Audrey Gibson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Audrey Gibson
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| Minority Leader of the Florida Senate | |
| In office November 19, 2018 – November 16, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Oscar Braynon |
| Succeeded by | Gary Farmer |
| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office October 19, 2011 – November 8, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Hill |
| Succeeded by | Tracie Davis (redistricted) |
| Constituency | 1st district (2011–2012) 9th district (2012–2016) 6th district (2016–2022) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 15th district |
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| In office November 5, 2002 – November 2, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | E. Denise Lee |
| Succeeded by | Reggie Fullwood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1956 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Florida State College, Jacksonville (AA) Florida State University (BS) |
Audrey Gibson is an American politician. She served as a member of the Democratic Party. She represented parts of Jacksonville in Duval County. Gibson was a member of the Florida Senate from 2011 to 2022. Before that, she served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010.
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Early Life and Career
Audrey Gibson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on March 15, 1956. She went to Florida State College at Jacksonville. There, she earned her associate degree in 1976. Later, she studied at Florida State University. She graduated in 1978 with a degree in criminology.
Gibson worked in public relations. She also worked as a legal liaison. She then took a job at the Jacksonville Job Corps Center. In 1999, she ran for a seat on the Jacksonville City Council. She did not win that election.
Serving in the Florida House of Representatives
In 2002, State Representative E. Denise Lee decided not to run again. She wanted to run for the Florida Senate instead. Audrey Gibson decided to run for Lee's seat in the 15th District. This district covered downtown Jacksonville.
Gibson focused her campaign on important issues. She wanted to bring good jobs to the area. She also wanted to improve training for workers. Another goal was to get more money for local schools. She believed her experience in "people issues" would help her.
Gibson won the Democratic primary election. She received 42% of the votes. In the general election, she won by a large amount. She received 81% of the votes.
She was re-elected without anyone running against her in 2004. In 2006, she faced Reggie Fullwood in the Democratic primary. The Florida Times-Union newspaper supported Gibson. They called her "a strong leader." Gibson won the primary with 57% of the votes. She was re-elected without opposition in the general election. She was re-elected again in 2008. She could not run for another term in 2010 because of term limits.
Serving in the Florida Senate
In 2011, State Senator Tony Hill left his position. He took a job with the Jacksonville Mayor. A special election was held to find his replacement. The 1st district, which Hill represented, stretched from Jacksonville to Daytona Beach.
Audrey Gibson decided to run in this special election. She had already planned to run for the Senate in 2012. During the campaign, Gibson received support from the Florida Times-Union. The newspaper praised her experience and wisdom. They also noted her ability to work with others. They highlighted her efforts in transportation and economic growth.
Gibson won the Democratic primary election easily. She received 62% of the votes. She did not have an opponent in the general election. So, she won the seat without opposition.
In 2012, the state's legislative districts were redrawn. This process is called redistricting. Gibson's district changed to the 9th district. This new district included only parts of Jacksonville. She won her party's nomination without opposition. She then faced a Republican candidate in the general election.
The Florida Times-Union again supported Gibson. They said she was an active lawmaker. They noted her focus on developing communities and helping people save their homes. Gibson won the election with 64% of the votes. This gave her a second term in the legislature.
Her district was redrawn again in 2016. This happened after a court order. She was re-elected to the new 6th district in Jacksonville.
Mayoral Campaign
On June 7, 2022, Audrey Gibson announced she would run for mayor of Jacksonville. This was for the 2023 Jacksonville mayoral election. In the primary election, she finished fourth among seven candidates. After the election, she was appointed to a new role. She became the head of the City's grants and contract compliance division.
See also
In Spanish: Audrey Gibson para niños
