Alex Sink
Alex Sink | |
|---|---|
| File:CFO Alex Sink.jpg | |
| 2nd Chief Financial Officer of Florida | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Gallagher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Adelaide Sink June 5, 1948 Mt. Airy, North Carolina, United States |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Bill McBride (1987-Present) |
| Residence | Tampa, Florida |
| Alma mater | Wake Forest University |
| Profession | banker, politician |
| Website | myfloridacfo.com |
Adelaide "Alex" Sink (born 5 June 1948)[1] is a Democratic Party politician. Sink is the Chief Financial Officer for the state of Florida and treasurer on the board of trustees of the Florida State Board of Administration. She is currently the Democratic nominee for Governor of Florida[update] and will face Republican Rick Scott in the 2010 Florida gubernatorial election.
Personal
Sink was raised in Mount Airy, North Carolina. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University. After graduating with a degree in mathematics, she taught in West Africa for three years.
Sink is married to Florida attorney and politician Bill McBride who was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of Florida in 2002. They have a son, Bert, and a daughter, Lexi.
She is a descendant of the famous conjoined "Siamese Twins", Chang and Eng Bunker.[2]
Career
Sink is a former president of Florida Operations at Bank of America. She was appointed by former Governor Lawton Chiles to the Commission on Government Accountability to the People, and also served on Chiles’ Commission on Education. She was vice-chair of Florida TaxWatch. Sink has also served with the Florida Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the Beth El Farm Workers Ministry, and as Chairman of the Board of the United Way of Hillsborough County.
Florida Chief Financial Officer
Sink was the Democratic candidate for Florida's office of Chief Financial Officer in 2006. She defeated Republican Tom Lee 53.5 percent to 46.5 percent.[3] She also was the first Democrat elected to the state Cabinet since 1998.[3]
2010 gubernatorial candidate
Heading into the 2010 cycle, Sink was mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate or for Governor of Florida. In 2008, Sink stated that she would "assess the landscape after the first of the year, and make a decision then."[4] In January 2009, Sink announced she would not run for either seat, preferring to stand for reelection as CFO.[5] But the announcement that Gov. Charlie Crist would forgo re-election to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez changed the state's political landscape. On May 13, 2009, Sink announced her intention to run for Governor.
On August 24, 2010, Sink won the Democratic primary to become the party's nominee for the gubernatorial election. Sink faces health care executive Rick Scott in the general election, as well as an independent candidate who is running with No Party Affiliation (NPA): urban designer and policy analyst, Michael E. Arth[6][7]. Another indepdendent candidate, Bud Chiles, dropped out of the race and endorsed Sink in September.[8]
Political Issues
Fiscal policy
Sink is a consumer advocate and strict proponent of fiscal responsibility and accountability for government spending. She began measures of efficiency with her own department, the Florida Department of Financial Services, by saving an estimated $2.2 million in waste annually.[9]
Florida Taj Mahal scandal
On August 30, 2010 Alex Sink sent letters to the Florida Supreme Court and Florida's Department of Management Services that preliminary findings warranted an audit via her DFS, Bureau of Auditing for excessive spending on the First District Court of Appeal of Florida courthouse, referred to as the Taj Mahal by judges around Florida as their districts are facing budget cuts. The CFO's office states that money may have been misused and as much as $16 million may have spent in a financial raid on the state's Workers' Compensation Trust Fund.[10] A $30 million bond for construction was attached to a transportation bill and passed on last day of the 2007 legislative session. This is an ongoing investigation by the CFO's office.
Environment
According to her political website, Sink is pro-environment and can be considered an environmentalist from her positions below.
- Opposition to oil drilling
Sink supports a ban on oil drilling in Florida's waters. She also supports developing a comprehensive ocean management plan to protect and preserve Florida's coastal habitats, marine ecosystems, and ocean waters by identifying appropriate areas that can be used by regulated entities.
- Land conservation
On land conservation, Sink supports all of the programs that make up Florida Forever. She desires to work with the Florida Legislature to restore Florida Forever funding. Sink wants the State of Florida to acquire more land for preservation of resources as well as land connecting larger parcels for safe travel corridors for migration and large wildlife species movement in a natural habitat. These lands for public use will also remain on local government tax rolls.
- Water conservation
Sink states that she would emphasize protecting and conserving water, improving water quality, and increasing the water supply through reasonable timeframes for citizens and business. Sink also supports alternative water supplies through stable and adequate funding to allow the creation of alternative water supplies.
