Mark S. Pafford

Mark S. Pafford
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 88 district
Succeeded by	State Representative Susan Bucher, (Dem-West Palm Beach, FL)
Personal details
Born	April 11, 1966 (1966-04-11) (age 45)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Tracy Pafford
Profession	Non Profit
Religion	Jewish

Mark S. Pafford is a West Palm Beach, Florida Democratic politician who serves as the representative for District of the Florida House of Representatives. He was first elected to the Florida House in 2008.^[1] As a freshman he was appointed a democratic Deputy Whip. On November 2, 2010, Rep. Pafford was re-elected to serve a second term in Florida's Legislature. He continues to be known as an advocate for vulnerable Floridians and as a voice of reason. He continues to discuss the need to reform Florida's tax structure and lessening the burden on middle class Floridians. Rep. Pafford has been described as one of the most tenacious members of the Florida Legislature.

Mark Scott Pafford is a West Palm Beach, Democratic politician, and progressive, who serves as the representative for District 88 of the Florida House of Representatives. He was first elected to the Florida House in 2008.

Rep. Pafford was born in rural Dade County, Florida on April 11, 1966. He is married to Tracy L. Pafford and has two children - Audrey (19) and Brendan Pafford (15). Rep. Pafford graduated from North Miami Senior High School in 1984. Although he played soccer for 9 years, he was also was a member of the Pioneers football team where he was a prolific field goal kicker. He once kicked a 65-yard field goal during practice. A knee injury ended his football career. He went on to earn his Associate of Arts degree at Miami-Dade Community College in 1986 and his Bachelor of Public Administration degree at Florida International University in 1988. He Minored in Political Science.

Early on, he served as a naturalist with the Metro-Dade Parks Department at Arch Creek Park in North Miami, Florida. Later served as a congressional aide to Congressman Lawrence J. Smith (Dem) from 1989 to 1992. Rep. Pafford moved to Palm Beach County in 1993 after Hurricane Andrew hit Dade County in August 1992. There, he was hired as a senior coordinator for the Village of Royal Palm Beach, Florida Recreation and Cultural Centers from 1993 to 1996. He then joined the legislative office of State Representative Lois Frankel (Dem) as a legislative assistant, working there until 1997. Rep. Pafford also played important roles with the Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast.

He made previous bids for elected office - for Florida House District 85 in 2002 and for the Palm Beach County Commission in 2006. After more than 20 years of working in community based non-profit organizations, including the CEO of the Alzheimer's Association Southeast Florida Chapter, in 2008, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in an unopposed election.

During his first session in 2009, Rep. Pafford sponsored several successful pieces of legislation. He passed legislation that improves the cost effectiveness of special districts, sponsored a House Memorial that calls on the U.S. Congress to appropriate more funding for in-home services for seniors and people with disabilities, was the House sponsor for a bill that closed a corporate documentary stamp loophole, and worked with legislators on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation that created more opportunities for homeless people seeking shelter.

In the 2010 legislative session, he passed two important pieces of legislation. One bill removed the statutes of limitations on sexual abuse of minors - thus, allowing a child abused under the age of 16, the ability to seek justice and recourse later in life as an adult. The second bill permitted the use of special agents by state attorneys for corruption and organized crime. The bill will create better coordination between law enforcement agencies and the state attorneys in Florida - and reduce costs.

In 2011 Rep. Pafford successfully passed legislation that made it more difficult for criminals to use child pornography downloaded to "clouds" on the internet. Also, after three years, seniors will now be considered as part of devemopment plans in the State of Florida. Affordable Housing for seniors is a priority for Rep. Pafford.

Rep. Pafford is a member of the Democratic Caucus leadership team and serves as Deputy Minority Whip. The Speaker of the House also appointed him to serve on the Public Service Commission Nominating Council. He served on 3 committees and an appropriations council early in his first term and in 2010 served on Military and Local Affairs, Elder and Families Health Care Committee, and the Natural Resource Appropriations Committee. Finally, in 2010 he served on the House Democratic Policy Council.

During his second term, he has helped organize opposition to state budget cuts proposed by Governor Rick Scott. Rep. Pafford is involved with a Facebook-based activist campaign, Awake the State, that will be organizing protests against Gov. Scott's agenda at the Florida Capitol on March 8, 2011.^[2]

As legislators are considered part-time employees in Florida, Rep. Pafford continues to serve the community as an employee of the The Lord's Place, a charity that assists homeless individuals and families in West Palm Beach, FL.

He can be followed on Facebook and YouTube (Search: Mark Pafford)

Sources

• Florida House of Representatives Profile
• Project Votesmart profile

References

1. ^ Bousquet. Steve. "Who's who and new." Perspective page 6. The St. Petersburg Times. November 23, 2008. Online. January 23, 2009
2. ^ Ward. Kenric. "Social Media Explodes With Florida Teacher Protest Chat." Sunshine State News. February 22, 2011. Online. February 22, 2011.

Persondata
Name	Pafford, Mark S.
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Date of birth	April 11, 1966
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