Dan Gelber
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dan Gelber | |
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Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 106th district |
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| In office 2000 - 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Elaine Bloom |
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| Born | November 26, 1960 Miami, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joan Silverstein |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Jewish |
Dan Gelber (born November 26, 1960) is the Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives. He is a Democrat and has represented the 106th District since 2000.
Gelber has a BA from Tufts University and a JD from University of Florida College of Law. Currently Dan lives in Miami with his wife, Joan Silverstein, and their three children: Sophie, Hannah, and Max. Gelber is mentioned as a possible Democratic challenger to United States Senator Mel Martinez, and was on the short list of possible running mates to 2006 Florida Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Jim Davis. He is a big fan of Miami Heat basketball and the Miami Dolphins. His nephews are Joshua Aaron Lee and Jonah Raduns-Silverstein among others.
Gelber's career in public service started at the age of twenty-five, when he was appointed as one of the youngest federal prosecutors in the nation. After nearly a decade prosecuting public corruption and civil rights cases, Gelber was selected by former United States Senator Sam Nunn (D-Georgia) to be Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations where he directed U.S. Senate investigations into global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
Gelber has been a Big Brother volunteer since 1985, and is a former President of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Organization. In 1986 he co-founded a summer camp for children with cancer where he volunteers every summer as a bunk counselor and provides support services for patients and their families.
As a member of the Florida Legislature, Gelber frequently sparred with former Governor Jeb Bush. The Wall Street Journal referred to Gelber as Bush's "chief nemesis." Nevertheless, Gelber earned the respect of the former Governor, who once told the St. Petersburg Times that Gelber "would be a very well qualified Governor."
In 2005, Gelber took charge of the Florida House Democratic Caucus' political operation. Under his leadership, despite the Democrats losing the Governor's mansion, state house Democrats have picked up nine Republican seats, their first net gain in the lower chamber in sixteen years, his party's best ever showing in a single cycle, and the fifth best overall gain in the nation.
Gelber is also a large supporter of changing the FCAT. He believes that "[y]ou shouldn't have a school system where the ceiling is the floor".
[edit] External links
- Dan Gelber for Senate: [1]
- Dan Gelber's official legislative bio: member bio
- Wall Street Journal: A Tale of Two GOP's [2]
- St. Petersburg Times: Governor Gelber?[3]
- Palm Beach Post: FCAT role in schools' fate may be demoted[4]
- St. Petersburg Times: Florida Democrats Grab a Role [5]
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