Gwen Margolis

Gwen Margolis (née Liedman; October 4, 1934 – June 9, 2020) was a Democratic politician from Florida. She served three different times in the Florida Senate: from 1980 to 1992, 2002 to 2008, and 2010 to 2016. She served as Senate President for the 1990–92 term, becoming the first woman president and the last president to preside over a majority-Democratic chamber. Prior to her time in the Senate, she serve three terms in the Florida House of Representatives, from 1974 to 1980.[1]

Gwen Margolis
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 35th district
In office
November 2, 2010 – November 8, 2016
Preceded byDan Gelber
Succeeded byRedistricted
In office
November 5, 2002 – November 4, 2008
Succeeded byDan Gelber
Miami-Dade County Commissioner
In office
1993–2002
President of the Florida Senate
In office
November 1990 – November 1992
Preceded byRobert B. Crawford
Succeeded byAnder Crenshaw
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 37th district
In office
November 4, 1980 – November 3, 1992
Preceded byKenneth M. Myers
Succeeded byRedistricted
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 102nd district
In office
November 5, 1974 – November 4, 1980
Preceded byTed Cohen
Succeeded byMichael Friedman
Personal details
Born(1934-10-04)October 4, 1934
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
DiedJune 8, 2020(2020-06-08) (aged 85)
Aventura, Florida, US
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Allan B. Margolis (div.)
Children4

Margolis left state government in 1992, losing to E. Clay Shaw, Jr. in an unsuccessful bid for the United States Congress. Thereafter she became a County Commissioner for Dade (now Miami-Dade) County until she returned to the State Senate.

She was previously married to Allan Margolis.

She was a candidate for the position of Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser in 2008. She received the most votes in the November 4, 2008, general election. However, due to not having received at least fifty percent of the vote plus one, she had to face the next highest vote-getter, Pedro Garcia Jr., in a December 16, 2008 run-off. She filed a lawsuit to avoid the run-off election, arguing that because the appraiser's office is a constitutional position, no runoff should be required under state law. Her lawsuit was unable to prevent the runoff election, which she lost to Garcia.[2]

Margolis again ran for the Florida Senate in 2010. She received the nomination of the Democratic Party on August 24, 2010, defeating Kevin Burns in the primary.[3]

Following a redistricting lawsuit that radically changed the makeup of her senate district, Margolis announced in June 2016 that she was ending her reelection campaign. She retired from politics after the 2016 election.[4]

Gwen Margolis died at the age of 85 on June 9, 2020.[5][6]

References
  1. "Fla. Senate - District 35". WPLG. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  2. Kyle Munzenrieder (December 17, 2008). "Democracy in Action". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  3. "Florida Primary Election Results - Federal and state races -- August 24, 2010". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  4. Mazzei, Patricia; Sherman, Amy (June 9, 2016). "40 years in politics comes to abrupt end". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  5. Florida’s first woman Senate president, Gwen Margolis, dies at 85
  • Follow the Money - Gwen Margolis


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