- Maria Sachs
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Maria Sachs 
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 30th districtIncumbent Assumed office
2010Preceded by Ted Deutch Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 86th districtIn office
2007–2010Preceded by Anne Gannon Succeeded by Lori Berman Personal details Born March 25, 1949
Battle Creek, MichiganNationality American Political party Democratic Spouse(s) Peter Sachs Children Natasha, Marcello, Taylor Alma mater University of Maryland (B.A.), Boston University (M.A.), University of Miami (J.D.) Profession Attorney Religion Catholic 
Maria Sachs
Maria Lorts Sachs is a Delray Beach, Florida attorney and Democratic member of the Florida State Senate, serving the 30th District since 2010.[1] Previously, she served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2007 to 2010.[2]
She was first elected to the Florida House in 2006 and was re-elected in 2008.[2] She had campaigned on making improvements to the juvenile justice system and employment equality for women.[3] On June 18, 2010, when no one qualified to run against her, Sachs elevated to the State Senate to fill the seat left behind when former State Sen. Ted Deutch was elected to Congress.[4]
Contents
Early life
A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, Maria Sachs is the daughter of Anna Lonigro and the late Russell Lorts, who earned two Purple Hearts during World War II. Her parents met when Russell, a commissioned officer, was part of the Allied operations that liberated southern Italy in 1945. He met his wife, Anna, while marching through Naples to the Allied headquarters. The two of them returned, married, to Russell's dairy farm in Michigan.
Maria's childhood was spent in several states, as her father's position in the military meant frequent travel. She spent her youth in Michigan, Indiana and California. She attended Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, California. When she was 18, her father brought his family to Southeast Asia. She volunteered at the Malaria Control Center in upcountry Thailand while her father served in Vietnam. She also worked as a nurse’s assistant at the Air Force military hospital.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Maryland, from which she graduated cum laude. She later became a lecturer of International Politics for the University of Maryland at military bases throughout Western Europe and North Africa. She earned a Master's Degree in International Political Affairs from Boston University. Following her Master's Degree, Maria returned to the States to pursue a law degree at the University of Miami. She is a member of both the California and Florida Bar.
Career and community
She began her law career under Janet Reno’s direction, and in 1985 moved to Palm Beach County, where she set up a successful private practice.
Sachs is the founder and president of a professional women’s organization, The Women for Excellence.[5] The WE has over 150 members and continues to meet monthly. She was also the past president of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Broward Chapter, and is a member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Women’s Organization, and the National Organization for Women.
On September 21, 2011, Senator Maria Sachs was named as the new Senate Whip for the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus.
"I am honored to serve as the new Senate Democratic Whip . . . I will bring energy and a strong voice in fighting for Democratic principles in our state", said Senator Maria Sachs.[attribution needed]
As a legislator, in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, Maria Sachs has sponsored and passed the following pieces of legislation:
- 2007: HB 699 - Preference in Public Employment for Veterans: Repealed provisions of law which provided that preference given to specified veterans and spouses thereof in public employment and retention in public employment shall expire after single application of such preference.
- 2007: CS/SB 1770 (HB 863) – Technology to Supplement Visitation (SPCC): Authorized the court to order electronic communication between parents and children.
- 2008: SB 1908 (HB 207) – Education: Expanded the world languages for which subject area examinations may be required by the State Board of Education to include Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
- 2008: CS/SB 1474 (HB 1297) – Dissolution of Marriage: Authorized the court to enter an interim order during a dissolution of marriage proceeding to allow for partial distribution of martial assets and liabilities if good cause is shown. The bill also specified the burden of proof necessary to overcome the gift presumption and abolished special equity.
- 2010: HR 9107 - Florida's Athletic and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness: Honoring Florida's athletes for their athletic endeavors, commending the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness for its leadership, and recognizing Chris Evert for her contributions in promoting physical fitness.
- 2010: HB 1455 - Misrepresentation of Military Status: Prohibits a person from falsely representing him/her self as a member of, or representing the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard for the purpose of solicitation of charitable contributions or participation in chartable or sponsor sales promotion. Also prohibiting persons from wearing a uniform or any medal or insignia that is authorized only for use by members of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard with the intent to misrepresent him/her self, and providing criminal penalties for such acts of misrepresentation.
- 2010: CS/CS/HB 723 – Postsecondary education: Authorized state universities and community colleges to waive tuition and fees for full-time public school classroom teachers for courses approved by the Department of Education that relate to special education, mathematics, or science, up to six credit hours.
- 2010: CS/CS/CS/SB 1196 (HB 561) – Community Associations: Revised laws related to community associations, including condominium, homeowners’, and cooperative associations.
- 2011: SR 2190 - Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Recognizes October 2011 as "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" in Florida.
Veterans and Nursing Homes
For the last seven years of his life, Maria's father, Russell, was a resident at the Extended Care Facility of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in West Palm Beach. She was profoundly dismayed by what she viewed as the lack of adequate treatment for veterans. Her first bill as a State Representative endows certain benefits to veterans in honor of their service. A second bill relating to Veterans Rights, SB1824/HB1455, passed in the spring of 2010. This bill makes it a crime to impersonate a veteran or member of the military. [6]
In an editorial published in the Miami Herald on May 31, 2010, retired U.S. Army officer Lettie J. Bien wrote about Safeguarding Our Seniors legislation:
“ This week, many veterans are saluting the Florida Legislature for the bill that quietly passed during the session. An Act Relating to Misrepresentation of Military Status (SB1824/HB1455) makes it a crime to impersonate a veteran or member of the military, which sadly has become commonplace during the last few years. Included in the legislation is the unlawful use of uniforms, medals or insignia... Maria Lorts Sachs, daughter of a decorated WW II Army veteran, led the effort in the House.[7] ” Family
She has been married to Peter Sachs from Berlin for over 25 years. Peter, born in a camp for Jewish refugees in Germany, was raised in New York and moved to South Florida in 1973.
Maria is the mother of three children: Natasha, Marcello and Taylor.[3]
References
- "Gov Crist Signs Veterans Bill on Memorial Day", ' 'WINK News Now' ', Panama City, May 31, 2010.
- Project Votesmart profile
- "Four Months Before Elections, 33 House and Senate Candidates Can Already Claim Victory", ' Sunshine State News' ', June 21, 2010.
- "Women for Excellence Organization"
- ^ The Florida Senate - Senator Maria Lorts Sachs Member Page
- ^ a b Florida House of Representatives - Maria Lorts Sachs
- ^ a b Palm Beach Post Bio
- ^ Perman, Sachs win elections without having to face voters
- ^ "The Women for Excellence (WE)", http://womenforexcellence.org
- ^ Gov Monitor. "Governor Charlie Crist Signs Bills Honoring Florida Veterans", "Gov Monitor, June 1, 2010.
- ^ Bien, Lettie J. Miami Herald Opinion "Remember Them With Respect", "The Miami Herald, Miami, May 31, 2010.
External links
Members of the Florida State Senate President of the Senate: Mike Haridopolos (R) • President pro Tempore: Mike Bennett (R) • Majority Leader: Andy Gardiner (R) • Minority Leader: Nan Rich (D)- Audrey Gibson (D)
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- Ellyn Bogdanoff (R)
- Mike Haridopolos (R)
- Lizbeth Benacquisto (R)
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- Chris Smith (D)
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Republican (28) • Democratic (12) • Florida Legislature • Florida House of Representatives • Florida State SenateCategories:- Florida Democrats
- Members of the Florida House of Representatives
- Florida State Senators
- 1949 births
- Living people
- University of Maryland, College Park alumni
- Boston University alumni
- University of Miami alumni
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