- Everglades restoration
Sink is a supporter of acquisition of land north and south of Lake Okeechobee for conservation purposes. She is a supporter of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan to restore the Everglades while still providing enough water for the urban, agricultural and environmental concerns. Sink would like to expedite federal approval of restoration projects and to ensure more federal funding which was part of the 50/50 state/federal partnership.
Education
Sink supports improving Florida's public schools at the local level. Sink wants a timeline for transitioning pre-Kindergarten programs toward having at least one teacher with a college degree in every classroom, developing a statewide school dropout early warning system, reforming FCAT to raise student achievement standards, an updated curriculum, and use Florida Lottery funding to enhance educational programs, and as originally designed.[11]
Florida's economy
Sink is for stabilizing small business for the immediate and incentives for employers to keep jobs in Florida and begin expansion of the workforce through promoting economic sectors that create jobs. She has long-term goals of a stronger emphasis on R&D and commercialization of new products and boosting partnerships between our university faculty and private industry.
Health care
Sink supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3020) passed by the United States Congress and enacted on March 30, 2010. [12]
Social issues
Reproductive freedom
Sink adheres the United States Constitution as well as its third amendment of right to personal privacy[13] upheld by the United States Supreme Court case of 1973, Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113). Sink has been endorsed by Emily's List as pro-choice. In 2003, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida honored Sink with its "Choice Award" for her outspoken support for women's rights and reproductive freedom. "She is the only pro-choice member of Florida's cabinet, and, as governor, will protect a woman's right to choose."[14]
Adoption
Alex Sink believes in the placement of children in a home where it is in the best interests of children regardless of gender preference. She addressed a group of 300 gay and lesbian advocates at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. She said, "We need a system in which all of our children are assured that they live in a healthy, loving home -- a home that's determined not by any law." "The decision has to be made by the judge, in consultation with the experts, to determine what is the best for that individual child."[15]
Immigration
Sink is against illegal immigration, but she opposes to an immigration bill modeled for Arizona immigration law (2010), saying that it "The law passed in Arizona does not meet Florida's needs" and supporting that is the responsibility of the federal government to prevent immigrants from illegally crossing the border and it is not the responsibility of the government of the state. [16]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Alex Sink | 663,800 | 76.9 | |
| Democratic | Brian Moore | 199,896 | 23.1 | |
| Total votes | 863,696 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Alex Sink | 2,479,861 | 53.55 | |
| Republican | Tom Lee | 2,151,232 | 46.45 | |
| Total votes | 4,631,093 | 100.0 | ||
References
- ^ FLORIDA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL, Florida Trend (11-01-2004) p.26 ISSN:00154326.
- ^ Twins' great-granddaughter seeks a different kind of fame, St. Pete Times
- ^ a b "2006 Election Results". Florida Department of State. March 1, 2007. Cite error: The named reference "dos" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Florida Democrats revel in gained ground - St. Petersburg Times". Tampabay.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Pat Hatfield, "DeLand's Urban Cowboy runs for governor: Can a Renaissance man with no money be governor?." West Volusia Beacon, 7-30-09, p. 1A, 12A
- ^ Catron, Derek, "DeLand Man Enters Race for Governor," Daytona Beach News-Journal, June 15, 2010 [2]
- ^ Independent Bud Chiles Drops Out Of Florida Gubernatorial Race
- ^ CFO website
- ^ My Florida CFO, CFO Alex Sink to Audit Department of Management Services Courthouse Contracts.
- ^ Alex Sink official website
- ^ Alex Sink Waiting For Her GOP Opponent CBS 4 South Florida News, Aug 17, 2010. "Of the latest political issues she supports healthcare reform, is against near shore oil drilling, and would like to overhaul Florida's illegal immigration problems"
- ^ Griswald v. Connecticut
- ^ Alex Sink EMILY's List
- ^ Miami Herald, Sink backs adoption by gays, lesbians. November 16, 2009
- ^ Diffen: Alex Sink vs Bill McCollum - Position on Immigration Diffen - Compare Anything. Diffen. Discern. Decide.
- ^ "Florida Gubernatorial Primary Results". Politico. August 24, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
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External links
- Florida Department of Financial Services
- Alex Sink for Governor official campaign website
- Template:GovLinks
Democratic Party nominees for governor of Florida (1953–) | ||
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Statewide political officials of Florida | ||
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