Leonard L. Bembry is an American Democratic politician who served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2008 to 2012. Bembry represented the 10th District in the House, which included Hamilton, Madison, and Taylor Counties, and parts of Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Jefferson, Levy, and Wakulla Counties. He ran for Congress in 2012, but lost in the Democratic primary to Al Lawson.
Leonard Bembry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 10th district | |
| In office November 4, 2008 – November 6, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Will Kendrick |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth W. Porter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 24, 1947 Jasper, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Susan Bembry |
| Children | Lori L. Weldon, Jacquelyn M. "Missy" Culp, Leonard L. "Kipp" Bembry Jr. |
| Residence | Greenville, Florida |
| Alma mater | North Florida Community College (AA)) |
| Occupation | Retail, farmer |
History
editBembry was born in Jasper, Florida on his family's tobacco farm.[1] He worked as a page in the Florida Legislature in 1960, and his cousin, Payton Bembry, Jr., served in the State House in the mid-1960s.[2] Bembry attended North Florida Community College, receiving his associates degree, and Florida State University, though he did not graduate.[3] He later owned and operated his family tobacco farm, and acquired three other farms in North Florida with his wife, including Pettis Springs Farm in Greenville.[4] Bembry participated in the Florida Farm Bureau's County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship program, organized against the construction of a coal-fired energy plant near his farms.[5] In addition to farming, Bembry also owned and operated University Homes, a mobile home dealership and served as a member of the Madison County Development Council.[6][7]
Career
editFlorida House
editWhen incumbent Republican state representative Will Kendrick was term-limited in the 10th House District, Bembry announced a campaign to replace him, running as a conservative Democrat. Bembry faced Julie Conley, the director of the Jefferson County Economic Development Council and the former mayor of Monticello, in the Democratic primary.[5] Bembry defeated Conley 58–42%.[8]
In the general election, Bembry faced Don Curtis, a small business owner and former assistant director of the Florida Division of Forestry.[7] Bembry emphasized that he was a "very conservative Democrat" and argued that while the state budget needed to be prioritized, "we don't need to raise more taxes." He campaigned on his experience on the county development council, arguing that the county's model should be expanded across the district to develop infrastructure and attract jobs.[6] He won the endorsements of unions like the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, the Communication Workers of America, and other trade unions.[9] Bembry won the election 54–46%.[10]
During his first term in the legislature, Bembry successfully passed legislation that waived therapist confidentiality when their patient poses a "clear and imminent probability of harm" and that established a pest control insurance fund to finance pest control operations.[2]
In 2010, Bembry ran for re-election and faced Republican David Feigin, a retired Coast Guard veteran and a pizzeria owner. Bembry defeating Feigin by a wide 59–41% margin.[11]
In Bembry's second and final term in the legislature, he worked with Madison County residents to shut down an attempt by Nestlé to extract 1.5 million gallons of water every day from the Wacissa River and bottle it, which resulted in the county commission enacting an aquifer protection ordinance.[12] When Governor Rick Scott attempted to close down the Jefferson Correctional Institution in Monticello, Bembry attempted to convince the House budget committee to oppose the effort, but was ultimately unsuccessful.[13]
2012 congressional campaign
editOn November 17, 2011, Bembry announced that he would challenge Republican Congressman Steve Southerland in Florida's 2nd congressional district in 2012 rather than seek a third term in the legislature. Bembry began his campaign by criticizing Southerland for not keeping the promises he made in 2010,[14] and by announcing that he would focus on job creation, cutting taxes, protecting seniors, and protecting the region's water resources.[15] Owing to his reputation as the "most conservative Democrat in the House,"[16] he was endorsed by the Blue Dog PAC, which supports conservative Democrats.[17] Bembry faced former state senator Al Lawson, former Bay County Democratic Party chairman Alvin Peters, and Florida Innocence Project chairman Mark Schlakman in the Democratic primary.[18] Former Republican state senator Nancy Argenziano was planning on joining the race, but she was barred by state law from running as a Democrat, and so opted to run for the state house instead.[19]
Bembry started off the race as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's preferred candidate, featuring him as running in an "emerging race."[20] However, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, like Congresswoman Corrine Brown and then-Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn, split with party leadership, endorsing Lawson.[20]
Lawson won the Democratic primary by a wide margin, receiving 55% of the vote to Bembry's 26%, Peters's 14%, and Schlakman's 5%.[21]
References
edit- ^ "Bembry visits Chiefland, future home of district office". Levy County Journal. January 1, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ a b "Meet Rep. Leonard Bembry". Sunshine State News. March 29, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ "Leonard L. Bembry". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ Doran, Jeff (Fall–Winter 2010). "Special Places, Special People!" (PDF). Florida Forests. Vol. 15, no. 2. Tallahassee, Florida: Florida Forestry Association. pp. 8–14. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ a b "Bembry announces candidacy for open House Seat Dist. 10". Taco Times. July 2, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ a b "Bembry, Curtis agree economy, jobs top issues". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. October 19, 2008. p. G7.
- ^ a b Keller, Amy (June 1, 2008). "Hot State Race Roundup 2008". Florida Trend. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "August 26, 2008 Primary Election, Democratic Primary, State Representative District: 10". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Taylor, Angeline J. (November 5, 2008). "Bembry leading in House District 10". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. p. A5.
- ^ "November 4, 2008 General Election, State Representative District: 10". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "November 2, 2010 General Election, State Representative District: 10". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Malwitz-Jipson, Merrillee; Tatum, Jim (October 19, 2019). "Nestlé can be beat on water withdrawals". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Skinner, Sara E. (February 1, 2012). "Despite emotional pleas, House budget panel rejects bid to keep North Fla prison open". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Joshua (November 17, 2011). "State LawmakerLaunches Bid to Take On Southerland". Roll Call. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "Congressional candidate Bembry meets with county residents". The Star. June 7, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Derby, Kevin (November 16, 2011). "Leonard Bembry to Challenge Steve Southerland". Sunshine State News. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Joshua (February 27, 2012). "Race Ratings: Florida Offers Democrats Chances at Pickups". Roll Call. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Cordner, Sascha (August 15, 2012). "Al Lawson Becomes Dem Nominee in Fl 2nd Cong. District Race". WFSU-TV. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Skinner, Sara E. (March 21, 2012). "Nancy Argenziano drops out of U.S. House race, plans to run for state house instead". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ a b Miller, Joshua (June 7, 2012). "Florida: James Clyburn, Corrine Brown to Fundraise for Al Lawson". Roll Call. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "August 14, 2012 Primary Election, Democratic Primary, United States Representative District: 2". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2019.