orlando Sentinel. September 3, 1987. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Gallagher Captures Gop Insurance Race". Sun Sentinel. September 7, 1988. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Smith tops Moore; Gallagher over Jenne". Ocala Star-Banner. November 9, 1988. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Governor". Sun Sentinel. September 4, 1994. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Resign-to-Run Law § 99.012, Fla. Stat" (PDF). State.fl.us. August 22, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Gallagher Hits Senate Opponents". Orlando Sentinel. May 26, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Gallagher Drops Out Of U.s. Senate Race". Sun Sentinel. June 15, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Gallagher drops bid for seat in Senate". St. Petersburg Times. June 15, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Gallagher Leads Insurance-post Race". Orlando Sentinel. June 30, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Primary Clears For Gallagher". Orlando Sentinel. July 21, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Crist Widens Lead -- Gallagher Way Ahead". Orlando Sentinel. November 3, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Gallagher, former rival of Gov. Charlie Crist, may run for Florida CFO". Tampa Bay Times. May 15, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Where is Tom Gallagher when you need him?". Tampa Bay Times. July 18, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Applicant list for Florida education commissioner begins to shape up". Tampa Bay Times. May 26, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Five finalists interview for Florida's top education job". Orlando Sentinel. June 20, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2013.