J. D. Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
JD Alexander
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| Member of the Florida Senate from the 17th district |
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| In office 2002–2012 |
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| Preceded by | John Laurent |
| Succeeded by | John Legg (redistricting) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 66th district |
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| In office 1998–2002 |
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| Preceded by | John Laurent |
| Succeeded by | Baxter Troutman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 16, 1959 Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cindy Monroe |
| Alma mater | University of Florida (B.S., Agricultural Economics) |
| Profession | Citrus farmer |
John David Alexander, known as J. D. Alexander or JD Alexander, is a businessman and former politician from the Republican party in Florida. He was born on July 16, 1959. From 2002 to 2012, he served in the Florida Senate, representing the 17th district. This district included parts of seven counties and nearly 500,000 people. Before that, he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Alexander has also been a leader for large companies like Atlantic Blue Group and Alico.
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About JD Alexander
JD Alexander moved to Florida in 1961 with his family from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He is the grandson of Ben Hill Griffin Jr., who was also a Florida state senator and representative. His family has a long history in Florida.
Political Journey
JD Alexander spent many years serving the people of Florida in government. He worked in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.
Serving in the Florida House
JD Alexander began his political career in the Florida House of Representatives. He served as a state representative from 1998 to 2002. In this role, he helped make laws for the state.
Serving in the Florida Senate
Alexander was elected to the Florida Senate in November 2002. He was reelected two more times, in 2004 and 2008. As a senator, he represented a large area of Florida. From 2004 to 2006, Senator Alexander held a special leadership role as the Majority Whip. This meant he helped make sure members of his party voted together on important issues.
Important Roles in the Senate
During his time in the Senate, Senator Alexander led several important committees. He was the Chair of the Budget Committee. This committee decides how the state's money is spent. He also chaired the Joint Legislative Budget Commission. He was the Vice-Chair of the Rules Committee, which sets the rules for how the Senate operates. He was also a member of other committees, including those focused on agriculture, banking, education, and transportation.
Key Projects and Ideas
Senator Alexander worked on several big projects for his district. One of his main goals was to get funding for the Heartland Parkway. This was a proposed toll road that had been delayed for a long time. It was planned to cross sensitive environmental land. Alexander's company owned land near the proposed road, which could have benefited from its construction.
Another major project Alexander supported was creating Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland. This school was originally a branch campus of the University of South Florida. Alexander pushed for it to become its own independent university within Florida's state university system. This idea was debated because it happened during a time when the state budget was very tight. However, Alexander helped pass a state budget in 2012-2013 that provided money for the school to become independent. He saw the creation of this university as an important part of his legacy.
Business Career
Outside of politics, JD Alexander has been a successful businessman. He was the CEO of Atlantic Blue Group, Inc. This company owns a lot of rural land in Central Florida. He also served as the CEO of Alico, Inc., another large company.
Community Involvement
JD Alexander has been involved in many community groups and organizations.
- He served as President of the Polk Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
- He was on the Board of Directors for Polk Business for World Class Schools.
- He was a trustee for the Vanguard School Board.
- He was a past member and chair of the Florida Citrus Research Advisory Council.
- He was a past board member and president of the Florida Citrus Production Managers Association.
- He was also on the Board of Directors for the Florida Citrus Research and Education Foundation.
Education
JD Alexander studied at the University of Florida. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Agriculture.
Family Life
JD Alexander is married to Cindy Monroe. They have two daughters named Keaton and Britton.
