Steering Committee
A bipartisan coalition of 28 of Florida's most prominent citizens has come together to work on behalf of our children.
Carol Jenkins Barnett
President and board chair, Publix Super Markets Charities.
Lakeland
Sam Bell
Former legislator, now principal in a lobbying firm.
Tallahassee
Allan Bense
Former House Speaker, now partner with GAC Contractors.
Panama City
Cecilia Bryant, Esq.
Former vice chair of the State University System Board of Regents and daughter of former Florida Gov. Farris Bryant.
Jacksonville
Bob Butterworth
Attorney and former attorney general and secretary of the Department of Children and Families.
Fort Lauderdale
Marta Casas-Celaya
Director of government and community affairs for Comcast.
West Palm Beach
Betty Castor
Former legislator, state education commissioner and president of the University of South Florida.
Tampa
Scott Clemons
Former legislator, former-mayor of Panama City.
Panama City
David Dennis
President and CEO of Eckerd Youth Alternatives.
Clearwater
Manny Diaz
An attorney twice elected mayor of Miami and former president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Miami
Rob Gidel
Managing member of Liberty Partners
Orlando
Pegeen Hanrahan
Former mayor of Gainesville.
Gainesville
Kathryn Hensley
School Board member in St. Lucie County.
Fort Pierce
Ed Jennings
Former legislator from Alachua County, now HUD regional administrator.
Gainesville
Toni Jennings
Construction company executive in Orange County and former lieutenant governor.
Orlando
Greg Langowski
Former executive director of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County and now regional director for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
Palm Beach
David Lawrence Jr.
President of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and University Scholar for Early Childhood Development and Readiness at the University of Florida.
Miami
Roberto Martinez
Former U.S. attorney, now a member of the State Board of Education.
Coral Gables
Gepsie Metellus
A major civic leader in Miami and executive director of the Sant La Neighborhood Center with a special focus on Haitian-American needs.
Miami
Jon Mills
Law school dean at the University of Florida and former State House Speaker.
Gainesville
Sandra Murman
Former legislator from Hillsborough County, now a government relations consultant.
Tampa
John "Q" Quiñones
Former Republican House member and now a member of the Osceola Board of County Commissioners.
Kissimmee
Nan Rich
State senator representing Broward and Miami-Dade.
Weston
Mario Rubio
Health care consultant.
Jacksonville
Burt Saunders
Attorney and former legislator from Collier County.
Naples
H.T. Smith, Esq.
Community leader in Miami-Dade. Former president of the National Bar Association.
Miami
Bill Sublette
Attorney and former legislator from Orange County.
Orlando
Margaret Tidmore
Alternative school mentor program coordinator.
Panama City